Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1894-08-30
Annual Encampment of
Sons of Veterans
Held at Davenport. la, Last Week
Many important Changes ia The o.
shtulion and Bylaw; "a 80 "a New
Ritual adopted.

Many Important Changes in the o.
stitution and by-LaNs; "a 80 IA New
Ritual adopted.
The 18th annual encampment Of the
Commandery-in-Chief was well at
tended, and made the most radical
changes ever known in the history OF
the order
The convention indorsed he deci-
sions and opinions of Commander.
in-Chief Maccabe, rendered during the
year, despite the fact that two appeals
were entered by the Maryland divis-
ion.
The larger part Of the day Wednes-
day was spent in discussing the report
of the committee on constitution. A
large number OF important changes
were made. The action of last years
convention was reversed. and the age
of eligibility reduced FROM q to Is.
The date of the annual camp inspec-
tion was changed from April u and
June TO Oct ! and Dec. ]. The pub
LEGATION Of a black list was authorized.
The right of appeal of staff officers
from the order of removal by their
commanders was done away with. Dir
vision commanders were authorized
to fill vacancies in the ranks Of the
delegates to the national encampment,
provided the division council cannot
be convened. The preamble was
amended so as to make the order "A
military association"
An important change was one that
viii cause the bonds of division COM
manders to be approved by him and
run to the commander-in-chief intrust
for the division.
After long discussion, it was de-
cided that the military features of the
order should be placed under the ju-
/ risdiction of the several division COM
manders instead of under the direct
supervision of the national body, as it
now is.
The style Of the uniform was so
chan9ed is to make it that of the L.
/ ;. army regulation. The limit of the
/ per capita tax for divisions was raised
/ from 60 cents 10 81 year. [ was de-
cided TO establish no more life mem
berships, and not TO restore any of the
present members il they should hap
/ pen to lose their good standing.
The adoption of new ritual has
been seriously considered for some
years,and a trial ritual was distributed
/ for use in 1891. This was rejected at
4 the Helena encampment of 1892. Last
! year the encampment at Cincinnati di-
rected the preparation Of a three-de-
gree ritual, and Thursday the result of
the committees work was passed upon.
The work was exemplitied before
the convention thereupon decided TO
/ put tie three degrees into effect at
once, despite the protests of several di-
visions, including those OF New Eng
land, who desired years trial.
Included in the ritual was II service
for Memorial Union Defenders Day.
and a burial service. After the new
ritual had been adopted. the consti-
tuition or what was left OF it, was
again amended so as to conform TO its
provisions.
The report OF the committee on res
olutions was taken up. TWAS agreed
that instead of restricting the privi-
leses to members of the G.. A. r., all
honorably discharged veterans of the
Civil War should he admitted to the
order The eases of Walter : Payne
of OHIO and George Ii. Arlington of
New York were considered, and each
was restored to his past rank.
A resolution was adopted, making
the comforting of the gold cross de-
pendent upon many years of success
full labor in the interest of the order.
and not at will as it is at present. The
gold cross was then refused to Geo w
Marks and W. j. Robertson of New
York.
These officers were elected: Three
candidates were placed ia nomination
for mmander-in-chief They were
Col. W f.. Bundy of Cincinnati, Col.
George II. Hulburt of Belvidere, M. !
and Col. +. II. Milham of ~. Paul.
On the first ballot. Col. Bundv re-
ceiyed GO votes, Hulburt, %, and Mil
ham, o. Col Bundys election was
made unanimous.
Col. Theodore A. Barton Of Provi- /
dence was elected senior vice COM
mandel- in-chief hv acclamation- rs
was Col. l.. A. Dilley of this city to /
the position of junior vice command
er-in-chief. Adit. Gen. Charles Il. I
Darling of Boston was unanimously +
elected to the position of first member
of the council-in-chief. The other
member, of the council are +. Tear
Of PENNSYLVANIA and W. ID. Spear of
New York. These officers were in
stalled by Coils. Milham and Iiulburf
Commander-in-Chief Bundy am
nounccd his staff as follows; adiutant
general. IL. Vance Specimen. Cincin-
natl: inspector general Albert &. A