The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1924-01-31
FRANK G. HARRINGTON
SPEAKS TO CLUBS
Animal federated Meeting OF WO-
meas tlHb, Soresfs and Town
Improvement Society


The annual federated meeting of
the Skowhegan Women's Club, Soro-
sis and Town Improvement Society
was held Friday evening in the audi
torium of the Federated Church, with
large attendance of members and
guests. The ushers, two from each
club, were Mrs. George Young, Mrs.
Harry f. Smith, Mrs. Robert Green,
Miss Gertrude S. Weston, Miss Mil
dred A. Beale and Miss Anne Caswell.
Piano and organ music was furnished
by Mrs. Ethel Whittier Ames, organ
list and Mrs. Floyd G. Nye, pianist and
Dr. r. A. Derbyshire sang with piano
accompaniment by Mrs. r. l.. Mars
ton. Mrs. Florence Waugh Danforth,
president of the Town Improvement
Society and president of the Maine
Federation of Women's Clubs, wei
coined the members and guests and
spoke of Hon. Frank G. harrington.
of Augusta the speaker of the even
ing, as being Skowhegans son by
adoption She then referred to his
sacred trust when in Skowhegan as a
teacher and said that he would tell
us how TO make our town better
town
Mr. Harrington. who was a former
principal of the Skowhegan High
School, spoke for about one hour, his
address being enjoyed with keen in
terest He dealt especially with
community work, touching the phases
of home and school improvement.
At the close of his talk Mrs. Danforth
invited those present to meet Mr.. Far
rington.
He said in part:
a am particularly glad to meet this
splendid body of women, those who
are the active workers for the civic,
the literary. and the moral-yes, the
spiritual welfare of this community,
those who are interested in all of its
problems, whether matters of health,
OF schools. of homes or of churches
or whatever else could be considered
as making for the common good.
There never was greater need than
now of the united effort of the best
Womanhood and the best manhood in
the Nation in the State and in the
several communities. What the world
needs today are some of the simple
things of life, kindness, real courtesy,
thought of others which leads to ac-
ton, patience, fair and just judge
ments, respect for the beliefs of
others. freedom from bitter prejud-
ices, a spirit of good will and of con-
fidence, and always a sense of per-
sonal responsibility. Labor and cap
ital have their problems-they always
will have them. Learned and phil
osophical discussions there have been
and will be as to the best solution of
those problems. but there will never
be any real and lasting answer till
men have learned to trust one an
other and to have mutual confidence
and a spirit of good will"
With regard to Americanzation,
Mr. Harrington spoke of a good Amer
lean as being one who loves his home,
his fellows, his country and his God.
He continued to tell of the need of in
terest in the physical structure of the
home, with regard to books, music
and pictures and said that the Bible
should be in every home He believes
that every home should have its fam
| lily prayers saying that 1--WE want our
children to be reared in the right
way" He spoke then of the connec-
ton between the home and the school
and the need of sympathetic following
by the parents of school problems and
school activities. No sound or help
full community spirit can exist unless
the family have a mutual spirit Of
-.
rington added ut is not enough when
a man gives literally to all matters
of charity, or that he endow great
hospitals or colleges. or that we give
our time and money to any worthy
cause If back of the service and the
gift there is no real love for human
ity."
Mentioning the Federal and State
prohibitory law, Mr. harrington said
that it was immaterial whether it is a
popular or unpopular law and that
there was no such thing as personal
liberty when one is confronted by the
edict of the law. He believes that
the man who persists in the violation
Of any law, privately or publicly, is
helping to undermine the foundation
of government quite as truly as the
man who carries the red flag in his
hand and the spirit of anarchy in his
heart. With regard to moral laws
and churches and organizations, the
speaker said that any organization
which has for its basic or partial pur-
pose of racial or religious prejudices,
and which tends to lead men and wo-
men away from the safe and normal
standards of judgement and of action
is un-American. When a man fails
to love his fellows and does those
things which are consistent only with
hatred and bitterness, at that moment
he ceases to be good American.
Mr.. harrington in speaking of the
new year, said, "If we are wise, we
build quite as much, and quite as
safely, from an examination of the
past and of our failures, as we do
from too great an appreciation Of our
successes"
I'VE can all agree" said Mr. Far
that the highest type of
manhood and womanhood is the finest
product that can be turned out in