, 1886-01-08
GRAND CAMPFIRE.
Reynolds Post lnstalls lts Officers
Last Evening.
Interesting Ceremonies, Speeches,
Music, Supper and Dancing.

Long before = clock last evening
Keefe's rink began to fill with ladies' and
gentlemen, gathered to view the cere-
monies of the installation of the officers Of
Reynolds post. The temperature of the
hall was something higher than that out.
side, but it grew warmer as the evening
progressed. On the rostrum, at the head
| of the hall, were seated Past Commander
Jeffrey, Rev. d. l.. RAIDER, Chaplain
Brady, U. s. A. and Comrade 7. NJ.
Fisher, adjutant of the post. On the
right Of the platform, depending from its
staff. were the American %colors. on the
left the post banner. Flags bearing the
old corps badges decorated the hall, while
over the entrance hung a garrison flag.
Over 400 people were assembled in the hall,
the large proportion Of them being ladies.
At s-I5 o'clock the post, headed by Com
mander Jeffrey entered the hall, and
divided in two ranks, facing inward until
seated at the word of command. The ex-
e~rcises of the evening were opened with
prayer by the Rev. DR.. RAIDER. Senior
Vice Commander Fisher was then intro
duced with the usual formalities, and as
Stunning charge of the post began the
work of installing the ofhcers elect who
were: Post commander, j. II. Goddard;
senior vice commander, Il. p. Snow;
junior vice commander, G.. G. Neil; adiu-
tant, j.. NJ. Fisher; quartermaster, s.
Adamsky; surgeon, S. j. Quinby; chap
lain, W. q. Smith; officer of the day, d.
G. Smith; sergeant major, c. L. Holdings
worth. and quartermaster's sergeant,
George II. Marsh. Music then i~nterposed
its charms, following which Comrade w.
P. Carroll read al original poem which
was received with liberal applause. Com
rade Fisher was then introduced, and
said
"As anyone who speaks longer than
ten minutes will be sent to the guard
house, l shall try and keep within the
line" He proceeded to review the or
ganization Of the Grand Army of the Re-
public from its inception. mo matter
what country he comes FROM" said the
speaker, If he served in the army, was
honorably discharged and had a good
record, we receive him here with open
arms" He then alluded particularly to
the department of Colorado, the first post
in which was organized at Laramie City,
the department posts now numbering over
sixty.
Past Post Commander Jeffrey said:
Reynolds post was organized in April,
1883. 1t was named for a man than whom
never Drawer drew a sword, the COM
mander of the LIST corps. We have had
occasion often to call upon the citizens of
Cheyenne for help, and such calls were
never in vain, for which, in the nam of
the post, | return sincere thanks"
Comrade O'Brien then favored the
audience with his views on the aim of the
order, closing with a bit of fun at the ex-
pense Of Past Commander Jeffrey.
Comrade Jeffrey then introduced to
the audience the new Surveyor-G General
John Charles Thompson, who advanced
to the platform and said ALLOW me to
voice an appropriate reply to the senti-
ments OF cordial feeling SO freely uttered
here tonight toward the soldiers of the
late confederate army. Some of you
perhaps may be inclined to think by the
title that was appended to my name in
introduction that | was a full fedged
rebel brigadier. I'm not, but in voice and
sentiment | was heartily in sympathy
with the men who fought and lost. / am
in proper person a survivor of the lost
cause. The adherents Of that fallen
cause have twice surrendered to you: first
on the open field of battle, and lastly to
the open palms of your hand extended in
sympathy encouraging them to be again
citizens, beneath the folds Of that eternal
and immortal banner. You conquered
men in arms Of equal valor with your
selves, but leaving this out of the ques-
ton. you won a glorious victory in extend
ing help to the poor. beaten c~onfederates
you had overcome in battle. In doing
homage to our heroes tonight let
US not forget the silent forces
that control the world. The women of
the North and South, the o~racles, the in
terpreters, the grand enchanters of life,
who make men what they are. And al
low me in closing to pay a tribute to a
man. the most magnanimous hero that
the history of the world can present. In
battle, in the surrender ut Appomattox,
in life, and in death, the grandest picture
ofthe earth. The spot where he breathed
his last will become the Mecca of Ameri-
can pilgrims, who will turn their faces to-
ward Mt McGregor, ~consecrated by the
death of Gen. U. S. Grant. Let me, as
find myself tonight for the first time in
a union camp, let me, | say, lay as a
wreath of immortelles on the grave of this
hero, the sentiment of the French soldier
adapted to this occasion. If the ~reveille
were to sound in confederate and union
camps tonight and the name of U. S.
Grant was called, the response would be.
The first cheyalier Of the guard-dead on
the field Of honor,
Tho oddraua waa racoivod With v,1or-