Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1893-06-23
THE RECEPTION
RENDERED TO OoMMANDER-IN-CHIEP wEIS
SART, LAST NIGHT,
By the Veteran Soldiers Of This City and Vicinity.
A Very Large Attendance at
G. 4. R. Hall.

Last night in G. A. R. Hall, the De-
partment OF West Virginia gave a
grand reception to Commander-in-Chief
A. G. Weissert and Adjutant General
Gray, both of Milwaukee. 1t would be
difficult to find a jolier or more en-
thusiastic assem- blage of people than
was there present. The ball was most
tastefully decorated and the occasion
clear through was one of pleasure, good
humor and enjoyment. Early In the
evening the hall was flied to It's capac-
ity with an audience OF ladies and gen.
tlemen, prominent among them being
persons from the interior of this State
and from Ohio.
Commander Wiessert and Mr.. Gray
arrived from Chicago on the O'Clock
train, where they were met by e. A. K.
men of this city. They were escorted
to the Hotel Windsor. Later In the eye-
ming they were shown to the hall,
where the crowd was in waiting TO re-
ceive them. The way they shook hands,
and the greetings which were exchang-
ed, were feature Of the meetings sue
cess.
Adiutant F. II. Crago opened the eve
ning's exercises by few appropriate
words, and Mrs. Gertrude McClelland
followed In we'll rendered solo. De-
partment Commander Smith, from Ty-
Ter county, was introduced. In appro-
pirate words, on behaif Of the q. A. K.
OF this State and the Women Relief
Corps, he extended welcome to the dis
tlnguished visitors. He spoke Of the
loyalty Of West Virginia soldiers in the
rebellion. and in Introducing Com
mander Weissert, he saidshe held the
most honorable position on earth. He
concluded by telling Mr.. Weissert it
was In the name OF the G. A. r. OF West
Virginia he was being brought before
the audience.
Commander Wessert is an interesting
speaker, and the closest OF attention
was paid to his address, which abounded
In "reminiscences and quaint humor. lie
said he was more thankful 10 be there,
he thought, than even the audience was
to have him. He traced course
through the war, and spoke Of the or
ganization OF the G.. A. r. after 1t. He
claimed that now the order was above
all others, though all were doing good.
Mr. Weissert said, 81 would rather
have the honor OF wearing the &. A.
K. button-the little brOnzed button
than have any other honor in this life.
He said he was against people who claim
ed the pension roll fraud. and spoke OF
the unreiability Of persons who say
others are securing undeserving pen
sions. 1t was said that In cases out OF
ten these persons tell falsehoods. At
his mention Of Logan, Mcpherson,
Thomas, Sherman, Grant and Lincoln
he was enthusiastically applauded.
That the g. A. r. is flourishing partlc-
ularly well in the South was claimed.
The speaker said that the women who
stayed at home during the war did a
great part In deciding the conflict. The
Commander closed by speaking Of the
Ladies' Relief Corps in the highest OF
praise. Finally he said, like the Irish
man, ''he wished all those before him
would live to be a thousand years old,
and then not die, but fade out as q
daisy"
Adjutant Gray spoke in pleasing
manner, and not without an enjoyable
tint OF humor. He said he was glad to
be 10 the Panhandle, and he was
thinking what this rally would have
been like had the South gained. lie
said he believed on this side of the
river would be row OF custom houses,
and on the opposite side OF the river
cannons to protect them. In referring
to pensions, he said that those who
called the system thieving one would
have to answer before the bar OF God;
that the names on the pension rolls
were there legally, and that there is
not a name there whose record Is not
tabulated with It. In q CHEEKY and good
humored way be told his comrades not
to think they were old even II they
were sixty. BE told them some OF
the greatest deeds OF history were
accomplished after that age. he closed
by paying a glowing tribute OF praise to
the q. s. flag, saying that ''if people
couldn't get redemption under the flag
OF the Union they could get 1t nowhere
else.
MRS. Amanda Murdoch, OF this city,
President of the Women's Relief Corps,
OF this State, made a statement regard.
ing the Relief Corps, in fitting man
ner.
Comrsde r. II. Cochran, OF Toledo,
one of the Executive Committee, OF the
National Council Of Administration, had
journeyed all the way from his home
for the occasion. He read work OF
his called "The Volunteer" which was
something quite appropriate, bringing
forth repeated applause by the fitting
"hits" made.
Mrs. MeClland sang "Around Oui
Camp Fires" in an excellent manner.
Last came the refreshments, served
by the ladies OF the Relief Corps OF
Wheeling and Benwood. There were
excellent, consisting Of ice cream, lem.
onade, cake and sandwiches. At late
hour, after social continuance OF the
thu rrouyA Ala.