The Republican journal., 1899-08-24
Battleship Texas at Northport.

Reception to Capt. Sigsbee and Officers.
| Addresses by Senator Frye and Capt.
| Sigsbee.
| The event of the season at Northport
Camp Ground this year was the visit of the
| battleship Texas on the day of the address
of Senator Frye before the Epworth League
| convention. Either event would insure a
crowd, and the two combined brought a
concourse Of people that taxed the capacity
| OF the place 10 the utmost. The weather
was perfect, and every condition favorable
to the fullest enjoyment.
The Texas changed her moorings early
| Thursday morning from the point off the Bel
| fast battery to one not over 1000 feet off
from the Camp Ground steamboat wharf,
and the view of her from the shore was per-
fect. AS she swung with the tide she turn
| ed completely around during the day, pre-
senting both bow aud stern views, and the
starboard and port sides each in turn to the
spectators on shore
The first event IN connection with the
| Texas visit to Northport, although it took
! place before the ships moorings We're chang
| ed, was the reception given at the hotel
! Wednesday evening by Mrs. Barker and Mr..
and Mrs. French The office and dining hall
were very astefully decorated, and Mrs. Bar
ker and Mrs. French received their guests
under large Japanese canopy. Capt. Sigs-
bee and his officers appeared in full dress uni
| form. Mayor Poor and family of Belfast were
guests of MIR. and Mrs French. After the
reception refreshments were served and the
evening closed with hop with music by
the hotel orchestra. The following officers of
the Texas were present: Capt c. d. Sigs-
bee, Lieut.. Commander John R. Edwards,
Lieut.. r. NJ. Doyle, Capt. j. E. Kane, Unit
ed States Marine corps Paymaster John s.
Robertson, Surgeon C. NJ BIddle, Lieut.. H.
X. Hands, Ensign r. II Duncan, Ensign w.
L. Miller, and Ships Carpenter, a r. Mackie.
Thursday the battleship was open to visit
ors from 10 A. NJ to P. NJ and the steamer
Alice Howard, the launch Orca towing the
yacht Glide the steamer Agnes, the launch
Whippoorwill, and d large number of small
| boats were kept busy carrying passengers
to and fro. Tie Catherine and Sedgwick
each brought large parties from the up-river
ports.
At noon the captain gig put off from the
ship and brought Capt. Sigsbee ashore. He
walked up to the hotel where he was met
by Landlord French and escorted to the
corridor where a brief reception held.
Visitors were introduced to Capt. Sigsbee
and Senator Frye by Mayor Poor of Belfast
AMI f. A Dickey, Esq. of Northport. Hun
dreds OF Belfast and Northport citizens and
summer visitors were presented to the dis
tinguished guests
A complimentary dinner followed the
reception, at which Senator Frye, Capt.
Sigsbee. Mayor and Mrs. Poor Collector
ami Mrs. Hartman were special guests of
Mr., and Mrs. French and Mrs. Barker.
Excellent music was rendered both We'd
nesllay evening and Thursday by Mrs. Dora
Wiley Tennis, Miss Sarah NJ. Hall vocaists
Miss Helen Batchelder, cornetist; and Miss
Jennie lngraham, pianist.
At 80 o'clock Mayor Poor escorted Sena-
tor Frye and Capt Sigsbee to the auditorium,
where a large audience was assembled. The
seating capacity Of the auditorium IS a little
more than a thousand, and the place was
completely filed, both floor and galleries,
and many We're obliged to stand.
Tie exercises opened with a selection by
the chorus which was in attendance at the
convention, followed by prayer by Rev,
George Payson of Newton Centre, Mass.
The Senator and party then entered amid
the almost deafening applause, which con
tinued while they walked down the aisle
~, 4
upon the platform
Presiding Elder W. W. Ogier of Thomas
ton presided at the meeting, and called upon
Mr.. r. A. Jordan, Secretary of the Y. M @.
A. of Bangor, to introduce the speaker,
which he did in very happy manner.
AS Mr.. Frye arose he was greeted by
another hearty outbreak of applause, and
his address, which was both forcble and
| eloquent, his hearers will ever recall one
of the finest specimens of oratory they ever
listened to. His sentiments were patriotic,
and We're boldly expressed in language
which left no doubt as to the precise mean
! ing of the speaker The subject was "Chrs-
tian Ciyiizaton," and the discourse was
! opened with the question: What do these
words mean? Somewhat less than three
| centuries ago there was wedding in Mas
sachusetts. 1t was under Gods blue sky,
| upon Gods green carpet, with music by the
brooks and birds. The high contracting
parties We're the meeting house and the
school house. AS result of this marriage
! a child was born-Christian Civilization.
1t was union of the Bible and the school
book. The idea that is sometimes advanced
that the world is growing worse is totally
wrong. Christian civilization is constantly
making progress, and the world is growing
better Senator Frye cited instances of old
time morals in high life in comparison with
those of today, in proof of his statement.
In the early days two ships came to Amer
lea. One was loaded with Bibles, the other
with slaves. The progress Of Christian civil
| izaton is seen in the suppression Of slavery,
and in the spirit shown by the vctors
| towards the vanqushed at the end of the con-
tiict General Grant said to the conquered
army of the South go home and take your
horses with you. You will need them on
your farms" A century ago under similar
circumstances the conquered rebels would