124 THE RETROSPECT OF THE YEAR. 
rock, a mode of recording events and which are now of 
great interest. It is the design of the society to raise 
the necessarj^ funds and then, with the permission of the 
Greek government, hny and remove the vilhige when it 
is believed excavations will reveal to the world treasures 
of inestimable value." 
Monday, Dec. 2, 1889. — Hon. Eben F. Stone read an 
interesting paper on Gov. John A. Andrew, "the Massa- 
chusetts war governor."^ Mr. Stone knew Gov. Andrew 
intimately and had a high opinion of his character and tal- 
ents. The paper was well written and was full of reminis- 
cences and personal recollections of one of the most popular 
men of his day ; and perhaps one of the best governors 
we ever had in Massachusetts. He appeared to be like 
President Lincoln "a providential man" and moved the 
masses of the people by his eloquence and power. 
Monday, Dec. 16, 1889.— Rev. G. T. Flanders, of New 
Bedford, read an instructive and interesting paper on 
Mohammed and Mohammedans, giving some account of 
the state of religion and especially of Christianity at the 
beginning of the career of Mohammed in A. D. GIO, and 
then reviewing his life and character very fully. He did 
not regard the prophet as either an impostor or a lunatic, 
but a providential man, a man for the times, true to his 
mission, so to speak. He also gave some account of the 
Koran and its doctrines, showing a thorough acquaintance 
with his subject. 
Monday, Jan. 20, 1890.— Rev. A. P. Putnam, D.D., 
of Concord, delivered an interesting biographical sketch 
of Gen. Moses Porter "an unrecognized hero of the Rev- 
olution" who was born in Danvers in 1756, enlisted in 
> See HiBt. Coll. Vol. xxvi, p. 1. 
