The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1894-02-08
9th Session Of Bay State
Grand Army Men.
MAINE VETERANS ELECT OFFICERS.
Gilman of Oakland Is Chosen Depart
ment Commander-The Camp Fire
i'm the Evening Prominent People
Present.

eampment of the Massachusetts, depart
ment, Grand Army, convened in Faneuil
hall yesterday. The hall was har dsomely
decorated with streamers, bunting, flags
and corps badges.
When Commander Hall dropped his
gavel there were nearly 400 members of
the encampment in their seats. The gal
leries were open 20 comrades of the order,
but there were less than 80 who ayailed
themselves of the privilege, though the
number was increased later.
The encarhpment was opened at 1925,
the divine blessing being invoked by the
department. chaplain, Rev. William c. Bar
rows. Looking down upon the encamp-
ment one was struck forcibly by the fact
that It was emphatically a gathering. OF
veterans" for within the ranks OF the
order there are very few under so years Of
age and the great bulk of them have
passed the three-scors limit, while many
are over 20 years.
The commander began his address at
10:35 O'Clock, and ID was listened TO with
the closest attention. several Of his points
being greeted with applause.
Thinning Out.
With reference to the record of the year
he said: The report Of the assistant ad-
jutant-general of the department shows
the number of comrades in good standing
In the department for the year ending
Dec. 81, 1898, to be 1857 . net loss of 574
during the past year; the number of COM
rades mustered into the various posts
during the year, <s4 transferred, 23i; re-
instated, 800; total of 1914. Losses
during the year: BY death, 400; suspen-
sion, 795: transfer and discharge, 203; q
total loss of 1887.
A long discussion took place on the
method Of selecting delegates and alter
mates TO the national encampment, but
finally it was voted that they be selected
by one representative of each post and
the commander of each of the $40 posts
was constituted this committee.
II was voted TO send a telegram of SYM
pathy to Corporal Tanner, who is suffer
ing from his old wounds. having just
undergone surgical operation in =
Brooklyn hospital.
The Afternoon Session.
There was considerably larger attend
ance at the afternoon session. The matter
of opposing or favoring the bill now pend
ing in the legislature authorizing the
selectmen of towns where there is no
Grand Army post to suitably decorate
soldiers graves was indefinitely post
poned.
The resolution to change the rules Of
election to post membership to allow q
majority vote instead of by black and
white ballots was defeated, as was also
the proposition to levy a per capita tax Of
cents for payment of transportation of
post commanders and delegates to the de-
partment encampment.
A telegram Of thanks was received from
Corporal Tanner, expressing the hope that
he would be present at the next encamp-
ment
The motion of Past Department Com
mander Smith to hold the next encamp-
ment at Springfield was carried almost
unanimously.
After prolonged struggle. the resolu-
tions relating TO the mem bership of past
department commanders In the national
encampment were laid over for future
action, and at 7:45 the meeting adjourned.
The Evening Reception.
Last evening Grand Army headquarters
ON Washington street presented an ami
mated scene. The occasion was a recep-
tion given by the Grand Army Club OF
Massachusetts, to the delegates of the en-
campment. The hall was packed. The
program consisted of speeches by several
comrades; the Calender minstrels fun
nished music, there were war songs, old
fashioned barndoor dancing and an inn
mensely good time" generally.
Loyal Women.
A committee from the Women's Relief
corps was admitted to the encampment
and introduced to the comrades. Mrs
Knowles addressed the comrades briefly,
saying that the committee came as repre-
sentatives of nearly $4,000 loyal women.
While the comrades were rocking the old
Cradle of Liberty the women were rack
ing their brains to devise some more
methods of aiding the comrades in their
work Mrs. Dean and Mrs. Turner, the
other members of the committee, also
briefly addressed the encampment
The COMMITTEES TO erect a monument to
the memory of Past Assistant Adjutant
General Munroe made its report, showing
that $l265 So had been attributed, of
which S57.41 remains in the treasury. The
report expressed the hope that enough
additional will soon be contributed to Sc
cure the perpetual care of the lot.
The woman's Relief Corps
The 18th annual convention of the
woman's Relief corps, department of
Massachusetts,, opened I'm the Peoples
church. The business of the day con-
sisted in the reports of the officers, which
showed the department TO be in a very
flourishing condition, both financially
and in numbers. kilograms Of sympathy
were sent to Mrs Hattie Ralph, the chap
lain Of the department, who is danger
ously i'll, and to Corporal Tanner, now In
the hospital at Brooklyn.
At the evening session, Commander
Matthew Bowdoin of Louisville made q
patriotic address. and invited the depart
ment to take part in the national encamp-
ment, which Is to take place in that city.
ELECTED OFFICERS.
Second Days Encsinpment of Veterans
lfafa