The National tribune., 1892-07-21
FROM THE BAY STATE.
Doings OF Interest to Veterans and Their
Friends.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: "There is one thing
the next National Encanpment ought to do. 1t
ought TO wipe out sl of the Ritual except the obli-
CATION. You know Gen. Sherman said il didn't
take him two minutes 10 become a soldier of the
United S;ates. but il took him half All hour 10 get
into the Grand Army, which he believed was not
made 20 me the other day by veteran who has
been a Grand Army man and worked at IL" for
more than quarter Of q century. His opinion is
shared by many other veterans. It is an open
question whether the Order has not suffered more
than IL bas profted by It's organization along the
convincing why this should have been SO.
We could surely have had secret Order without
II. The revolt against the fummery Of the three
degrees might well have been carried further. The
veterans getting too old to persist in this line Of
work and ought TO have something TO do at their
regular meetings at this late day.
IL was a red letter day with Fletcher Webster
Post. l3. Brockton, the 18th, and red-hot besides
il the day selected by this Post celebrate its
silver anniversary, and while the excessive warmth
diminished the attendance somewhat, IL was on the
whole highly.successful occasion. The celebra-
tion began in the afternoon by the assembling OF
She Post. The Relief Corps and other invited guests
In one of the public balls. where words of welcome
were spoken by Commander B. E. Savery, who
closed by introducing Comrade Seth /. French. u
Past Commander as Master OF Ceremonies. He
made a short address Then followed invoca-
tion singing by the Schubert Ladies' Quartet, of
Boston. recitations by Mrs. II. y. Holmes, poem
by Mrs. Powers, and historical address by Rev.
George R. Lawton. OF the Post. From this address,
which was full Of interest. learned that the Post
was Instituted July Il, 1907, by Department Com
mandcr Austin S. Cushman with Il charter men,
bers. Ten of these living and five still
members of the Post The Post went unnamed
Tor some time, but as the majority of its charter
members had been members OF the Webster regi-
n1ent they finally adopted the name OF their old
Colonel, Fletcher Webster. The Post has SIS
names on It's rolls. IL now numbers 800. Between
80 aud GO have died. Upwards Of $40 600 have been
expended tn relief The Post has recently formed
associate membership. The speaker paid a
very glowing tribute 10 the Relief Corps auxiliary
90 the Post.
After reminiscent remarks by Comrade A. 8.
Cushman, who chartered tho Post, adjournment
was had TO the banquet spread Ia another hall.
Aher an hours enjoyment of this part OF the pro.
gram. the 6ow OF soul began under the direction
OF Comrade John Barbour. who had been intro.
duced as toastpsster Of the evening. He called Ut
Ia tHrn Mayor Keith. Department Commander
Churchill, Capt. John g. II. Adams. the State Ser.
geant-at-Arms; Capt. Chas. Williams: Mrs. Mary
q. Deane, President W.R.Ca Mary Il. Elliot De
pariment Secretary of the w. Il. c.. Mrs Emma Is
Lowd, Past Department President B. Read Wales
Assistant Inspector General, and Past Depart eni
Commanders George S. Evans and John ID. Billings
Other guests present were Eli W. Hail Senior vics
Department Commander; w. A. .Welherbee, Junior
Vice Department Commander; Charles S. An
thony. Chief Mastering Officer; Charles ID. Nash
Past Department Commander; Agnes Parker and
Augusta A. Wales, Past Department Presidents
W.RC.
The quarterly report Of the Woman's Relic
Corps this Department. shows number OF member
ga good standing July :, i. .3ol; net gain 357. Ex
pended for relief 81. .726.7l
Post l3s. Somerville. gave Mrs. w. G. Bailey I