The National tribune., 1889-07-25

mantle Of trust" placed upon your shoulders in
the Fall of 1887 WAS worn aecepIably and well.
with seif-sacrltice. true and patriotic devotion
Take these aud uss Them and may they ever
bring To mind sweet and pleasant memories of a
year so well spent in the dissemination of knowi-
edge, and in tile advancement of the principles Of
our grand and beloved Order. God bless you ever
aud always"
Mrs. Hampton was deeply moved as the words
were spoken, ns she looked upon the testimonial
and token of esteem from the National w. c.,
which she had faithfully served, but she
equal to the important moment and fttingly re-
sponded, as follows:
There is n peculiar sweetness to me in accept
Ing this beautiful testimonial from your hand. III
this token of appreciation must he given IL could
not come through more appreciative agency than
you, who, through all the changing vicssiiudes OF
more than busy year, was my constant and filth
ful companion, while we planned and IabOTed TO
raise our grand and noble Order to the highest
possible standard of excellence.
My mind goes back To the scenes In st. Louis
and the consuming thoughts that daZed and be-
nuinbed my brain when IL became apparent be-
yOnd doubt who the next chosen executive.
Then came ~ flood of inward speculRlions and in
quiTiesI The magnitude Of so great work the
patience and wisdom necessary to carry IL success
fully through; the complicated differences yet to
be settled IN disrupted Department, ali came dis
uhctiy To view, and asked myself am equal 10
the task have a right TO accept the Office?
But there seemed no aliernativel There sat
the representatives from Michigan II strong, firm
in faith and confidence The magnificent Depart
ment OF Michigan had never been vested with q
National office of any kind and that the high
est OHlcc nau Deen 30 generously HlYeU,l uelef-
mined its lair daughters sIonld not be put to the
blush. nor suffer the sting of failure incOmpe-
tency through me were u possible to avoid IT,
Io"ked Ia ttTeir faces and determined To do from
day TO day, TO the best of my ability, always re-
membering the golden rule and tie obligation OF
the office, which would not be taken in Ignorance
oil what u meant. knew II meant hard aud ear
nest work for hand and bTain 1t meant early
morning hours and often the burning of midnight
OIL. Inc Work began aud received undivided at
tention. Doubts and uncertainties would often
arise bringing hours and days of anxiety but the
mists would eventually roll away revealing clear
and certain path to follow.
From ocean to ocean came helpful words OF en-
couragement The Grand Army comTades-GOd
oiess then-were always kind. and many Essur-
ahees and blessings came even from veterans into
whose eyes we had never looked or whose hand
we had never clasped. but they were our veterans
ana eloved them all, Nom womanly women
ever Rraced Department offices than did those with
| whom we had constant business relation ia every
State from the Atlantic 10 the Pacific. Courteous,
| prompt aud ever willing TO adopt and cooperate
| IN any plan Tor the advance and Improvement oil
ali, they seemed inspired with desire to bring
their work to n high state of perfection, and all
worked together like one great family.
This bright and shining testimonial seems re-
nectlon oil their smiles and cheering words, aud
Will ever be silent reminder of the year that has
| gone Ia fact will be Kaleidoscope in which J:
conferred the experiences and record OF 1885,. Is
value will be dOubly enhanced by tile associations
| tinht surround II. The hearty Endorsement my
| work received was sufficient Tecompense: but i'm
asmueh "a they would illustrate it la substantial
form accept u in the spirit ia which il given.
Another pleasant feature Of tie evening sur
| pTiaed all present, when Mrs. Cheney again ad
! dressed Mrs. Hampton:
| lt gives me further pleasure this occasion q
| ado that have been commissioned by our Ma
| uonai President, Mrs Charity Rusk Craig. to pre-
selt To you, with her cordial congratulations TIM
token OF her personal esteem and love. This pack
age contains one Of the new Recognition Plus, IL
| HOid, adopted by the same Convention that ciOsec
your year Of faithful and work. IL may b'
pleasing as well "a interesting To YOU know tina
TWAS one OF the first made by the manufacturer afte
hut f.I Hrf M
| uohai President. Take 10 and wear il, and may 4
according To its purpose bs Instrumental in intro
| dueing to you many whose friendship and low
| shall prove warm and enduring while life shai
last; and may It proclaim TO the world that you
| a member of one of the graHdest and IaOst uobl
| organizations known to humanity. the Woman
| Relief Corps, auxiliary 10 and helpmeet OF tn
| Grand Army Of the Republic"
Mrs Hampton. yisibly affected, accepted witt
! pleasure this token Of esteem from her snperiO
| officer. the National President. Mrs. PiummeI
| s-kiOg permission. read the letter from Mrs. Grail
| which accompanied the gift, aud also placed tin
recognition pin upon Mrs Hamptons breast
which she did with fitting words in her own in
imtlbe way.
The Department President. Mrs Thompson an,
| Past Department Presidents, Sarah A. g. Plumme
and Louise A. Robbins. were present by invitation
aud each made brief address, congrutu lating TN
Past National President upon this just recognition
OF her valued services and xpressimg appreciation
OF all she had been To Michigan. aud their pieasnr
in watching The progress of the work OF her event
fii year throughout the Order under the gudRnc
Of her clear hend and firm hand.
Lydia e. Hopkins, Past President Of FairbRnk
Corps and n member Of The ST. Louis COnvenlio
when Mrs. Hampton was elected and Mrs AIDE
lHide Fairbanks Wallace. Past President of Fa
banks Corps and a member of the Columbus Cor
vention, also made fclicitious and interesting n
marks.
The presence of many promineDt Grand Arm
men added to the pleasure and interest OF th
| evening. Brief addresses were made By Con-
mander Ostler and Past Commander Sumner
| Fairbanks Post. aud Gen. l.. 5. Trowbridge an
Col. Sterling, expressing pleasure at being pTeseI
| upon impressive occasion. and extendin
| their congratulations To- the honored woman VIII
had 80 unsellishly aud well worked for the Gran
Army. hoping that the w re. might ever prosps
and piedgiug It their loyal support with many
Godzpeed. Following the addresses. Mrs HamI
ton IN happy manner thanked the irienda for III
kind words that had been said of her and he
work; that while she felt they too fintterinJ
yet II source OF joy To her to be impresse
with the idea her work had been credit to Oh
| cause, aud said That if she had succeeded IL
because she had had faithful supporters. All a
arrangements for the occasion quite infoFmi
and delightful. The members of Fairbanks Corr
served choice refreshments and all seemed to ei
, JOY hoToEiug their Past Corps. Department AT
National President The pleasant home lc
, with many good wishes for its inmates aud u
future happiness OF its mistress, of whom il ma
indeed be said. Well done."-Jenny l. Wyma
, Corresponding Secretary, Fairbanks Corps.