The National tribune., 1883-02-08
PENNSYLVANIA.

The seventeenth annual Encampmcnt of the
Department of Pennsylvania commenced at
the Opera House i'll Wilkesbarre on the 3lst
ult. Upward of 500 delegates were in attend
ance In consequence of the unprOpitiOus
weather, the parade which should have taken
place in the morning, was abandoned, much to
the disappointment both of the comrades and
the public generally. The delegates assembled
in Music Hall at ten o'clock for the transac-
ton of business, Department Commander VAN
derslice presiding. Rev. John w. Sayers,
Chaplain of the Department, opened the ses-
sion with prayer Department Commander
Vanderslice delivered an address. He said, in
addressing the comrades: | congratulate you
upon the present exceedingly prosperous con-
ditiOn of our Department. and upon the graft
tying results upon the years work, as Will be
shown by the reports of staff officers. could
not more emphaticaly epitOmize these reports
than By saving that during the year we have
added seventy-three Posts to our Roster and
five thousand comrades to our ranks, and that
great as have been the growth and rapid the
improvement made III our Departments, our
own Department of PENNSYLVANIA is still first
in numbers, in discipline, and in enthusiasm
of its membership. / feel that l but echo the
sentiment of you all when l say this posi-
ton must not be lost" He was succeeded
by Chaplain Savers, who made report
of his years work. Judge-AdvOcate b. q.
Christy then submitted his official report.
COmrade J. f. Vale, of Carlisle, a member of
the committee appointed to take charge OF
matters connected with the Soldiers Orphans
Schools, presented report, in which he SAID IN
conclusion: I'VE congratulate the Grand
Army upon the splendid results of the great
interest they have always taken in the devel-
opment of these orphan schools. While not
under our direct legal supervision, they are
nevertheless an important and holy trust COM
mitted to our keeping. 1t therefore behoOves
us to continue our efforts for the highest sue
cess and usefulness ofthe schools, and to use to
the utmost every proper influence in their con-
tinuance until every soldiers orphan shall have
had a share in the great benefactiOn. We can
perform no greater duty to the State than TO
assist in training an inteli gent loyalty for her
future citizenship; we can do no higher honor
| to the memories of our deceased comrades than
| to perform this sacred duty to thier children;
and we can do no greater credit to ourselves
than to carry out these grand objects with un-
wavering fidelity" Medical Director DR.. w.
d. Hall then read his report for the past year,
after which the Council of Administration,
which performed the duty of auditing accounts,
made their report. Reports of other commit
/ tees were heard. The meeting then proceeded
| to the nomination of officers for the ensuing
! year. Comradc Stewart, of Post No. 9S, Tunk-
| hammock, moved that no man should be nOml-
mated who had not been regular in the dis
charge of his duties. The motion was ruled
out of order Comrade Row, of Post No. 179,
| then nominated General +. l.. Osborne, of Ely
| Post, for Department Commander. Rev. j..
! Barton French, of Post No. 15i, nominated +.
| II. Dyer, of Post No. 120, Washington, Pa.
! COmrade Thomas G. Samuel of Post Us, Allie
| gheny City, proposed w. J. Patterson. of Post
| 15i, for Senior Vice Commander. Comrade
! Green, of Post No. II, nominated Louis K. Rob-
! insOn of his Post The first ballot was taken
| in the evening but the result was not an
nounced until the following morning. At a.
m every delegate was in his seat. The first
ballot stood, Dyer, 225; Osborne. POS; Patter-
/ son, 20. No one of the three candidates having
received a majority of the votes another ballot
| was taken, which resulted III the election or
! Osborne, Patterson having withdrawn from
| the contest. The vote stood, OrbOrne, 216;
| Dyer. PIC. On motion of Comrade Dyer,
| seconded by Comrade Patterson the election of
| General Osborne was made unanimous. Gen
| cral Osborne then read the report of the Com
| mittee on Resolutions of which he was chair
man. After some discussion the report was
| adopted. The report of the Committee on
| Soldiers Orphans, of which Mr.. j. X. BOgert
was chairman was also read and adopted. The
! Encampmcnt then proceeded to the election OF
Senior and Junior Fice-COmmanderS. y. j.
! Sellers, of Philadelphia, was unanimously
| chosen Senior Nice-COmmander, and George +.
! Randolph Junior Vice Commander. Rev. John
|
dissenting voice. For Council of Administra-
ton. J. f. Hunter, Pittsburg, and Z. J. Sellers,
| j. II. Mysomer, A. II. SchatIcr and l.. w.
Shengle, all of Philadelphia, were chosen.
| Commander Orborne appointed Thomas J.
| Stewart Assistant Adjutant-General, and Smith
Cozzens, of Philadelphia, Quartermastcr Cen
| eral. The following were selected delegates to
the National Encampment, to be held Mt Den
| yer: Delegate at Large. 4. NJ. X. StOric, Post
| 10; Representatives, j. Emory Byram, Post 80;
| Marriott Brosius, Post 81; L. w. Belts, Post
| 50; Alexander X. Cutler, Post 81; Austin Cur
| tin, Post 800; j. B. DenwOrth, Post "a; +. r.
! Fleck, Post IS; J. Il. Garman Post s; .. h.
| Gardner Post 230; w. Hays Grer, Post lis;
Samuel Harper, Post 1855; Horatio B. Hackett,
Post 81; w. Clark Johnson, Post u, N. Ferree
| Lightner, Post 2; w. III. Lanius Post 81 j. S.
| LeiSenrng, Post 90; Thomas MunrOe, Post 20 ;
c. S. Marks, Post 176; j. NJ Osborne, Post 80
! VIM. j. Simpson, Post L; j. Nj. Sutman, Post 90 (;
| A. f. Thompson, Post 232; II. c. Teeter, Post
| Isl, and n. q. Wilson, Post 8. The Encamp-
ment then adjourned sine die, highly pleased
with their visit to Wilkesbarre. The next
| Encampment will be held in Lancaster.
Robinson Post, No 20, of Hazleton, Pennsyl-
| vania, is flOurshing mastering, according to
last quarterly report, ifty-tve comrades in good
| standing. The following is the roster of re-
Gently installed officers for the ensuing year:
Commander, George II. Troutman S. v c.,
John MclS; }. '. O., William Shaeter; AdJt
John Jones Q. NJ, John Weir; Chaplain, Geo.
Bush. 1t has a memorial hall fund amounting
to over $1,000 and expects in the near future to
erect a hall.
Lieutenant James G. Stevens Post was organ
lied at Peckville, Penn, on the 25th ult., with
tWenty-tOur charter members. COmrade Fred
J. Amsden, with merry sleigh-load of COM
rades, were up from Scranton, and COmrade J.
NJ. Alexander, with two loads from Carbondale,
came down, and commenced business about