The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-07-15
HISTORIANS
IN ANNUAL
MEETING

The Rhode Island Veteran Citizens
Historical association held its annual
meeting yesterday afternoon In the Math-
ewson Street NJ e. church. There was
good attendance. and much interest
manifested in the proceedings. Mr..
James N. Arnold presided In the absence
OF ex-Gov Dyer. Mr. Henry A. Davis
was elected an honorary member. and Mr..
Henry c. Cram an active member. 1t was
voted that the election OF officers be post
poned 10 the next meeting.
Mr.. Gallagher read the monthly records
and the names OF the speakers and their
subjects the past year. and OF the new
members and the excursion visits, and OF
the deceased memberships. Julia Bar
stow, Mr. George welch and Mr.. James
Jefferson
Miss Grace Barbour OF Troy, n. Y,
sang and played two beautiful selections,
1.-THE Cradle Song" and "Blue Bird"
The president then introduced Mr.. J. II.
Brown. who gave an address. entitled
"The Fall River and Narragansett
steamers. and an in memoriam sketch of
the late Capt Benjamin Brayton. their
Oldest commander
Previous to the paper. by request, he
gave in memoriam sketches OF Gen.
Frank Wheaton. Gen. Franklin j. Lippitt,
Theodore w. Phillips, w. w. Paine,
Charles II. Perkins. H. w. Cooke and
Professor Robert II. Thurston OF Cor
nell, his classmate and last survivor or
the Monitor.
He spoke in part as follows: The nine
teenth century doubtless may be defined
as the most, exciting period in the worlds
history and prolific in achievements and
discoveries which have astonished and
challenged the admiration OF the greatest
scholars and philosophers.
To all the auspiclous events OF this
ma gniflcent century must be added the
beneficial reforms for humanity. culmina-
ting in the crownng glory OF the century
the issuing OF the emancipation proclama-
ton by Abraham Lincoln giving freedom
TO all men on the American continent.
VIII the twentieth eclipse the grandeur
OF the nineteenth? Many believe IL will.
and that it's close will witness still greater
discoveries and some OF the most radical
astounding changes In the governmental
policies OF all nations. Holy writ assures
us that 1t is given us TO know some
to us hereafter.
Horace Mann, the father of the public
schools, said the longer he lived the moro
he learned his own Ignorance. and that
he still had much to learn. So, too, the
people at 1000 years VIII surpass In knowl-
edge the past, but have much to learn.
The optimist however. may indulge the
hope that the men and women of 1000
years may witness the blessed altruism
az all o. 4.
world over, the happy union of all creeds.
| sects and dogmas under one Christian
| faith. If not the millennium then Il will
| be an ausptcious approach to that day.
| and the commandment OF Christ uni
| versally obeyed. DO unto others as We
would that others should do TO YOU" This
Is the great commandment and how little
! It costs TO observe It,
| The victories OF the Nineteenth centruy
have been marvellous and brilliant Al
J The victories OF the Nineteenth century
I optimist, hopes. dreams. May peace pre-
| vail, may all wars cease. Christian fra
ternal brotherhood be universal and tn,
noblest hopes and aspirations OF the opti
must be fully realized. Perhap:
among all the noted inventions. none ha.
added more to the wealth OF the countr,
than that of steam.
The locomotive now travels through
| every land and the ocean and inlant
| steamers Join together all the ports o
| the world. Rhode Island has held a yer.
important position and has been one o
the greatest manufacturers OF steam en-
gines, and locomotives and Newport an'
Salem were first for years as commercia
cities. Indeed several writers and abl
historians have asserted and one recent
ly, that Boston should have been located
at Providence and that this location wa
much better adapted on account OF 1t
seaport facilities, fine harbor. and splen
did bay to be the emporium and capita
seaport OF New England, than Boston.
At all events Providence has Nara
gansett bay, a magnificent inland harbor
unsurpassed for beauty, and scenery. sa
tourists, either by Sap Francisco Naples
or the Hellespont. 1t has also as hne
feet OF ocean, sound and home steamer
as any city, can boast of In this coun
try. Rhode Island citizens may we'll b
proud OF Its ocean palace ana nom
steamers and also of the able, gentleman
ly corps OF STAFF officers and seamen tina
command and sail them. and proud ais
OF their splendid record for sea manshir
Courtesy and safety and the reputatio
OF few accidents, and OF never havin
lost a steamer In Narragansett bay.
New York Sound boats also have oeel
extremely fortunate. having lost onl'
two steamers. the Lexington and Meti'
with loss or life IN tne Sounu' lHo lNiVu
Island. Captain Griffin and the Bristol
Captain Brayton. had narrow escapes, bu
were saved by the mastery heroism o
their officers and seamen. When Rhod
Island citizens read of the terrible los
| OF the Slocum In New York and tn
Danish steamer Norge off Scotland. an
the terrible list OF ocean liners lost II
the past, they can truly appreciate thei
own good fortune and how much credi
and praise are due TO their own com
manders. officers and seamen In Nara
gansett bay.
Narragansett bay has II lines OF steam
ers. Fall River and New York. Prov
dence. New York. Norfolk, Baltimore
Providence Fall River & Newport. Jo
line, Hull line. Block Island. Seaconne'
WEXFORD and Pawtucket. a large freigh
feet. and four palace steamers-the Puri
tan. Captain Chase: the Priscilla, CAPITAL
Williamson. the Plymouth, Captain Grit
nn, and the Pilgrim. Captain Hazard
they are floating palaces, magniicientl
| furnished IN all their appointments wit
! | orchestral music, electric lights, tele
phone and also now with wireless tele
| granny