The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1909-03-25

SlUQueHL anu lOuCIluIS lTlDuCeS W tIe
memory of his predecessor ever listened
to in our grand lodge. Brother Bangs
was one of the most eloquent speakers
that ever occupied the Grand Chief Tenn
plar's chair, as well as one of the most
popular. He believed in thorough and
effective organizing work and he kept
several lecturers and organizers in the
field during his administration. 1t was
during his term of office that was first
commissioned as a State lecturer and or
ganizer. began work about the first of
September, 1901, and closed my labors in
February, 1902, having spoken and labor
ed for the order in all parts Of Maine for
about six months. While in Somerset
county made my first trip into the Dead
River country, famous as the region
through which General Benedict Arnold
marched his army of invasion to Canada
at the opening of the Revolution. We
addressed large meetings all through this
historic region and established several
lodges.
l closed my services in the Dead River
country at North New Portland, where
addressed very large public meeting
under the auspices of the old Carrebasset
Lodge, and the chairman of that meet
ing was Rev. Roberts Scott, Past Grand
Chaplain Of our Grand Lodge, who had
recently moved there from Monmouth
to become the settled pastor of the
church. remember, too, meeting DR.. E.
L. Stevens of your city, who was teach
ing school in this village at that time,
and as we had been fellow students
at the Maine Central Institute in Pitts
field we had long and pleasant
chat after the close of the meeting.
Late the next morning | received my
mail, which had just arrived by stage,
and l found letter from our Grand
Secretary, Bro. Bracket, one from G..
C. T. Bangs, and one from home. was
directed by Bro. Bangs to begin work
Immediately in Androscoggin county,
which l did. l remember l closed my
services in that county by addressing a
very large temperance meeting on a
Sunday evening in one of the churches
in Lewiston under the auspices of the
District Lodge. Just before | began
speaking Congressman Dingley was
shown into the church. and after shak-
ing hands with him he took a seat in one
of the front pews. l remember l felt
somewhat intimidated to speak before
S uch a distinguished statesman, but as l
took notice that he was very much inter-
ested in what | was saying on the tenn
perance question this feeling soon wore
off. At the close of the meeting he
shook me warmly by the hand and wish
ed me success in the work. AS | bade
him good night in front of the church !
said: This is pretty cold night for you
to be out, governor. 1t was now the
last of November and the nights very
chilly. He replied: Eyes, l know it,
but it is for good cause" There We're
few men in the State of Maine who held
the cause of temperance more dear than
Ex-Governor Nelson Dmgley
am straying moIf my subject, but
can never think of my first lecture tour
under the management of two Of the
ablest Grand Lodge officers GU" State
ever ad,-Col.A.T Bangs and Mr. Geo.
E. Bracket, among the gold-tipped
mountains in the Dead River county and
the fertile valleys of Maine, without its
bringing to mind pleasant and happy
memories. Bro. Bangs is still living,
hale and hearty, very active in business
and is now at the head of the Golden
Cross order in Maine, which he has built
up wonderfully. He is also prominent in
Grand Army circles and is a popular
and distinguished Memorial Day orator.
| often meet MIN in Augusta, where he
resides, and we discuss the temperance
question, in which he is still deeply inter
ested. Long may he live.
During Bro Bangs term of office our
Grand Lodge lost very able and dis
tinguished member in the death of
Cephas A. Farwell, ESQ.,, of Pittsfeld,
who passed away in 1891 at the compare
lively early age of Sc. Bro. Farwell
was lawyer by profession and gentle
man of superior ability. Probably as a
parliamentarian he never had his SUI
perior on the floor of the Grand Lodge Of
Maine, and no peer as a constitutional
list. He never sought any Office or hon.
ors in the gift of our Grand Lodge, yet
high honors came to him and he probably
represented Maine in the worlds ses-
sions of the order more times than any
other member of the Grand Lodge.
From 1890 to 1897, only seven years
time, the Grand Lodge of Maine Good
Templars lost by death four of its most
honored, distinguished and able leaders.
First by the death of Storer S. Knight,
Past G. C. T., in 1890, and one year
later by the death of Cephas A. Farwell,
ESQ.,; then by the death of the young and
brilliant John W. Mitchell in 1894;then,
in 1897, '1ike sheaf of wheat ripened
for the harvest" Gen. Neal Dow, a
member of Mystic Lodge in Portland,