The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-02-07
THE OLD BAY STATE.
A Splendid Showing for the Year $50. 600 Spent
for Charity.

THE OLD BAY STATE.
Splendid Showing for the Years GOO Spent
for Charity.
Special Correspondence National Tribune
BosToN, February ,, 1884.
The seventeenth annual Eneampment of the
Department of Massachusetts, assembled in this
| city at Faneuil Hall on Wednesday evening last
and was opened in due form The representa-
ton was larger than ever before, 45S delegates
being present. Past Department Commanders
Merrill Adams, Creasey and Patch were ii e:sst-.
tendance, in addition to Commander Evans and
staff After prayer bE-tbe chaplain and the
reception OF the repog5 of the committee ON
Credentials, Department Commander Evans
delivered his annual address During the year
he said no Post had surrendered its charter
and fourteen new Posts had been established.
There were now 1872 Posts on the roster and
l4,505 members in good standing, gain of
2,O64 over the previous year. There was ex-
pended for charity the sum of $780, GAL 81, and at
the present time the Post relief funds aggre-
gated $l05,000. Referring in complimentary
terms TO the management of the Soldiers Home
at Chelsea, he announced that the trustees of
the Home propose to hold grand fair, under
the auspices of the Grand Army in the early
part of the year 1885 and urge all Posts to con-
tribute their share Of work to make it sue
cess.
OF Memorial Day he said that it should not
be devoted TO excursions, dances and the like.
but to the decorous commcmoration Of the serv-
ices of the Nations fallen braves.
He was pronounced in favor of the Woman's
Relief Corps, and claimed that while the ma
tional organization is in the hands of the pres
sent officials there was no need to fear for the
results. He commended the State Department
for their work of charity and the assistance
they have rendered to the Department of the
Ar1np rH Ia he IF Vet
Grams he spoke guardedly, and claimed that the
want of harmony in the different bodies of that
Order compelled him TO keep aloof from both
branches of that organization. He suggested
that, in cases where the Order has gained
foothold, it would be wise for them to refrain
from covering the ground already occupied by
the Grand Army, aud concluded this topic by
stating that for the present it would he well to
leave the matter of Camps of that Order with
Posts themselves.
During the year Commander Evans attended
AL @. A. K. gatherings, and represented the
Department on eleven other occasions.
THE ASSISTANT ADJUTANT- GENERALS REPORT.
The report of Assistant Adjutant General
Munroe was then presented to the EncaDp-
ment. 1t shows that the Post making the
largest gain is Ericsson Post No. 109 of East
Tenfpleton.
The assistant adjutant general recommends
that memorial page be Kept for members of
the Department Encampment, and that Post
adjutants keep a record of deceased comrades
and forward them on their quarterly returns
with name, company and regiment or ship, as
a slight tribute to their memory. Fourteen new
Posts have been organized, aas follows: At
Cohasset. Montague, Essex, Winchendon, Mill
vile, Kingston, Monson, Everett, Wapole,
Housatonic, East Boston, West Brookfeld, Wo-
burn, and Turner's Falls. Ten of these had a
charter membership of 40s, and the whole num-
Der are in excellent condition.
Assistant Quartermaster-Genera Charles O.
Fellows submitted his report of the financial
condition Of the Department. The receipts for
the year 1883 were S6,434.47; expenditures
S5,0T4.7S; balance on hand January l. 1884.
$l,359.69. The supplementary report to Janu-
airy 3ist shows that there is including cash on
hand and supplies, property in the hands of the
Department valued at $2,5l0.59, and there is
no indebtedness. The financial condition of
the Department is most gratifying, and the
organization wiz start the new year upon a
sound basis.
The report of the council of administration
concurs with that of the observation-disclosures
ter-general, and they testify to the correctness
Of the accounts and commend the excel lent con-
dition of the Department. In view of the
handsome surplus in the Department treasury,
they recommend that 81 600 be-invested in
some safe security. The reports of the Judge
advocate, medical director and chaplain and
chief mastering officer were read and referred
to the proper committees, after which the usual
work OF the opening session was completed and
the convention adjourned to meet in fremont
Temple Thursday morning
ELECTION OF OFFICERS.
At Thursdays session resolutions and memo
rails were presented from several Posts asking
action on various topics. The committee on
the annual reports and various resolutions re-
ported several recommendations which were
| adopted. Among them was one indorsing the
fair proposed to be held in the interest of the
Soldiers Home in the spring of 1885 and Others
looking to Obtaining changes in the ritual by
the National Encampment. The election of
| officers resulted as follows Department Com
manderl John ID. Billings, Post 81, Canton
Senior Vice Commander, John w. Hersey, Post
l6, Springfield; Junior Vice Commander, r. f.
Tobin, Post 80, Cambridgeport; Medical Di-
rector, James Oliver, Jr., M. d., Post 123,
Athol; Chaplain, Rev. Richard Eddy, Post 4.
Melrose; Council of Administration, w. w.
Scott, Post 10; j. Cushing Thomas, Post Is;
John McDonough Post 2, Edward Mckay, Post
y; Charles I'll. Tracy, Post 1913; Delegates to
National Encampment,-at large James T.
Mech, Post 10, Worcester Charlas NJ. Whalden
Post 125; II. c. Hull, Post 20: J. A. G. Rich
ardsoH, Post az; q. A. Fletcher, Post 102; J.
4. Killian, Post %; Andrew c. Stone Post 80
John Macfarlane Post 5; William II. Estey,
Post 10; q. O.. Bailey, Post III; Charles G.
Welch, Post 81; J. III. Hill, Post SO; Charles S.
anthony. Post g. NJ. r. Greeley, Post SO: E. B.
Stillings, Post 14s Alternates-at large, ]. L.
Otis, Post SO: +. O. Barnes Post 35: ]. III.
Abbott, Post As; S. +. Reyes, Post z; e. s.
Horton, Post las; C. Frank Luther, Post 70;
w. H. Warren, Post CO: Thomas E. Barker.
Post 40; J. w Sawyer, Post .95; C. H. Coburn,
Post 120; L. II. Dyer, Post 2; E. P. Davis,
Post 1873; ]. +. Cappelle, Post 81 r. NJ. Phil
lips. Post 10: T. A. Lindsey, Post 30
hc nm aap -nln ef
the satisfaction of the comrades, that he should
reappoint Alfred c. Munroe as Assistant Adm
tant- General After the transaction of a little