Bridgeton pioneer., 1891-04-09


ericksburg and charlottesville. Two
tns % bers of the Post had been through
the Mexican war from as to '4S, pud
a'-o through the war of the rebellion
One belonged to the famous 7th Reg.
OF NAw York, which Was the first TO
fe4ch the city Of Washington.
The Post had had six Fourth of July
celebrations in ten years Seven ex-
cursions t. Atlantic City had been en
ioyed, one of which cleared 1886 and
another $40. Two picnics had been
held at the TuInbling Dam, Gen
Wheeler had given an illustrated lee
tu,e, and an excursion had been run
to Sea Breeze.
One of the most exciting episodes of
the Post was when K .te Howe, ar
rived. Mr.. Padgett referred to her as
"an angel in disguise" Many camp
fires had been held, many visits from
other Posts had been welcomed, and
Department Officers had frequently
honored the Post with their presence.
The Post had one hundred honorary
members. Il had paid out in money
for distressed 1884, with numerous do
nations of other things. Twenty had
died, and as there was no recruiting
ground, the Posts would gradually
fade away, and live only in history.
Rev. W. D Stultz was announced,
n Ia
Beautiful WAS his language, while h
spoke OF the organization. Il wps
not for him, he said. TO remeu-
ber the call to arms. the p .rting
the march through bloody feld,
the terrible engagements which struck
terror to the hearts Of everyone a
home. 1t was not to recall the going
or the action of these brave men, but
it was the return. A silent tear was
dropped for the many who failed to
come back, but to those that came
back, the speaker referred to. Came
back to the wives that loved thetu :;
came back to the children that had al
most foigotten them. And after the
return, the veterans caid these feel
ings shall be Kept burning in our
hearts; thefriendships we made by the
camp fire in the field, shall be kept
alive by the camp fire OF the Post
room.
This grand company of men gave 10
the people the holiest rights and privi
leges we,now enjoy. Upon them rests
the Government, which is held most
dear. All sacred by the devotion and
heroism of such men rs these. This,
the speaker thought, was a wondrous
OCCASION. II has many thoughts and
feelings for US. He hated to feel
that many OF these should soon go and
leave US forever. The organization
has such beautiful ideas. 1t keeps in
memory the graves of the sleeping
comrades, and while men fail TO under
stand the debt they owe to the soldier;
yet the children would grow up and
Call them great.
Rev J. e. Whitton, of the Fourth
NJ. E Church, made an able address,
full of thought and patriotism He
talked of the American home snd its
defenders. The American can only
know what such home is. No longer
the curse of slavery here. Our fore
fathers threw off that foreign yoke,
and the brave veterans gathered here,
threw down the slave master, broke
away the shackles, and took from him
the lash, and now all is free and the
people can well point to the flag and
sing Long may it wave, DER this land
of the free and home of the braye,"
He then took up the marked days in
human life. The first greatest day was
the day of existence. The second was
the strike for civil liberty; the third,
when the object was gained and
the battle won. 1t was the last act
which made men great, and even now
should the numbers of the g. A. r.
grow less, the influence will extend,
wider, higher and deeper. The youth
has already taken up the spirit of pa
triotism, and from the leaves of history
are taking sips. which are becoming
fibre of their fibre, blood of their blood,
part of their being. Rev. Whitton
made great hit when he referred to
the strength of the nation. Italy be-
came angry, but Johnny Bull said as he
looked on, Don't touch, for if you do
the old eagle will screech."
Ex-senator I. T. Nichols was called
upon, and he spoke from his place in
the audience. He paid his most pro-
found respect to the old soldier. He
loved them. He had always regretted
he was not few years older when the
crisis came; that he could not be a