Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-06-24
The Historical Address.
Rev. E. G. WhittemOre.

ward The college and the town have
still the advantage of the service of
tried professors who have given more
than a quarter of a century in far
reaching labors, while younger men
with the best equipment of the time
are at hand for the enlarging of the
work.
The history of the several churches
has been such that their influence in
the community has been of the highest
order. while their missionary connec-
tons have borne fruit to the ends of
the earth. The religious life of the
community has been broad. rational.
liberal, not highly emotional but thor
oughly reliable and in no time Of test
or crisis has it been found wanting. It
has employed its strength. not in sec
tartan controversy but in the doing of
the work of the kingdom of God.
The names of Cushman and S. +.
Smith and Adams and Cobb and Park
and Goodman and Sheldon and Shaw
and Halves and Pepper and Ladd and
Seward and Spencer. themselves de-
clare the quality of the religious life
which has characterized the town and
among large part of the population
which other names are highly honored.
especial honor for his long and un-
varyingly useful rastorate will he
given to Father Narcisse Charland The
de2cons and other office bearers in the
churches have contributed in no small
degree to the high esteem in which re-
!igion is held in this community. The
preaching of noble living from the pull
pit has had powerful reinforcement
from the pew.
The medical profession in Water
Vile from the time Of DR.. Obediah VIII
liams and DR.. Moses Appleton down
has been an honor to the town. 1t has
kept high ideals of the professional
honor and of the privileges of the pro-
feSSion to render a service to the COM
munity priceless in its helpfulness and
| Christlike in its charity. Some mem
bers Of the profession have attained
eminence and wide fame by their sue
cess. In the time of war our physicians
We're then on the errands of mercy.
Crosby and Boutelle and West. In the
business development of our town our
doctors have had large place and the
l'' N''-iht ii4' liibti 'llp 10 NOIlU Oh tllt,
honor and success which its leaders
| have won and to which it's junior
mebcrS will certainly attain
THE bar of Waterville has enrolled
many men of eminent ability Few OF
| them have made politics profession
so they have not risen to positions of
a:Gh political preferment though We
have furnished many leaders to the
Maine House and Senate. The old
lawyers have come to their graves full
Of years and honors and the young
men of today have a professional and
political prospect which is unsur-
passed.
Prom the date Of the csta blishment
of the Masonic lodge in Water.iIIe
June q, $50, until now, with the ex-
1eptlon of Il few years of the ante
mason movement. it has had an honor,
ed place ana influence in the life of the
town. Many Of its members have az
tanned very high rank in Masonry.
While one who holds Il rank attained by
10 other Mason in the United States.
Hon. Josiah H. Drunmond. is still a
member Of Natcrville Lodge. In this
and many other orders which have
come i'll to take their place ana work
again and again has the head of the
Maine jurisdiction been found il 4
WatcrI lie man.
The orator of the day, Hon. Warren
g. Philbrook, was last year chancellor
commander Of The Maine knights Of
Pythias and the present commander
Of the Department Of Maine, G.. A. r.,
is an old soldicr Of the 18th Maine
James J.. McIrick. The list might be
largely extended.
The many orders for mutual insur-
ance protection, relief and improve
ment are accomplishing Il great deal of
good in the community while that
devastating flood of all ina ginable cvi!
which the antc-ScCTct society men are
ever declaring seems to have passed us
by.
THE business history of Waterville
IS important in its attainment but more
III its prosperity. Even in the 18th CEN
fury John cI>echnie who built the
first dam on the Messa lonsllee and
Isedingtnn and Gctchell who built saw
mills on the I<ennebec saw that this
was to be a manufacturing center.
The early traders understood that this
was TO be the trade center of central
Maine. With the passing Of the old
order Of things and the extension of the
railroads it seemed for a while that
Waterville was left behind. Had it
not been for the public spirit and bust |
ness genius of Geo. A. Phillips Water |
vile would not have been what ii is
today.
Other men of public spirit, means
and administrative capacity were |
found who brought in the new era. AS |
early as 1899 it had been pointed out |
that within a radius of five miles of |
Waterville We're 10 Water falls. thus
afcrdins water power for a man
ufacturing city of the first rank. Our
great manufactures. our pay-rolls of |
II. 100000. are a definite and well es-
tablished and incontestable prophecy of
the greater things which are to be.