Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1894-09-21
THE MEMORIAL RECORD.
Presented Tuesday Evening by the
Hon. n. C. Root-The Exercises in
Sixth Corps and Odd Fellows
Halls.


Sixth Corps and Odd Fellows
Halls.
Last Tuesday evening, September 18th,
large assembly of invited guests gath,
cred in the 9th Corps and Odd Fellows
Halls to enjoy the evenings exercises OF
the presentation and reception of the G..
A. r. Memorial Record. Supper was
served by the G. A. r. and W. X. G. to
guests from out of town, and a few in
this vicinity, invited to meet them, at
which sat down, also, the members of
the post and corps. The tables were
spread IN the 9th Corps post room, and
tho centre table was occupied by Gov.
Fuller, Mrs. A. D. G. Hardy of New
York City, and the officials of the G.. A.
r. and ladies'. The remaining guests
were seated at other tables, the whole
arrangement being finely managed by
the Committee of Arrangements, assist
ed by the ladies. Supper having been
served, the exercises began in Odd Fell
lows Hall, adjoining. The spacious
rooms occupied by the l. o. o. F. were
thrown open to the people assembled.
A large number of our people came in
at S o'clock and the assembly was called
to order by N. M. Puff n, past command
er, who presided. Seated with him on
the stage were: Hon. H. G. Root, who
donated the beautiful and expensive
Memorial Record Book" Gov. Fuller,
Mrs. Hardy, Col. G. G. Kiusman of Rut
land, Senator Gibson, Representative
Bingham, Revs. Chas. R. Seymour and
M. L. Severance, Judge Carney and Mai.
Coffey, chairman of the Committee of
Arrangements. The exercises were
opened with brilliant piano solo by
Mrs. Geo. w. Keeseman. This consisted
of selections from Kowalski, and was
greatly enjoyed. Prayer by the Rev.
elias. r. Seymour followed, and then
the male qAartette sang Lead Kindly
Light" The voices were Messrs. Long,
Habborleyi Downs, G. II. Bennett, with
Alex. j. Cooper at the piano. The sing
ing by this quartette was very fine.
They sang several pieces during the
evening: "Rest, Soldier Rest" "Red,
White and Blue;" (encored, "There Was
a Man in Our Town'O; Long Years
Have Passed Away and Star Span
gled Banner" to close.
After the first song, the Hon. Il. G.
Root was introduced, who said:
Members Of StIth Corps Post: You as
semble for peaceful purpose. The
alarms and strife of controversy have
passed. A quarter of century has
swiftly gone by since you laid down
your arms and resumed the several avo-
cations of life. but scenes and memo
ries of that period are not entirely blot
ted out, when you as soldiers, and my
self as citizen, were preparing for the
approaching conflict. 1t is for US now
to close up the record.
1t was my fortune in the relations of
business and social life to have heard
the murmurings of the coming storm in
the South, and the opinions of the peo-
pie of the North, over the causes that
were leading up to and bringing on the
Impending cricis" that finally resulted
in the Rebellion. This is not the hour
TO discuss those causes, if 1 could, for
you we'll know that am a plain man,
Impractical in the arts of the orator.
1t is in remembrance that, when the
long. lowering clouds burst upon us,
and the call TO arms was made by Presi-
dent Lincoln, you men of Bennington
were found ready to march forward to
uphold the flag, and to maintain the gov
ernment and laws, which the 'men of
Bennington" upon their own soil, had
fought to establish a century before.
They, and you, were unframed in the
dl 10 VI wal, you buO odllO
flowed in the veins of the father and son,
and you promptly answered the call as
they had done.
Your record is untaruished. 1t is that
of manliness and bravery during the
shifting scenes of four years war,
The news brought, from time to time,
from southern battlefelds to anxious
homes in the North-news of hardship
apInrod in Damn anI on tho march of
battles won against superior numbers,
of rare courage in filling up the ranks as
your comrades fell-showed that the
record of our boys was one of sacrifice
and gallantry, and that Bennington had
reason to take pride in the assurance it
gave that the loyal spirit of the fathers
had been transmitted to the sons.
Thus l have expressed to you the SEN
timent of the community from whence
you went forth on your mission to con-
quer peace. However small stipend
an adverse government may dole out to
you, though it reduce by millions tha
dues of dependent wives and orphans,
of those who yielded up their lives, you
may rest assured of the gratitude of
your fellow citizens.
l come before the members of Sixth
q
ing with me token of my appreciation
of your services. In completion of my
labors as civilian to the soldiers of
Bennington, tender you this Memorial
Book of Record, in which can be in
scribed the names of your comrades, liv-
ing or dead, together with description
of their rank and service. This will
serve as monument of their loyalty
and sacrifice to the coming generations
of our people.
Gentlemen, accept this Memorial Rec
ord in the same spirit in which il is be-
slowed by me, and may it become part
of our history. and prove source of in
spiration and information in future
years.
Mrs. Hardy had been invited to be
present to explain the Memorial Record,
of which she is the agent, and she pro-
ceeded to do so, using handy prospec-
tus to illustrate her remarks. In the
book is an illumined title page followed
by preface, setting forth the reasons
why the volume was gotten up. A COM
plete index follows, and the first written
records are the proceedings of this meet
ing, with an abstract of the speeches
delivered. Then there will be given a
biography of the donor of the volume,
in this instance that of the Hon. Henry
G. Root. Mrs. Hardy explained that
when she came here to show this record
book, in consultation with some of the
leading G. A. R. people, it was their
i III fbaf Nv pnOt cbnrl1 down