Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1881-03-04
THE g. A. r. ENCAMpMENT.

FRIDAY EVENINGS CAMP FIRE-GEN. CIRCUITS
ADDREss-sHoRT sPEEcHEs-IHE BANQUET
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE ORDER IN YER
MONT.
The public campfire with which the Grand
Army encampment closed last Friday evening,
with the supper following, given by Com
mander Hooker to the members of tho Grand
Army and all old soldiers and sailors, was in
all respects thoroughly enjoyable event.
The exercises at the town hall opened at half
past seven with prayer by Chaplain selleck,
followed by "Welcome" greeting, admira-
bly, rendered by Messrs Taft, Markham, Ste
vens and Parker. The orator of the evening,
Gen. W. W. Grout, congressman elect from
the third district, was then felicitously intro
duced by Col. Hooker. Gen. CIRCUITS Grafton
was a scholarly and finished effort, having for
its central idea an illustration Of the great
fact that human liberty is a divine, Unborn
principle, which, among every enlightened
people, SciH assert itself, and cannot be over
come or extinguished by kingly rule or lerd-
ly oppression. Gen. Grout prefaced the main
body of his discourse with a short statement
Of the object and meaning Of tho organiza-
ton known as the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, which we quote in full
''As the retiring officers of the revolution
of '16 founded the order of Cincinnati, and
made membership transmissible to their de-
scendants, and as the disbanded officers of the
war of 1912 founded societies for social and
benevolent purposes, so did the survivors of
the late civil struggle, Immediately after the
great Washington reviews which followed
close upon the surrender, organize the Grand
Army Of the Republic, for the purpose of
mutual aid and counsel; for the purpose Of
preserving the friendships and associations
formed in the field, and of fostering and nur-
turing loyalty 10 the government also of de-
Tending, supporting and protecting, so far as
might be possible, the helpless widows and
orphans Of the war, and encouraging by NOR
al support, il not sustaining with material
aid, our wounded and helpless comrades !;
and last, though not least, to keep continually
green, till the last survivor shall have passed
away, the memory Of those whose lives went
out in the struggle. The order contains men
Of all political creeds-men who differ widely
in their opinions of measures of administra-
ton and Of national policy, but who now
stand, as in war they stood, steAdfast in devo-
ton to the Union a solid square Of brothers,
impenetrable and unconquerable."
At the close OF Gen. CIRCUITS Grafton, which
occupied about one hour in its delivery, a Sc
lection was given by the glee club after which
Gov. Farnham was introduced and spoke
briefly. During the delivery of Gen. CIRCUITS
address, Gen. Wagner, CommAnder-in in Chief
of the Grand Army, and Chaplain in Chief
Lowering came in, these gentlemen having
missed their connections in attempting to
come from Concord, N. H., TO Brattleboro,
o..A hasr Ill a.. -
lows Falls by q special train in order TO be
present at all during the evening. At the close
OF Gov Farnham's remarks, Gen. Wagner
was presented, and at once set the audience
in roar by his facetious allusion TO the trav-
cling troubles of the day, closing his very
bright and happy remarks with few earnest
and sober words about the order of which he
is the leading representative. Gen. Wagner
was followed by Chaplain Lowering, whose
well-spiced remarks kept his audience in the
jolliest humor and left them hungry for more
These public exercises closed shortly before
ten o'clock, Immediately following which
came the supper at the Brooks House. About
100 persons sat down to this repast, which, il
one might judge from Appearances, was en-
joyed to the fullest extent by all present The
gustatory exercises being over, the AssemblAge
was called to order by Col. Hooker, who read
letters from several gentlemen, including
Judge Veazey, Gen. Stannard and ex- Gov
Smith, expressing their regret at not being
able to be present. Col Hooker then gave
as toast, The President of the United
States, which was responded to by Geo. H.
Bigelow OF Burlington, who took occasion
during his remarks 10 pay very handsome
and deserved compliment TO our tOwnsman
Col. Austine, for his eminent services as com
mandant at this place during the war Gov
Farnham was next called up, and he was fol.
lowed by Gen. Wagner, who responded to the
sentiment, "The Grand Army of the Repub-
hc-the citizen soldiery q the United States"
His peculiarly bright and racy speech was
followed by Que no less so from the Chaplain
in-Chief. Gen. Grout spoke very briefly, and
a member Of the department OF New York
put in an earnest plea for the establishment
of soldiers homes for crippled veterans. The
suspicious occasion closed at about the hour
of midnight, with vote of thanks TO the
commander-in- chief, chaplain-in-ohief, and
other visiting members, and also to the cit-
zens OF Brattleboro for their presence and
kind services during the enoampment
The following facts in relation to the order
in this state, additional to those published
last week, are of general interest
The report Of the assistant adjutant gene
raj, II. E. Taylor, shows that there are now
in good standing in the department 81 posts,
with membership of 776, showing a net
gain during the past year of 24S. -Four new
posts were organized during the year, every
post being entitled to representation in the
department encampment, The subject of the
erection OF soldiers home in this state hay
ing been agitated the assistant adjutant gen
eral has corresponded during the year with
the officials of every town in the state, for
the purpose Of ascertaining how many old
soldiers, soldiers widows and soldiers chill
dren are supported by charity in the State.
He finds that there are widows of soldiers
of the war of 1912, soldiers OF the Mexican
war, l widow of soldier of the Mexican
war, and children of soldiers of that war
l soldier of the Florida war, his wife and one
child so soldiers of the war of the rebellion,
IL wives Of soldiers of the war of the rebel
lion, and 33 widows and 105 children of such
soldiers. The report of the same official
shows that Memorial Day is generally obsery-
ed by the members of the order throughout
the state, and that its observance is every
year becoming more general by the people at
large.
The full list of officers elected and appoint
ed for the ensuing year is as follows;
Commander, Geo. W. Hooker, Brattleboro
senior vice commander, Q. A. Bundy, Arlington.
Junior vice commander, Il. X. Campbell Brandon
Medical director, J. O. Rutherford Newport.
Chaplain, Geo. +. selleok BrAttle6oro.
Council Of administration-L. NJ. Read, Bellows
Falls; L. D. Savage wAitsheld; A. B. Valentine BEN
ningtoni j. B. Atwood, Chelsea; Warren Gibbs, Bur
Delegates to National Enoampment-Roswen Farm
ham, Bradford; Warren r. Dunton, Dorset Alter
nAtes-Geo. X. Russell Bellows Falls; Ii. M. Pierce,
Montpelier.
ASH Hdjt. Gen, H. E. Taylor, Brattleboro.
Asst .. Nj. Genl, VIM. L. Greenleaf, Ninooski,
Asst Inspector Gen1, H. NJ CurrieT, Brattleboro.
fudge Advocate Gent, W. @. YeaEey, Rutland.
Chief mastering ofneer, Wm.'W. Henry Burlington.
Aides de camp-Ehjah Wales, Brattleboro; L. NJ.
hutchinson, Worcester P. 8. Chamberlain, Bradford;
N. H. Wooster, Manchester; Geo. L. Austin. Roehes-
teri Chandler Watts, I'd, Stowe.
Asst Inspectors-A ]. Noyes, Bennington; r. J.
Ooney' Richmond; Geo. 4. Crosby, st. Johnabury.
West BrRstIsboro.
Emery Pratt, who is 92 years old, has
sister living in Marlboro who is 90, and one
in Ellsburg, N. Y, who is 9O-the united ages
o: Of the three being 27I years, We imagine