The Portland daily press., 1890-11-25
comrade Reed Sends His Greeting
from New York.

prevented In such a crowd. The exercises
were of the most interesting character, and
listened to with rapt attention.
The first number on the programme was
"Recollectlons of the War" rendered by
Chandler's Band, and was a fitting opening.
Mayor Melcher, chairman Of the commit
tee on dedication. then pleasantly welcomed
the guests, speaking as follows;
MAYOR MELCHER's REMARKS.
Comrades. Ladies and Friends:
IL Is not In my province to speak tonight.
l have the pleasanter duty of calling up
those whom you will be more glad to hear.
Yet | cannot refrain from cOngratula ing
you on the felicitous circumstances that
give us this occasion.
1t Is the ambition, and certainly com
mendable one, OF all wise persons to posse IS
themselves Of homes, places where they may
live and where they may entertain friends,
and where, as life's shadows lengthen in the
declining years they can feel to rest from the
greater activities OF younger years.
Now IL this Is cOmmendable In persons,
why not with an association like BOsw0rth
Post Of the Grand Army?
The members OF this post have acted on
this belief, and, with the ladies of Boswort h
Relief Corps, have made for themselves this
beautiful home, furnished and paid for from
the accumulations Of the efforts and ecOno-
mics of many years.
Mayor Melcher expressed regret that all
the friends of the post could not be with
them, the limited size Of the rooms making
1t impossible.
THE BUILDING ACCEPTED.
Chairman r. K. Galley Of the building
committee, then said that during the %
years Of the existence Of the Post they had
occupied the attic Of some building In this
city for the space Of an hour week until a
longing had arisen many times in the hearts
of many comrades that God would spare
their lives long enough to get house Of their
own. Periodically and spasmodically this
feeling has come upon the Post untn at the
first meeting in December year ago mo-
tion was made and entertained by Com
mander Berry for the appointment of a com
mittee to consider the matter of building
Work was postponed until spring. Ground
was broken last May with the intention Of
dedicatlng on July 4th. bnt the exercises
had to be postponed until November be-
cause the house was not finished. What
better thing can thanks be gwen for than
that the building has been erected without
the contraction of debt-all bills incurred
are paid.
In handing the keys to Commander Dunn
he said that 1t then became his pleasant du-
ty to place in the Commanders hands the
keys, and to declare that she building was
from that moment In his charge. He would
find they had prepared it not as a hall but as
a home, place for labor. refreshment and
rest, aud he hoped the comrades would use
Il as such during The days of their natural
lives.
Commander Dunn, with a few pleasant
words, accepted In behalf of the Post the
trust imposed, saying much praise was due
the building committee and the ladies who
had so willingly assisted In the furnishing.
Let the work be left so that when the last
c0mrade shall be mustered out it shall be
said Of Bosworth Post by coming genera
tians, they exemplified the three great prin-
ciples OF the order-fraternity, charity and
loyalty.
Comrade FL. S. Burrage earnestly prayed
for generous blessing to rest upon the vet
Grams of the g. A. r, and c0nsecrated the
home to its noble purpose.
Shaw's quartette sang responsive HYMN
written especially for the occasion by John
l.. Shaw, the music having been composed
by Professor Kotzschmar.
BoswoRTH POST.
Comrade William II. Green then read
brief history of the Post, reviewing the rec
ords of its % years of existence In the
summer of 1867 number of comrades met
for preliminary organization at the Office of
C0mrade G. p. Mattocks on Middle street,
the result of which was the hiring of the
Army and Navy Union Hall, corner of Mid
die and Plum streets. october Sth OF that
year the organization was perfected, and the
name of Bosworth accepted In memory Of
Sergeant Major Frederic W. BoswOrth Of the
18th Maine. who was mOrtally wounded at
Mapping Heights. Va, In 1868.
Mr.. Green then read list Of the charter
members, thirty-one in all, of whom eight
are known to be dead and nine still con-
nected with the Post.
In 1868 the Post moved to Clapp block on
Federal street, then in 1871 to Mechanics
building, Congress street, in 1882 removed to
Dow's block, and on last evening ''packed
up" for the home camp. Mr.. Green then de-
tailed the officers Of the Post each year from
organization to present, and noticed with
brief obituaries past commanders and COM
rades who have died. The number of men,
bers at the close of each year shows steady
growth from 100 in 1867 to 429 at the close OF
the September. 1S90quarter. The amount Of
money expended for charity each year
showed that the Post had always been true
to It's principle to help needy comrades.
Reckoning the fourth quarter of this year at
the same ratio as that OF last, the grand
total paid out by Bosworth Post for charity
will be round S21 900.
In closing Mr.. Green predicted that haI-
mony and peace would prevail IN the future
as in the past.
GEN. MATTocKs's REMARKS.
Gen. G. P. Mattocks spoke happily, in part
as follows:
We meet tonight to dedicate this hall to
the purposes for which the Grand Army was
founded, and to commemorate the memory
of the faithful soldier who fell not like the
one at Jena to perpetuate the memory Of
mo mi m ma N Q hA nj
OF the states cemented by the blood Of our
fathers during the long years of the RevOlu-
ton. The young soldier whose name this
post bears. more than quarter Of a century
ago, as l sat in my office seeking recruits tor
regiment then being organized, came TO me
and asked to be enrolled among the members
OF the company then being enlisted-only a
boy in his teens, begging the privilege of
conSecratiDg his life to the service Of his
country almost reluctantly enlisted him,
and from that time to the day Of his death
watched over him with fatherly pride. The
speaker then rehearsed the stirring story of
the war life OF this young veteran. Verify
his death leaves shining mark. In his life
he represented all that was brave and true
as a soldier. aud in his death all that was
noble and grand 10 hero. He was typical
soldier of Maine which sent TO the front
more then 10000 of her sons.
General Mattocks then referred to the
purposes OF the Grand Army, saying tnat u
Kept alive the military spirit 81 the country
without perpetuating sectional animosity.
Miss Annie Hyer admirably recited the
stirring poem, "Night on Shiloh" display
ing much forcs aud dramatic power In re-
sponse to hearty applause she recited an
amusing sketch, "The Drummer.
Shaw's Quartette sang an original dedica-
tion song, which included many taking ref
erences to the building and the committees,
and was received with great favor.
COMMANDER ANDERsoN's REMARKS.
Department Commander John d. Ander-
son thanked the post for the privilege of be-
ing present on such happy occasion. He
Joined in the refrain, "Be happy tonight"
and thought II any body of men on the face
of the earth had a right to be proud, GER
tanly Bosworth Post had. The memory of
the namesake of he post was an honor to
the organization. They should be proud to
hail FROM Maine, which furnished an organl.
zation which lost more men In percentages
aud numerically than any other orga. ization
that went into service. The commander