26 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Now, our Father, we thank thee for the beauty of this new 

 morning, for this glorious sunshine, for the crisp air which we 

 enjoyed as we came here this morning; and we pray that thou 

 wilt be with those who take part on this occasion, and may, 

 Father, this day and the morrow be sessions full of deepest 

 interest, and of profit to all who are connected with this society. 



And now, Lord, wilt thou accept our thanks for the mercies 

 of the past, for the mercies of the present, and for thy promises 

 for the future, and into thy hands, O Lord, do we commit our 

 way, praying ever for divine guidance, for Jesus' sake, — Amen. 



ANNUAL ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



By Hon. Charles A. Marstqn of Skowhegan. 



Mr. President, you in your wisdom, and your officers, have 

 seen fit to choose Skowhegan as the point where you would hold 

 this, your annual meeting of the Maine State Pomological 

 Society. Skowhegan, of course, is but a small burg nestled in 

 here between the hills of the Kennebec. We cannot render you 

 the accommodations possibly that some larger place might, but 

 we are willing to do the best we can. Skowhegan never intends 

 to take a back step, as far as her capacities go, in extending the 

 hand of fellowship and sociability to any who may come within 

 her bounds. As I say, we are but a little burg, yet we have a 

 population that we feel proud of. We have a progressive peo- 

 ple. We have a progressive town. We have, we believe, an 

 up-to-date little place here, with all our modern improvements, — 

 our electric lights, our fine water system, our elegant sewer 

 system, our nicely paved streets, our macadamized sidewalks, our 

 new bridges, — our men of worth. We are here today as mem- 

 bers of a little fraternity of citizens to welcome you within our 

 bounds. And, Mr. President, without any further words in 

 extending to you the glad hand of fellowship, we trust that in 

 the pressure of that hand you will feel the warmth of our hearts, 

 and yqu may always consider that whenever you come to Skow- 

 hegan on any message of this kind, we never intend there shall 



