USA > Maine > Cumberland County > Gorham > Celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of Gorham, Maine : May 26, 1886 > Part 3
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In September, 1774, Solomon Lombard, Esquire, was elected from this town a member of the Provincial Congress, and a large committee was raised, of which Nathan Whitney was chairman, to draw up instructions for the Representative, Mr. Lombard ; the instructions were precise and strong, and voted by the town. Captain Briant Morton was delegate to the third and last Pro- vincial Congress, which sat at Watertown.
At a town meeting held May 20, 1776, the freemen of Gor- ham, being generally assembled, voted unanimously that they would abide by, and with their lives and fortunes support the honorable Congress in the measure, if they think fit for the safety of these United Colonies, to declare themselves independent of the kingdom of Great Britain. This vote was passed nearly two months before the Declaration of Independence was brought for- ward in Congress. So early, so constantly, and so vigorously did the people of this town manifest their attachment to freedom.
In November, 1777, the town voted one hundred dollars to each volunteer who would go to reinforce the army of General Washington; and one hundred pounds lawful money was raised in a single year in this town to supply the families of absent soldiers. The spirit of patriotism in this town never flagged throughout the whole seven years' war. And after peace re- turned, at a town meeting held May 12, 1783, it was " voted that no person or persons who have joined the enemy in the late war against these United States (otherwise called tories) shall be suf- fered to abide in Gorham."
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
From the first to the last day of the revolutionary struggle, this town complied, and more than complied, with all the requi- sitions of the nation and the state for men, food, and clothing for the army. At one time the town raised four hundred dollars for the purchase of beef, and three hundred dollars for the pur- chase of clothing for the army; and at one town meeting the inhabitants voted £522 13s 4d for bounties for soldiers for the continental army, and Captain Samuel Whitmore, Lieutenant Nathaniel Frost, and Captain Hart Williams, were appointed a committee to obtain the soldiers.
Colonel Frost was almost incessantly employed in military ser- vices, as well as in civil offices, during many years of the war, and it gives great additional interest to our celebration to find him among us in vigorous health (the oldest man in our town), with so many of his venerable associates with him, the patriots of the war of our Independence. At the latter part of their long and useful lives they are receiving the gratitude of the young, and something of the bounty of the government they contributed so largely to establish.
It has been already stated that the people of this town made early provision for religious instruction. In 1741, when there were not more than ten or twelve families in Gorham, they set about building a meeting-house. In 1764 a second meeting- house was erected. In 1792 it was voted to enlarge the meet- ing-house thirty feet to the southward. In 1797 it was voted to dispose of the old meeting-house, and to build a new one. In 1798 the parish gave the "corner school-class the old meeting- house, provided the said class would build a school-house large enough to accommodate the town to do their town business in."
In June, 1797, the present meeting-house of the First Parish was erected. At the time of raising the same, a melancholy accident occurred - a part of the frame gave way, and two per- sons, Doctor Nathaniel Bowman and James Tryon, were killed. In 1828 this meeting-house was enlarged, altered, and put into its present form. Until 1790 the First, or Congregational Parish was the only incorporated religious society in this town. In January, 1790, George Thomes and sixty-one others were consti- tuted a separate society, which was denominated the Baptist So- ciety, though before that time many were dissatisfied with Con-
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
gregational tenets and preaching, and much opposed to paying taxes to support a Congregational minister. Since 1800 a large and respectable society of Methodists have been formed, and there are many persons in town of other denominations. The Free meeting-house was erected in 1821, to be used by any sect. The Methodists have also another house for public worship. The Free-will Baptists and Friends have each one.
The first clergyman employed in Gorham was a Mr. Benjamin Crocker from Cape Cod ; he hired for six months at three pounds ten shillings per week, and preached from February 16, 1743, to the September following, when he was paid sixty pounds (old tenor, forty-five shillings to the dollar). Mr. Crocker graduated at Harvard College in 1713.
In September, 1750, the proprietors of this town voted to give Mr. Solomon Lombard a call to settle here in the work of the Gospel ministry ; his salary was to be fifty-three pounds, six shil- lings, eight pence annually, and he received the lots of land re- served for the first settled minister, and the use of the parsonage land during his ministry. Lot number'57 ( the lot where Mr. A. Clarke's farm is) was confirmed to him and his heirs for one of the minister lots. Mr. Lombard was a native of Truro, Cape Cod, and graduated at Harvard College in 1723; he was ordained at Gorham, December 26, 1750 ; one dollar was assessed on each right of land ($120) to defray the expenses of the ordination.
How long Mr. Lombard lived on terms of unanimity with his parishioners, I cannot say ; but in the warrant for a proprietors' meeting, March 11, 1757, one of the articles in the warrant was, " to inquire into the grounds of the difference betwixt the Rev. Mr. Lombard and the inhabitants of this town." He was finally dismissed in 1764, and subsequently united with the Episcopali- ans. During the ministry of Mr. Lombard there was a schism in the church, and a Mr. Townsend was ordained pastor over one division of it April 4, 1759 - the Parish ordained him without the aid of clergymen. Captain Phinney prayed before the Charge; Captain Morton gave the Charge, and Mr. Townsend performed the other services. Phinney and Morton were Elders in the church. Mr. Lombard was a man of talents, learning, and sound sense. Soon after his dismissal from the ministry he was engaged in political life ; he sustained many important offices ;
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
he was a Justice of the Peace, chairman of the committee of safety and vigilance in the early days of the Revolution ; a del- egate to the first Colonial Convention; twice a member of the Provincial Congress ; a delegate to form the Constitution of Mas- sachusetts ; seven years a Representative from Gorham in the Legislature, and afterward one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas for the county of Cumberland.
A town meeting was held July 12, 1766, " to see what method the town would take in order to the settling of a good, learned, Orthodox Congregational minister among us; and it was voted to send out Deacon Eliphalet Watson to go after such a minister. Mr. Lombard was succeeded in the ministry by Rev. Josiah Thacher, a native of Lebanon, Connecticut, a graduate of New- Jersey College. He was settled in Gorham in 1767, and after many difficulties with the Parish he was dismissed in April, 1781. And like Mr. Lombard, he soon laid aside the title of Reverend for that of Honorable, and entered deeply into political affairs. He was a Justice of the Peace - eleven years Representative of the town -then a Senator from Cumberland county in the Mas- sachusetts Legislature, and subsequently a Judge of the County Court.
Reverend Caleb Jewett was the third Congregational minis- ter; he was a native of Newburyport, Massachusetts, and grad- uated at Dartmouth College in 1776; he was ordained at Gor- ham, November 5, 1783 ; he was dismissed September 8, 1800.
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Jeremiah Noyes was his successor ; he was from Newburyport ; graduated at Dartmouth College 1799; ordained at Gorham No- vember 16, 1803 and died January 15, 1807. One condition of Mr. Noyes' settlement was, that he should take a dismission when- ever two-thirds of the legal voters of the Parish, at a legal meet- ing held for that purpose, should request it, six months' notice to be given.
Asa Rand was next ordained over the first Parish in Gorham, January 18, 1809. He was a native of Rindge, New Hamp- shire, graduated at Dartmouth College 1806, and dismissed from his pastoral charge June 12, 1822; he became afterward editor of a religious newspaper in Portland, then at Boston, and subse- quently at Lowell, Massachusetts.
Rev. Thaddeus Pomeroy, from South-Hampton, Massachusetts,
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
succeeded Mr. Rand as pastor of the first Parish, and still re- mains in that relation.
Doctor Stephen Swett was the first physician in this town ; he was from Exeter, New Hampshire, and was a prominent man in town affairs in the time of the Revolution, and was surgeon in Colonel Phinney's regiment, and in several battles.
Doctor Jeremiah Barker succeeded him ; he afterward removed to Falmouth; subsequently he married the widow of Judge Gorham, returned to this town, and died here in 1835, at the age of eighty-four years.
Doctor Nathaniel Bowman was the third physician ; he gradu- ated at Harvard College in 1786, and was killed by the fall of the meeting-house frame, as before stated. Doctor Dudley Fol- som, from Exeter, New Hampshire, Doctors Charles Kittridge, Asa Adams, William Thorndike, Doctor Seaver, Elihu Baxter, William H. Peabody, Nelson H. Carey, and John Pierce, have been practising physicians in town.
John P. Little, from Littleton, Massachusetts, a graduate of Brown University, first opened an office in this town in 1801 for the practice of law; Peter Thacher, Samuel Whitmore, Barrett Potter, Jacob S. Smith, Joseph Adams, J. Pierce, Thomas J. Goodwin, and Elijah Hayes, have since been counselors-at-law in Gorham.
The first Innholder licensed in Gorham was Caleb Chase in 1770 ; then Samuel Prentiss in 1776; Cary Mclellan in 1779; and many others since.
Till 1789 there was but one militia company in Gorham; in that year two companies were formed out of the old one; a third company was afterward formed; and since, companies of cav- alry, light infantry, and riflemen, have been organized.
The people of this town have not been inattentive to the sub- ject of education. Before the incorporation of the town the proprietors and inhabitants made provision for schools. At the first town meeting in March, 1765, forty pounds was voted for schools. At that period only one public school was kept in town. In 1768 the "town voted to improve Mr. John Greene as school- master till the money tax is expended."
In each of the years 1806-1807 £550 ($1,833.33) was raised for schools ; in 1808, $666.66 ; in 1809, $1,000 ; in 1812, $1,500.
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
Gorham Academy was incorporated by the Legislature of Mas- sachusetts March 5, 1803, being the seventh academy incorpo- rated in Maine. Eleven thousand, five hundred and twenty acres of land were granted by the General Court of Massachusetts for its endowment, June 20, 1803 ; twenty-five hundred dollars were contributed by the citizens of Gorham and the vicinity; and in 1804 the town voted four hundred dollars in aid of the institu- tion. The land granted by the State is in the town of Wood- stock, Oxford County, and was sold by the Trustees for ten thousand dollars. The Academy went into operation September, 1806. Its first Preceptor was Reuben Nason, a native of Dover, New Hampshire; he graduated at Harvard College in 1802. Mr. Nason had charge of the Academy till January, 1810, when he settled at Freeport as minister of the Congregational Society in that town ; he again took charge of Gorham Academy in Sep- tember, 1815, and continued principal of the same till August, 1834; he then removed to Clarkson, New York, and died sud- denly at that place in January, 1835. Charles Coffin, Asa Red- ington jr., and William White, were preceptors from 1810 to 1815. In 1834 John V. Beane was principal - and Amos Brown is at present at the head of the Institution.
The principal burying-ground in the town is the old cemetery in the village, which was given to the town by Mr. Jacob Ham- len in 1770, and contains one half-acre of land. In this place most of the early settlers and many of the distinguished men who have lived in Gorham, have been buried.
Ever since the termination of the Indian wars, the town has been constantly increasing in wealth and population, and at the present time has more than three thousand inhabitants. It is one of the best agricultural towns in the state, having little or no waste land, and has important factories of cotton, woolen, leather, starch, and gunpowder.
If the healthiness of a place is to be ascertained by the age to which its people live, then will this town be adjudged to be one of great salubrity ; it is believed that no town in Maine has con- tained so many aged people in proportion to its population, as Gorham. The early settlers especially were remarkable for their longevity. The first settlers, Captain John Phinney and his wife Martha, both died at the age of eighty-seven years; their sons,
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GRAVES OF CAPT. JOHN PHINNEY AND WIFE. - Old Cemetery, Gorham Village.
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
Colonel Edmund Phinney lived to be eighty-five, John Phinney eighty-three, James Phinney ninety-four, their daughter, Mary Gorham Irish, eighty-nine. When the census of 1830 was taken, there were living in Gorham sixty-eight persons between the ages of seventy and eighty years ; thirty-two between eighty and ninety ; and six over ninety years of age.
The deaths in Gorham have been in late years about one in one hundred of the population, about thirty annually. Though in 1832, when the scarlet fever prevailed extensively, and was very fatal, fifty-six persons died in town, twenty-nine of whom died by that malady.
From the time of the incorporation of the town in 1764, to the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, four Judges of the courts have lived in Gorham, and she hal four senators and fif- teen representatives in the Legislature of Massachusetts. The senators were the Honorable Josiah Thacher, Stephen Longfel- low, Lothrop Lewis, and James Irish.
Colonel Phinney, Judge Longfellow, Judge Gorham, Caleb Chase, Captain Briant Morton, Captain Hart Williams, Amos Whitney, Solomon Lombard, Honorable Josiah Thacher and Lo- throp Lewis, were for many years the leading men in town, and managed its most important concerns.
But I detain you too long ; it is time that I should close. I have thus, fellow-citizens, endeavored to trace a portion of the history of our town, to exhibit the deeds and character of its first settlers. They are not present to join in our celebration ; they have all passed away to be here no more -
"Each in his narrow cell forever laid, The rude forefathers of the hamlet sleep."
And we are permitted to reap in peace and joy the fields they planted in sorrow and in blood ! It is but just to speak of their worth; it is but grateful to cherish the memory of their virtues. They were a peculiar set of men, remarkable for their love of freedom, for firmness and decision of character. Their spring- time of life was passed in hardships, dangers, and difficulties of no common magnitude. They were mostly agriculturists, hard- working, sober, honest citizens. They had not the advantages of literary education, but they acquired knowledge enough of
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GORHAM CENTENNIAL.
letters to fit them for the more important duties of townsmen and citizens. They had not studied in the schools of eloquence, but they spoke in plain and forcible language "the words of truth and soberness." They abhorred disguise, and were above dissimulation. They were just, and therefore respected ; vir- tuous, and beloved; hospitable, and esteemed; pious, and wor- thy to be imitated. They had no predilections, or personal in- terests that they were not willing to sacrifice on the altars of duty and patriotism.
Liberty and religious freedom were the great objects of their pursuit; these they resolved to have at any hazard ; these they gained and left to their posterity. Let those now living see to it that they transmit the precious bequest to their children.
CELEBRATION
OF THE
ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY.
At a town meeting held June 8, 1885, the third article in the warrant being "To see what action the town will take, if any, in regard to a suitable observance of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town, which will occur in May, 1886," a committee of twelve was ap- pointed to report in regard to the matter at the next March meeting. The committee consisted of the following persons, viz .: Frederick Robie, John A. Waterman, Joseph W. Parker, William L. Larrabee, Samuel R. Clement, Stephen Westcott, Otis Purinton, Charles W. Deering, Stephen Hinkley, George B. Emery, Mark Mosher and Stephen L. Stephenson.
On the 8th day of March, 1886, at the adjournment of the annual town meeting, it was
Voted, To have a suitable observance of the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of the settlement of the town.
The above named gentlemen were chosen a committee to act in the matter, and were authorized to expend on the part of the town a sum not exceeding five hundred dollars in an appropriate celebration of the event, which sum was then raised by the town for that purpose.
The first meeting of the committee was held at the house of Gov. Robie on Saturday afternoon, March 13, 1886, all being present except Messrs. Mosher and Parker.
Gov. Frederick Robie was chosen chairman and Stephen Hinkley, Esq., secretary.
The following sub-committees were appointed : -
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ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
ON PROGRAMME -Messrs. Emery, Stephenson and Deer- ing.
ON LITERARY EXERCISES - Messrs. Hinkley, Larrabee, Clement, Robie and Waterman.
ON INVITATIONS - Messrs. Waterman, Hinkley and Pur- inton.
At the next meeting, March 27, the committee on Pro- gramme made a report which was accepted, and which formed the basis of the programme hereafter given in detail.
The committee on Literary Exercises reported that they had invited Rev. Elijah Kellogg to deliver the address and that he had accepted the invitation. This report was also accepted.
At this and subsequent meetings of the general committee, some of the sub-committees were enlarged and numerous others appointed, from time to time as occasion required. A full list of these committees is given in another place. Gov. Robie was requested to act as President of the day and to deliver an address of welcome, which he consented to do ; and the following gentlemen were appointed vice-presidents :
Saul C. Higgins,
Edward Gould,
George Motley,
William Smith,
Simon E. Mclellan,
Jeremiah Parker,
Sewell Cloudman,
Van W. Carle,
Samuel E. Stone,
David F. Rolfe,
Frank A. Hamblen,
Charles Patrick,
Lewis Lombard,
Stephen L. Stephenson,
Mark Mosher,
James G. Meserve,
George W. Crockett,
Sumner C. Bolton,
Rufus Whitney,
Ezra Thombs,
Daniel C. Libby,
Joseph G. Bodge,
Moses Fogg,
George B. Emery,
Theodore B. Edwards,
Stephen Westcott,
Ne
Thaddeus P. Irish,
Dana Estes,
Samuel Cressey,
Rufus King,
Rufus H. Hinkley,
J. McGregor Adams,
Wesley Murch,
N. J. Rust,
. Arthur Phinney, Charles Chadbourn,
George F. Fabyan,
Randall J. Elder,
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1506645
ANNIVERSARY.
Roscoe G. Harding,
Lewis Pierce,
Joseph Skillings,
William W. Peabody,
Charles G. Alden,
Thomas S. Smith,
F. Augustus Files,
Gerry Rounds,
Benjamin A. Watson,
Edward Storer,
Reuben M. Bangs,
James Warren,
J. N. Newcomb,
Reuben Nason,
William B. Freeman,
W. F. Higgins,
Charles B. Cotton,
Edward P. Pomeroy,
Benjamin Waterhouse,
Isaac Mclellan,
Isaac L. Johnson,
Samuel Mclellan.
Arthur M. Benson,
John A. Waterman,
Stephen Hinkley,
On the evening of May 5, a meeting of all the committees was held, to which other citizens interested in the success of the celebration had been invited. There was quite a large attendance, and reports were made by the several committees, showing what progress had been made by them, and what needed still to be done. Thus a pretty accurate estimate could be made of the expenses of the celebration, and of the sum which would be needed therefor, in addition to that voted by the town. It was thought best to raise this amount by individual subscription, and a paper was circulated dur- ing the evening with very encouraging results.
It was further decided that the paper be circulated through- out the town, and Mr. Levi H. Bean was selected for that purpose. That Mr. Bean discharged this duty very success- fully and satisfactorily will be seen by the treasurer's report at the close of this pamphlet.
In order that abundant notice of the proposed celebration and seasonable invitation to attend it might be given, it was announced quite extensively in the leading newspapers in New England, and by the following circular, signed by the committee of arrangements, of which fifteen hundred copies were printed and distributed.
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ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
1733.
NARRAGANSETT, No. 7. 1736. GORHAM, 1836.
1886.
HE citizens of Gorham propose to celebrate the One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary of the settlement of the Town, in an appropriate man- ner on Wednesday, the 26th day of May next, at Gorham Village.
There will be a grand procession, and an address of wel- come by Gov. Frederick Robie in the forenoon, and an address by Rev. Elijah Kellogg, short speeches, social reunions, and other interesting exercises in the afternoon and evening.
At sunrise and sunset there will be salutes of one hun- dred and fifty guns from the site of the old Fort on Fort Hill.
Music will be furnished for the occasion by a Gorham chorus of one hundred and fifty persons, and Chandler's band, of Portland.
All the sons and daughters of Gorham, and former resi- dents of the town, are cordially invited to participate in these exercises.
GORHAM, Me., April 26, 1886.
P
0
37
ANNIVERSARY.
These meetings of the Committees were held with great and increasing frequency, until as the day of the celebration drew near, there was an almost continuous session of some of the members of the numerous committees ; nor did their service cease until every part of the programme had been carried out as nearly as was practicable.
The following is a copy of the
PROGRAMME.
One Hundred and Fiftieth Anniversary
OF THE
SETTLEMENT OF GORHAM, MAINE, Wednesday, May 26, 1886.
Salute on Fort Hill, and ringing of all the Bells in the town at sunrise.
THE *PROCESSION
Will form on South Street, right resting on Main Street, at 9 o'clock A.M., and be ready to march at 9.20 o'clock sharp, in the following order:
CHIEF MARSHAL, COL. HENRY R. MILLETT.
AIDS,
EDWARD HARDING, JOHN A. HINKLEY,
DR. WILLIAM P. WATSON, B. W. FEENEY,
GEORGE T. PRATT.
CHANDLER'S BAND, of Portland, 25 pieces. PORTLAND CADETS, CAPT. HARRY EASTMAN, Commanding. JOHN R. ADAMS POST, No. 101, Dep't of Maine, G. A. R., THEODORE SHACKFORD, Commanding. C. H. WARREN POST, No. 73, Dep't of Maine, G. A. R., E. R. WINGATE, Commander.
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ONE HUNDRED FIFTIETH
PRESIDENT OF THE DAY, ORATOR, OFFICIATING CLERGYMEN, GENERAL COMMITTEE and INVITED GUESTS, in carriages. HARMONY LODGE, No. 38, F. & A. M., FRED W. HARDING, W. M. DIRIGO LODGE, No. 21, K. OF P., C. A. BRACKETT, C. C. PRESENT AND PAST OFFICERS OF THE TOWN. PRESENT AND FORMER RESIDENTS.
SCHOOL COMMITTEE.
GORHAM HIGH SCHOOL, F. W. DAVIS, Principal. DISTRICT SCHOOLS.
GORHAM GRANGE, No. 54, P. OF H., G. M. PARKER, Master. BUXTON GRANGE, No. 95, P. OF H., R. F. CARTER, Master. MOUNTED COMPANY, L. H. BEAN, Captain.
SECTION OF FIRST MAINE BATTERY, O. T. DESPEAUX, Captain. INDIANS ; G. D. WEEKS, WAR CHIEF. TRADES.
PHINNEY MEMORIAL ROCK, WITH BOAT ATTACHED.
The procession will march down Main Street to the Gray Road, counter march, up Main, up State, down High, down Church, through Water, through Elm, up Preble, up Green, up Pine, down State, down South, through Lincoln Street, to the tent in Governor Robie's field near the Portland & Rochester Railroad Station.
EXERCISES AT THE TENT.
IN THE FORENOON, COMMENCING AT 11 O'CLOCK.
MUSIC - Anniversary March, composed by C. R. CRESSEY, of Gorham. CHANDLER'S BAND.
PRAYER, By REV. H. S. HUNTINGTON, Pastor of the First Parish Church, Gorham.
SINGING -" American Hymn," Keller.
BY THE CHORUS, W. L. FITCH, Conductor.
READING OF SELECTIONS FROM THE SCRIPTURES, By REV. F. A. BRAGDON, Pastor of School Street M. E. Church, Gorham.
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ANNIVERSARY.
ADDRESS OF WELCOME,
By Gov. FREDERICK ROBIE.
SINGING - Original Ode,
By MRS. JENNIE BODGE JOHNSON, Gorham, BY THE CHORUS.
BENEDICTION, BY REV. M. B. GREENHALGH, Pastor of North Street M. E. Church, Gorham.
IN THE AFTERNOON, COMMENCING AT 1.30 O'CLOCK.
MUSIC,
BY THE BAND.
PRAYER, By REV. GEORGE L. PRENTISS, D.D., of New York.
SINGING -" Green be your Fame," Rossini.
BY THE CHORUS.
ADDRESS, By REV. ELIJAH KELLOGG, of Harpswell.
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