Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-23

at the annual banquet today Of the
Maine Society. Sons of the American
Revolution. He was, the principal
speaker. Philip F. Turner of this city
was elected president of the society,
and Wainwright Gushing of Foxcroft,
senior vice president.
One of the speakers was Ephraim
B. Allen of Mechanic Falls, a real son
of the revolution, whose father en-
listed in Connecticut when he was
fourteen years old and served four
years and half until peace was de-
clared- The following officers We're
elected: President Philip +. Turner OF
Portland; senior vice president, Vain
wright Gushing Of Foxcroft; secretary,
Jos. B. Shepherd of Portland; regis
trar, Francis L. Littlefeld of Portland;
treasurer, Enoch O. Greenleaf of Port
land. librarian, William Cousins of
Portland; historian. Augustus F. Moul-
ton Of Portland; chaplain. Rev. R g
Johnnet Of Lewiston.
John Francis Sprague of Dover
president of the Maine Society S. A. r.
and editor of Sprague's Journal of
Maine History addressed the members
of the society as follows:
Compatriots and Ladies and Gentle
men:
The mission Of the Sons Of the Am
erican Revolution emanateS from two
fundamental ideas having two distinct
and vitality important objects in view
The first and most primal of these is
the purpose Of intoxicating in the minds
of the people a deeper love for their
country.
Civilization can advance and attain
to the higher ideals only through or
gained government.
The existence of any republic, of
any representative form of government.
depends upon the love and respect for
il which springs from the hearts of its
citizens. And this world calls patri-
otism. Our Society is pledged to the
work Of developing in American citi-
zenship this love for its country, it's
noble traditions and the inherent aspi-
rations of Americans to continually
strive for better government, more ad-
vanced conditions, greater prosperity
ana grander progress towards the
highest and most cultured type of
manhood.
The other object more incidental
perhaps than direct in its purpose is
that of historical research.
The applicant to this society through
its very scheme is compelled to first
search the records of the past for
genealogical and historical data upon
which to base his right TO membership
History. concisely speaking, is a record
Of human events
Since the birth Of civilization man
has preserved this record and it ever
serves him as a beacon light TO guide
him in his constant seeking for truth,
and il strengthens his love for justice
and righteousness,
George Washington and the founders
Of this government designed TO be one
Of equal rights for all men were aided
in their great work by their study of
the history OF the rise and fail of re-
publics which had preceded their eff
forts. And the history Of the fornaa-
ton of the integral parts of the nation
of states, counties. cities and towns is
in a similar way of the utmost import
ance. II is a real and vivid story of
human life and Of value 10 all genera
tons Of men as they appear and disap-
pear in the mysterious procession of
mans existence
And retterate at this time the same
thought that ! have on other occasions
expressed, that a study Of the failures
and achievements of men in lifes
storms and stress Of the past is ever
an inspiration to the living; to be
brave where they may have faltered, to
advance where they may have halted
and TO finish in better fashion the
structure which they begun as best
they could in the light OF the times in
which they toiied
That the study Of our remote begin
nings as communities leads the way to
purer citizenship and good govern
ment is TO my mind truth that is fun
damental.
consideration Of the perplexing
problems which the fathers met and
solved in their day prompts us to meet
ours of the present hour with the same
courage as did they New conditions.
some of which may be repugnant 20
our traditions and violate the spirit of
our institutions, have produced new
and complex questions and issues. new
and unexplored fields of thought new
duties to be performed.
Down through the years of the past
century along with our DEVELOPMENT
and marvellous material growth, along
with the strange inventions Of the wiz
ards of the arts and sciences. has also
come to US heritage Of social. politi-
cal and economic problems which were
not in the dreams of the fathers and
which they could have had no more
conception of than they had of con-
veyance by air or by wireless telegra-
ply. Our struggle is like theirs only
that it calls for true manhood and
brave and honest hearts to lead in the
fray; for men who dare TO stand for
ideals which are pure and lofty, who
dare to defend justice and equal rights
and who like the fathers shall have the
courage of their honest convictions
though the Heavens may fall.
If any finite beings in this world ever
had inspiration from infinite sources
George Washington and his brave
compatriots were of the number When
to uphold military and monarchial des-
potism and save 1t from the destruction
which was imminent in this twentieth
century, fourteen or fifteen nations Of
the world are in a death struggle that
stasgers the American mind to com
prehend, We may well thank Heaven
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