Evening star., 1926-06-20

Phillips; first vice president, DR..
Horatio n. Howard; second vice presi-
dent, Charles l.. Patten: third vice
president, Mrs. Jane Frye Coolidge.
recording secretary, Mrs. +. NJ. 5.
Marble; corresponding secretary, r. A.
Dinsmore; treasurer. Walter Higgins,
and Granville Fernald was named the
sentinel.
Meet Twice Month
1t was unanimously voted to have
meetings twice a month and this
Sociable habit held for many years,
when gradually other activities en-
croached on time and the Maine
Society followed the usual custom of
monthly meeting about seven times a
year and entertainments of various
kinds on occasion. Unlike the State
associations, which led a precarious
existence, meeting in any school
basement. church, hall or proffered
residence, the Sons and Daugh.
terS Of Maine, after accepting
the hospitality of Capt. Phillips
in his offices in the Loan and Trust
Building, secured its ''own hired hall"
as long ago as 1896. For 10 years at
least the Maine Society entertained
its members with the most delightful
musicals and dramatic readings
which Washington offered outside the
theaterS and concert halls. To read
these old programs would for many
be to live over many happy hours
with singers and orators whose voices
have long been silent. Among those
readily remembered was NJ T.
ODonoghue, whose gifted wife was
Marian Iongfellow, daughter of the
poet.
The poems of Longfellow we're
faVorite themes for recitation and for
literary discussion. and later In the
annals of the society a Shakespeare
club was formed. which resulted in
the most erudite discussions Of
whether the bard Of Avon really
wrote the plays and sonnets or
whether they came from the pen Of
Francis Bacon. Judge Israel G.. Kim
ball. who so long presided over the
police tribunal, frequently addressed
the society in the early days, giving
tnfmitable accounts Of his experiences
as police judge in Washington. and
Dean William Allen Wilbur of the
Columbian College. now George
Washington University, was another
son Of Maine who came before the So
ciety at its entertainments usually
with charming literary criticism or
Interpretation of Longfellow's poems
or of Whittier's. Granville Fernald
was always to be relied on for a speech
on the history Of Maine, and former
Gov. Sydney Perham was a power on
the subject of temperance and pro-
hibition.
Held Temperance Meetings.
Gov Perham. then a resident of
Washington. had many symposiums
on temperance and prohibition. held
Nuin fn,
back as 1894. and the most spirited
discussions on these subjects outside
Of the W. G. T. u. and kindred so
cietieS We're staged there. Miss Edna
BarroWS, Miss Anna Brett and Miss
Alice Ford were popular songsters Of
their day. and they were frequently
on the musical program. DIR. and Mrs.
G. Harris White were fayorites with
the Maine folks of the late '90s, and
the inimitable Edwin B. Hay. The
late Admiral Royal B. Bradford and
Mrs. Bradford and their talented
daughters were important among the
first members.
About five years after its founda-
ton the Maine Society adopted the
title now used--"The Maine Associa-
ton Of Washington, y. c." The
meetings were held during the first 10
years at Society Temple, 522 Sixth
street, and at w c. T. u. hall at 419
Tenth, and it then rented rooms at
614 Ninth street. Among those early
presidents were many who are affec-
tionately remembered along other lines
of activities-ex-Gov. Sydney Perham
who acted from 1896-97; Walter Hig-
gins, who was the first treasurer, and
afterward serving one term as presi-
dent, 1923, again assumed that
office: DR.. Alphonso Patten, who was
chosen president in 1903 and acted
until 1907. He and Mrs Patten were
charter members and ardent workers
for the State society. It was Dr.
Patten who selected the pine cone and
taSsel as the floral emblem of the
State and who rendered valuable aid
TO Miss Janet l.. Dingley in gather
ing the votes on the subject. DIR.
Patten was for several years the pres
ident of the Brookland Rose Societies
and some of the best exhibitions were
given under his direction. He and
Mrs. Patten died about four years ago.
Other presidents who left large void
in passing were Pitman Pulsifer and
Gen. Ellis Spear. George w. Hall was
president in 1913 and on his death
his widow. Mrs Frances Mann Hall,
was elected and she is the only woman
ever selected to serve as president.
Has Nearly 400.
The Maine Association now counts
a membership climbing close to 400.
Those of it's charter members who
have escaped the grim reaper con-
tinue as loyal and devoted as in
1894. The late Senator Eugene Hale
Joined his brethren in those early
days, as did the late William Pierce
Frye. Mrs. Hale remains interested
in the society, and the lamented Sen
ator and Mrs. Frye have worthy sue
cessors in Mr.. and Mrs. Frank Briggs,
the latter their daughter. Mr.. Briggs
has recently served as president of
the society, but his election as presi-
dent of the Mayfiower Descendants
made it impossible to retain both
offices. Senator Frederick Hale at
tends many of the meetings and SEN
ator Bert NJ. Fernald's family have
been among those Of the founders to
keep up the tradition. Ernest G..
Walker, well known in newspaper
circles, was a charter member and
once on a time gave the members
the benefit of his ripe experience in
this field.
For a few years, in war time and
the subsequent general slump of ev-