The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-08-13
IN BUCKFIELD.
lie Was the Principal Ola Home
Week Speaker.

Buoktield, August l1.-This picturesque
town has entertained many former resi-
dents during the Old Home Week and the
occasion has been most successful one.
The elimination of the week was
reached at two O'Clock this afternoon
The "Old Church on the Hill dear To
every soul who has the least claim on
the town, was filed till the sides buIged
with the Old Homers. The church was
built in 1892, and mas been constantly
Ia use since. First as Union church.
the various societies IN town using it in
proportion to their holdings The Bap-
list denomination was the first to with
draw, when under Elder Small. they
erected church edtf1ce OF their own AS
the other churches have been built the
/ old church has been used less and less
until now It Is entirely given over to the
town for use as a town house. But as
/ one OF the longtime residents said today.
1t Is the dearest landmark in town to
the citizen
At two 0 clock, then, the Buckfeld
orchestra tuned up their Instruments and
opened the programme by stirring
overture, "Old Home Memories f" The
orchestra was led by Henry A. Irish. At
the piano sat Mrs Irish, who is a dau0h-
ter Of that welI-known musician. Prof.
l.. W Mason, and the three sons of Mr..
and Mrs. Irish, Luther NJ, Lewis M.
and Allen NJ. Irish, were also members
of the orchestra. g. 9 Wilmington. Fred
Bennett and James Is. Irish were among
the players.
The invocation following was by Rev.
Benjamin +. Lawrence, a man educated
IN Maine schools, and for many wears a
loved pastor here. Mr.. Lawrence Is now
coated IN Holliston, Mass. Then "A grand
burst OF melody rose as every voice in the
audience joined in the 'sOId Home
Song, adapted to the time of Aud
Lang Syne, and reaching every heart.
The address OF welcome was delivered
by Thomas 5. Brigham, Esq, one OF the
widely known sons Of the town
The social features of the occasion
seemed TO center about the presence here
OF Secretary of the Navy, John ID. Long.
who has retained the Long homestead as
a summer residence and VINO was the
principal speaker at the public exercises
this afternoon.
Secretary Longs address, which was
impromptu and delivered in a happy
vein, was the feature of the day The
secretary devoted his time mainly to re-
minfscences and he made no mention or
national affairs.
The secretary contributed a large share
to the success Of the occasion. He went
about town in his farm attire and had
bright word for every one.
SECRETARY LONG S SPEECH.
Secretary Long said in part:
4 thank you for the cordial greeting.
Ny friend is very lavish in the mention
Of the Office filed by me. 1 do not be-
lieve YOU ever think of me as a public
official, but as your friend, neighbor and
| townsman.
"A schoolboy playing IN the street,
young man voting for the t time, like
you, / cherish the old associations, the
scenery, home and friends of Buckfield.
I
AMI 1t is builded better than is realized
now. 1t has become an institution OF
public life and I heartily and cordially /
fndorse It. Those who remain IN the old I
home little know how often those who /
go away think of them, whatever the |
business cares.
s'My friends, here IN this church on the |
hill OF sacred ground, / pay tribute to
the founders OF Buckfeld Here is found
/ the truest democracy the world over.
Here is found absolute equality; no rich,
no poor; the high ana the low are all
equal. We meet on common. sacred /
ground. After the Revolutionary war. |
we had for founders men of small means, |
but high character who, out of these
scanty means, found enough to build an /
academy which was the great factor in /
the Intellectual development of state |
and town. The mutual respect for high |
character makes it an honor to be born |
| in Buckneld. Our memories are of mu- |
tual heIpfulness during those trying |
times. We had sickness, sorrow and |
trial, straitened circumstances, but we /
we're neighbOrs, with all that dear name |
means The community was one. As |
we honor the founders, may our chill
dren honor US. AS they gather in this
hall0wed spot, not for public places or
empty hOnors, may they be true men and
women, true to the highest standard Of
life, true to God and true Co themselves. "
The poem by Mrs. Clara MarcelIe
Greene of Brackets street, Portland was
read by Mrs. Greene, who is a native of
Buckhsld. Mrs. Green has made d place
for herself in Maine hearts by her verses,
and her personal feeling has infused a
note in her poem for today that reached |
the hearts of the audience before whom 1T |
was read, and they responded with joy |
Gus enthusiasm to her reading. The |
poem In full follows:
To my Old Home Friends in Cordial
Greeting:-
MRS. GREENE'S POEM.
AS the Moslem to Mecca, in pilgrimage,
Makes ever his reverent steps incline, |
When prone devotions his soul engage, |
When the muezzin calls from the holy |
shrine.
So thus to our Mecca, our shrine, we come;
In our heart of hearts we are Moslems |
all,
When across the desert the Mosque of |
Home
Rings out her muezzin' S resistless call.
Here Memory bows her reverent head
With clasped hands her shrine before,
And counts her living and weeps her
dead,
And tells her rosary 'er and DER.
Those pearls that the early days had |
strung,
Around the strand of the running years, |
When hopes were high and songs were |
sung
From the happy heart untouched by |
tears