Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-03-29
Continued From Page one)

nominations and necessary an
nouncements were made.
The nearly one thousand boys formed
in procession about G o'clock and
marched to City hall. where the first
big banquet Of the. 1924 conference
was staged In a brilliant setting, with
Ills Excellency Percival p. Baxter
governor Of Maine, and Rev. Henry
If. Crane of Maiden, Mass, as the prin.
cipal speakers, both Of whom delivered
most eloquent addresses holding the
attention OF the vast audience
throughout
At the banquet meeting the underly-
ing spirit OF enthusiasm, which stamps
an ineradicable memory Of the confer
cnce and it's influence on the mind OF
every lad in attendance. was brought
out In the competitive cheering by the
various county delegations and In the
mass cheering and singing led from
the stage platform. The boys enjoyed
every minute Of the banquet program
but there ~ little doubt that the con-
ference officials, leaders, speakers and
special guests, who were privileged to
be present, enjoyed 1t even more.
Friday Night Banquet
Hon. Norman l.. Bassett. an eloquent
and gracious member OF the Maine
bar. presided as POSTMASTER at the
memorable banquet session Friday
evening. Mr.. Bassett pleased the boys
immensely, and In his own words clos
ing the program he said: II have
been present at many great functions
I have attended q banquet of the Ma
iional Bar Association on Canadian
soil. which was n historic event:
lave been present at many similar OBJ
servances. but tonight I believe l have
been privileged to figure in the great.
est meeting of my life. and i shall
never forget it,
Tn prefacinG his Introductory re-
marks Mr.. Bassett gave a new and
most appropriate version of a familiar
classic when he said:
Boys to the right Of them,
Boys to the left OF them.
Boys in front of them cheered and
Numbered.
And on into City hall came the six
hundred"
The POSTMASTER recalled some
thing Of the origin end history oil
the Maine Boys Conferences which
were instituted in 1906. At the last
conference held In Augusta in 1910
73S boys were registered and 1t was
a worlds record at that time. In all
$1,000 boys have received the benefi
cient influences accompanying parti-
cipation in these great conventions
and Mr.. Bassett quoted figures on
the numbers of former conference
boys who have since entered into
many phases OF religious endeavor
''But I do not sing of the glorious
days OF tho past. he declared"
greet the more glorious days of the
present"
In introducing the four young men
who presented the welcome of the
conference cities, Mr.. Bassett spoke
of the host grohp as great COM
munity whole. and labeled It the
AGHW broadcasting station. He
called upon Donald Hewitt. the presi
dent elect of the conference. to speak
for the Augusta part of the initial
combination.
Mr.. Hewitt in few well chosen
words words ably stated the pleasure
of the citizens of this city in being
privileged to entertain the confer
ence. He prophesized that the
friendships which will be formed ms
n result OF association in the meet
ings of the conference will he one oil
the greatest influences in the future
lives Of the delegates.
Bernard Lucas, speaking for Gar
diner and Randolph. John w. Lister
for Hallowell. and Kenneth Dorr rep
resenting Winthrop all pleased the
meeting. The latter lad was a mere
youngster in knickerbockers but he