The Republican journal., 1900-03-01
The Observance OF Washington's Birth
day a Century Ago.

Soon after the death of Washington.
December A. 1899, Congress recommend
ed that the people of the country assem-
BILE on the twenty second day of February,
to testify their grief by suitable eulogies,
orations and discourses.
THE Castine Journal and Universal
Advertiser, then the only newspaper pub
lished in Maine east of Kennebec River,
in it's issue of Feb. %, 1900, gives the fol
lowing account of the solemnities which
took place in Castine and Belfast
THE ANNIVERSARY OF THE 22D
was observed in this town on Saturday
last with due solemnities according to the
arrangements of the committee chosen for
that purpose. The day was announced
by the discharge of cannon at sunrise
by Lieut.. Lees artillery. At II o. clock
procession was formed at the court
house in the following order:
Lieut.. Lees Company of Artillery with
music, and standard in mourning
Schoolmaster & Scholars.
Youths from IA to II years of age.
Sheriff of the County.
Minister & Orator.
| Officers of the Continental Army.
Military Officers in Uniform.
Judges and Justices of the Peace.
| Clerk of the courts and Town clerk.
Selectmen.
Register of Deeds & Representative.
Physicians.
Hancock Lodge,
! properly clothed, with Jewels, Columns
&c, in mournlng the master and war
dens bearing candlesticks with candles;
the warden's candles burning, the Mas
| ter's extinguished. When arrived at
| the Westinghouse, the candlostick5
were placed in the triangle on the Pc
| destal of the Lodge, which was covered
with black, and placed in the centre of
the broad aisle, & continued two burn
ing and one extinguished during the
solemnities
Citizens two and two.
The procession proceeded with slow and
solemn music from the Court House,
north to North Street, thence down North
St. to Water St., thence up Water st. to
Main ST., thence up Main St. to Court ST.,
thence to the Meeting House. During the
procession sixteen minute guns were
fired. The Artillery and Youths opened
to right and left, the Artillery with arms
reversed. The procession moved through,
the music playing dead march. After
entering the meeting house, the audience
seated, pertinent and we'll adapted
prayer was delivered by the Rev. VIM.
Mason, funeral anthem was then sung
by choir of singers selected for the pur-
pose; after which an excellent Grafton
was pronounced by VIM. Wetmore, ESQ.
The meeting house exhibited appearances
of mourning which were calculated to i'm
press the mind with seriousness and ven
Grafton, the pulpit covered with black,
and the window and pillars hung with
festoons of black. After the solemnities,
the citizens chose Capt. Joseph Perkins,
Capt Mark Hatch, Mr.. Phillip Jarvis,
David Huse Esq. & Bob Nelson ESQ. a
Com. to wait ON Mr.. Wetmore, with
thanks for his excellent Grafton, and to
request copy of the press.
At Belfast, the day was likewise obser-
we'd, with Belfast order and solemnity.
The militia of the towns of Northport and
Prospect met at the ferry. From thence
they marched to the west meeting house
in Belfast where due honors to the illus
trious Washington were performed. The
officers appeared in complete uniform,
with emblems of mourning. The utmost
order and attention was observed by
all present, and every countenance beamed
with regret for the loss of SO good a
man.
The music, standards, &C. were in
mourning, and the military marched with
arms reversed, followed by a respectable
concourse of citizens When the process.
sion had arrived at the meeting house, an