Memorial services in honor of our late President, Hon. Wm. B. Washburn, were held at Greenfield, Mass., Gov. Washburn's home, November 29th, under the auspices of the Connecticut Valley Congregational Club. Addresses were made by U.S. Senator Hoar, Rev. Dr. Buckingham, and President Seelye.
Thirty dollars constitute a Life Membership. Some of our friends utilize their contributions in this way. One of these writes us: "This is my thirty-first Life Member which it is my good fortune to make to your society." A good example to follow.
Lord Shaftsbury once said: "I think it would be of the greatest value if the reports of the various Religious and Charitable Societies were at once, by Act of Parliament, elevated into the dignity of Blue Books. If every Member of Parliament, under the most severe penalty—and more particularly the ministers of the day—were compelled to study them accurately, and then undergo a competitive examination, I am satisfied that great good would accrue to themselves and benefit to their country; their enlarged notions, and probably improved hearts, would be felt in the legislation of the country."
A pertinent illustration of the force of this statement is the speech of Senator Frye, made at the Portland meeting. The Senator confessed that he had not been familiar with the history of the American Missionary Association, that he had been reading its Annual Reports, and making himself acquainted with its work. Thereupon, out of what he had learned, he constructed a speech that was, in every way, worthy of the Statesman that he is. We shall be much mistaken if Senator Frye does not find occasion to use the knowledge obtained in the study of our Association's history in some of his speeches or debates in the U.S. Senate.
The citizens of Macon, Ga., gave Jefferson Davis a rousing reception on the occasion of his recent visit to that city. As a souvenir of his welcome, they presented him with 126 bottles of wine, thirty-three bottles of whiskey, fourteen bottles of brandy, and eleven boxes of cigars. If these gifts suggest anything in regard to the habits of Jefferson Davis, we can readily see that he was not a fit candidate for having the ladies put upon his lapel a blue ribbon. No wonder he rushed into print to assure the public that he was not in favor of total abstinence. A campaign in behalf of prohibition would have a hard time in the region of Macon.