The National tribune., 1893-02-16
FROM THE BAY STATE.
Doings of Interest to Veterans and Their
Friends.

Friends.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The Goth annual
Encampment Of the Department of Massachusetts
has passed into history. and it is due say that it
has been one of the most peaceful and factonless
that has been held here in years. Department Com
mander Churchill that was is to be congratulated
upon the smooth and pleasing manner In which
he handled the gathering. leaving every body satis-
fed Ii was not quite large usual, due, il is
believed, to the fact that IT covered so mncl time
This meeting demonstrated more clearly than ever
that return to the practice of holding the meeting
an evening and day would amply cover all the
lime needed to do the business of the Order.
Commander Churchils address was a straight
forward document covering the usual ground and
submitting the usual recommendations. 1t showed
in brief. that the membership is "a. 26l; that
453 have been lost by death during the year; that
j. G. Barnard Post, 30. of Sheffield has just been
organized; that cash balance exists in the treasury
of Sc 128S6, and that S39 li403 has been expended
in relief during the year.
He recommends the abolition of the present
method Of public rating of Posts, and strongly
expresses'the opinion that the Order of Sons of
Veterans should be placed under the jurisdiction
OF the various Departments of the Grand Army,
by whom they should be held accountable; he
also believes that the Department Commander and
Assistant Acknowledgement should be ex-offico
members of the Board of Trustees of the Solulers'
Home.
The business done by the Encampment was
smaller in volume Than usual. 1t voted to
print 900 copies of the early history of the Grand
Army of this Department. compiled by the COM
Dittee having that matter in charge Resolutions
were adopted deprecating the attacks on the PEN
sion list and defending it from its sanderers. II
was also voted to ask the next National Encamp-
ment to repeal the amendment TO the Rules re-
quiring inspection and installation to the
same evening. A motion 10 give Past Post Com
manders seats in the Department Encampment
until such time as Past Department Commanders
were unseated in the National Eucampment went
with a unanimous rush down TO McGinty.
Comrade Meecl of Post TO- presented to the En-
campmcnt portrait Of Gen. Charles Devcns 10
belhung at Headquarters During the forenoon of
the second day Commando in Chief Weissert and
sfaH Enoa r,ttDen and yod
enthusiastic welcome.
These officers elected Department Com
mander. Eli w. Hall, of Lynn; s. V. d. c.. Wilfred
A. Wetherbee. of Trenton; j. V. ID. c., Joseph w.
Thayer, of Chelsea Council of Administration
Chas NJ, Wheden, Pittsfeld; John j. Warden
Boston; William r. Warner Fall River: Edward
b. Savage, Haverhill; Royal Il. Wight Natick
For Chaplain. Rev. William G. Barrows. of Wo-
burn was chosen. and for Medical Director, Isaac
w Starbird, Of Boston.
Upward of GOO veterans went to Fanieul Hall to
enjoy the banquet which has become nsepara-
bic conclusion to the Encampments here. The
prominent guests present were CommHnder-n-
Chief Wcssert Corp'l Tanner. Gov William +.
Russell, Lieut. Gov. WoIcott Speaker Barrett of
the House; President Pinkertop of the Senate;
Mai. George s. Merrill Edmund Prentiss. Assistant
Adjuant-General Department of II. L. and others.
The speeches were simply magnificent-the best
heard on such an occasion. Governor, Lieutenant
Governor Speaker, and President delivered utter
ances glowing with patriotism, and for "Corpo-
raj Jim,' he Tanneresque. The scorchng
which he gave enemies of the pension list came
near tumbing the consccrated walls upon his head
such tumut Of Endorsement did the boys give
his remarks on that burning subject. Capt. John
g. b. Adams also gave the veterans a warming up
in his customary fashion, and remarks by Division
Commander Deiano. OF the Sons of Veterans,
closed the exercises.
pleasant feature OF the afternoon consisted offs
presentation made Commander Churchill. Mai
John NJ. Deane. in behalf of his official associates
and staff, presented the Commander with a gold
chain, q diamond mounted scarfpin, watch charm,
and cuff buttons. In appreciation of which the
Commander feelingly responded
In the evening COMMANDMENTS Chief Weissert,
with Corpl Tanner, Commanders Hall and
Churchill, Comrade James F. Mech. and Others
attended the exercises Of the Relief Corps and wit
messed the installation Of officers and made adj
dresses.
On Tuesday evening Commander-in- Chief Weis.
sert was the guest of his Massachusetts Aids at
Young's Hotel, Boston. Comrade Charles G,
Adams. President of the Aids. conducted affairs
A reception was held in of the parlors follow
ing which a banquet was served. Twenty-Five
Aids had seats at the tables with the invited guests
Gov. Russell was present for short time. Later
the Commander-in-Chief went TO Medford, where
he attended the opening of fair of Post &C. Dur
ing his stay in this Department he has been the
guest OF Inspector General Goodale.-B., Boston.