News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1888-02-09
Grand Army Encampment.

DEPARTMENT of Vermont 6. A. K.
was held at St. Johnsbury Jan. 3lst
and Feb 1st. and was in every respect
a success. For the first time the Wo-
mans Relief Corps of the State held
its annual meeting at the same time
and place. but it is safe to say that
the first time will not be the last, as
we believe that both were benefited
thereby. A reception was given IN
the hall of Chamberlain Post NO.
by Chamberlain Relief Corps, which,
bv request of the Post, was presided
over by Comrade H. c. Bates, when
was enIivened by the fine singing OF
the ladies of the corps. Comrade
Bates, in very pleasant manner IN
PRODUCED as speakers Comrades ii. T.
TAYLOR of Brattleboro. Rev. Mr.. Far
sons of Putnev. u. NJ. Mashure OF
Island Pond, D. J. Stafford of Nor
risvile, and Mcdonald of st. johns
bury, who made short speeches, and
the ladies being called for he also in
troduced Mrs. Newcomb of Montpel-
Ter, President Of the Relief Corps OF
the State, and Mrs. Howe OF Brattle-
boro, who spoke Of the work OF the
corps. The reception was an exceed
ingly pleasant and suspicious prepa-
ration of the work on the programme
for the days following. The Depart
ment Encampment was called to order
by Commander Blodgett at p. m.
Tuesday, with every officer present,
except the J. V. c., and he soon came
in. The address of the Commander
showed the order to be in very
fourishing condition, and also that it
is no holiday task to be Department
Commander. The reports of the diff
ferent officers showed that there are
snow one hundred Posts in the State,
nearly all in good working condition,
a gain of two during the year; the net
gain in membership being nerly 400
the net membership in good standing
being over 1900.
Tuesday evening a magnificent
campfire was held by Chamb erlain
Post, Music Hall being fillei to over
flowing. Comrade DR.. G. B. Billiard,
Commander of Chamberlain Post, pre-
sided, and excellent music was furn-
ished by the St. Johnsbury cornet
band, and songs by the st. Johnshury
Glee Club. Comrade John P. Rea, of
Minneapolis, Commander in Chief,
was introduced as the first speaker
and received with great applause.
His address referred to the work OF
the order and was an eloquent tribute
to it's usefulness and plea for its ex-
tension until every soldier with an
honorable record is in its ranks. Com
rade John G.. Sinham, j. V. G. Com
mander in Chief, made a sharp and
witty address, as might be expected
from the eloquent son of "the Green
Isle" that he is. Comrade w. G.
Veazie, Judge Advocate General, gave
an eloquent tribute to the merit and
patriotism of Hon. Erastus Fairbanks,
The first "war Governor" of the State.
Short impromptu speeches were also
made by Gov. Ormsbee, Lieut-Gov.
Fuller, Dept. Com. Blodgett and Com
rades Hooker, Thomas, Manson and
others, and the enthusiasm of the au-
dience was maintained until the pass
ing hours warned the Chairman that
the coming day had its duties and he
declared closed one of the best, if not
the best campfire the State has ever
seen.
Wednesday morning the encamp-
ment was called to order at 3 a. m.
and the reports of the various COM
mittees made and disposed of. A res
olution was passed by a unanimous
standing vote advocating a pension of
not less than $40 per month, in addi-
ton 10 any pension, for provable dis
ability for all comrades who have been
prisoners of war, the only dissent ex-
pressed being by some who were never
prisoners, that the amount was not
sufficient. At the annual election the
following officers were chosen and all
unanimously: Commander, H. E.
Taylor, of Brattlehoro S. Y. Com
mander, T. G. Middlebrook, of Yer
gennes J. V. Commander, T. 7. Far
rell, Waterbury; Chaplain, Rev. W.
S. Jenny, Glover; Medical Director,
DR.. G. B. Billiard, St. Johnsbury.
Delegates to the National Encamp-
ment, Comrades A. S. Tracy Cat
large) MiddIebury; P. R. Kendall,
Rutland; R. J. Coffey, Bennington
R. T. johnson, West Concord; Fl.
C. Bates, St. Johnsbury; Roswell
Farnham, Bradford. Aternates. U.
A. Woodbury., Burlington; D. S.
Morgan, Rutland; ]. A. n. Williams,
Bennington; z. NJ. Mansur, Island
Pond; Frank Kenfeld, Morrisville
H. G. Streeter, Brattleboro, Council
of Administration, Comrades A. d.
Beckwith, Bellows Falls; d. J. SAT-
ford, Morrisville; L. c. Leavens,
West Berkshire Charles E. Graves,
Bennington; S. W. Parkhurst, St.
St. Johnsbury. The officers elect
were duly installed and the twenty
first annual encampment of the De-
partment of Vermont G. A. Z. was
decided closed.
After the close of the encampment
a meeting of ex-prisoners Of war
was held in the parlors of the st.
Johnsbury House and State organ
ization effected, an account of which
will be be given next week. Coffee
and lunch was served free to all COM
rades in the Town Hall during the en-
campment. Music Hall was splend-
idly decorated and all was done by
Chamberlain Post and the citizens of
st. Johnsbury that was possible to
make the gathering pleasant one for
the veterans who attended.
A peculiar state of affairs exists in
II h.