Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1886-01-29

me one short year ago, had no eNpecta-
ton of SURPRISING, and but talnt nope
of equalling, the brilliant records OF my
immediate predecessors, 1T has been
my earnest endeavOr, however, to
so administer the affairs of the depart
ment, that at least It's prosperity shoulu
not diminish and | am happy To be aOle
to report that with your support ana as
sistance ten tiourshing new posts have
been added to the department. and one
more representative gained i'll the Nation
al enCampment And my most sangulne
hopes as to membership have been exceed
ed the reports for the fourth quarter
showing total OF 4O6S.
My policy regarding new posts has been
q conservative one, and believe that
better results could be had by strengthen
ing the old posts than by encouraging the
formation of new ones, and have re-
quired satisfactory evidence to ac'
company all applications for char,
tiers, that the proposed locality had
ample material for maintaining live post,
and that the proposed members could not
well be accommodated by the posts then
in existence. believe that with possibly
one exception, the posts chartered during
the year are valuable additions to the he
partment. Petitions for posts at south
RUyaltOn, SuNtOn's River and Barton
Landing are now under advisement.
| also became convinced carly i'll the
year that it was useless to expect large ac-
CesS0ns of new material to our ranks, ana
that the most profitable course To pursue
was to devise means for preventing the
heavy losses Occurring from suspended
and dropped members 10 this end nave
endtaNotcd TO impress upon foSt olnctrS
That 1t Is as much their duty 10 LOOK a!tet
and keep members already gained, as IL Is
to recruit new ones. Mastering OF re-
cruita only to drop them IN lew hloltnS
Is most hurtiul. y post that Is
StlSppuIInU many members
1t is nustetlnE recruits, Is Oh no
practical value 10 any deptftnleht' ANU
/ h""e suggest, IL | nave already uOie ia
general orders, that every post nave II
committee whose special uuty SlaIl ne ihe
looking after delinquent members, III or
der mat me thought!ess anu careless may
be reminded OF thelr Obligations, anu the
worthy but unfortunate ones reported 10
the post Ior Il remission OF thelr uueS'
am happy IN beng aDlt 10 report an I'M
provement IN respect to SUSPENSION, our
loss from this source having fallen OH
very materially during the past two quar-,
tiers, and many suspended and dropped
members have been placed IN good stand
ing. | have given considerable attention
to the task of ,perfecting the discipline
and routine work OF the department
Early last spring an inspection of every
post w3S attempted, but owing TO the mn
tied time allowed by the order for the per
Torrance of the duty, not having com
pleted the appointment OF assistant III
spectors, as well as from the fact that the
blanks furnished Tor their reports proved
to be OF several editions differing from
each other IN important particulars, the
inspection was not wholly satisfactory,
and after consultation with the depart
ment inspector, II was determined 10 nave
a second and thorough INSPECTION during
the fourth quarter. believing that the
benefits to the depart ment would more
hlr .lltt ~ M n TN "a lisa
incurred, and am confident that our eX-
pectations in this respect have been fully
realized.
lie then reviewed the reports OF the de-
partment officers, showing the organlza-
ton to be in healthy condition, both
financially and as to membership. he
then recounted the part taken by the YER
mont department III the national encamp-
nent at Portland. Col Greenleal then
paid worthy tribute to the distinguished
dead of the order during the past year,
speaking i'll particular OF General Grant
and General Mcclellan, Past Commander
in Chief Earnshaw and he stated that
during the past year the names OF 81 com
rades had been added to the
roll of honor in this departments
Memorial day was generally observed Ia
the department ana the interest IN Jhe
services seems to increase eacn year. ne
speaker thought the growing fear that
the sentiments cherished by the Il. y. X.
are distasteful to our late antagonists was
grOundless. The memories OF the war are
cherished not TO keep bitterness awe DuI
to be an Influence for good to the hearts
of veterans.
In relation to the Woman Relet corps
Col. Greenleat gave notice that he mad been
converted and was ready To extend help-
ing hand to them on al proper occasions.
Eight corps have been Instituted since ITS
organization as Il department last Feb
ruary, making fourteen in all, with sew
eral applications now pending. III mas Il
membership of $40, being gain of $50.
The department is free from debt and the
prospects for the future most iiattering,
for, to quote the words of its secretary,
they have willing hands and stout
hearts, and feel that they are engaged in a
noble work IN caring for the needy aud
helpless ones that belong TO the boys in
| blue"
The failure of the Grand Army to pro
vide for its own succession and perpetu
ity, has rendered such an organization II,
thai Of the Sons of Veterans II necessity II
the objects for which our order was instl
| t,,t, l.,r l,np 10 haI n nd nhSnpV.41