Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-11-05
UNION VETERANS.
Brief Report OF he Campfire and Elec-
ton.

bIlel fNepOTI Oh lne ChilpHTe ana EIec
ton.
According to the program the camp
tire of the L. V. L. was held at Hol
combs opera house last Wednesday eve
ming Hon. A. b. Darragh presiding
The house was packed with citizens as
sembled to listen TO the proceedings
The campfire was opened by music by
the city band at the close of which Mr.,
Darragh made few preliminary re-
marks explaining the nature OF the tN-
ercises, the organization and closed by
requesting Rev. j. A. McGreaham of
the Presbyterian church To conduct the
devotional exercises. Mayor Merrell
was then introduced and welcomed the
guests 10 the city IN brief and appro-
pirate speech. He spoke of the work
of the soldiers who composed the union
armies; of the debt the country owed
them: of the vast results of the war in
which they fought. That as one result
| it was settled forever that this was a
nation, not an aggres alton OF nations
and that the United States now occu-
pied position among the first nations
of the earth. He gave the visitors to
understand that the best we had was at
their command.
Gen. George n. Mead of South Cam
den, Michigan, Department Command
er, was then introduced and after thank
ing the citizens of the city for their
hearty welcome gave his annual adj.
dress, al abridged report of which is
given below:
Comrades, the great hand upon the
dial plate of time has marked the pas
sage of another year since we met and
parted at Battle Greek to take sum.
AIRY of the work done during the year:
to legslate upon matters which we
deem of interest to the department of
Michigan, and to pledge anew our IL
deity, charity and loyalty to the lofty
principles of the Union Veterans I'm
ion.
1t is with genuine pleasure that |
greet you and with equal pleasure |
bring to you the glad news that
throughout this department the utmost
harmony has prevailed.
Alas, however, our rejoicings are
not unmixed with sorrow, for during
the year we have bid farewell to many
comrades in our department of MIchi-
gan.
They gone To the grave; We no longer be
hold them,
Nor tread the rough paths of the worlc by
But the wide arms OF Mercy are spread to en-
fold them.
And wen meet them again in the Heavenly
land.
one by one they are drifting away,
over the breast OF the silent sea
one by one they are dropping DER
To the home that awaits them on the other |
shore.
The first thing after assuming COM
mand of the department of Michigan,
after looking oyer the field. and the old
idage Judge the future by the past"
and | said TO myself, II must give the
order to halt, or there will not be a
command in the department of Mchi-
gan left and TO prevent the loss of any
during the year, | said to my
Assistant Adjutant General Get down
he bugle and sound it loud and long
SO it will echo and re-echo through
he department of Michigan-Halt!"
And | am pleased TO say to you COM
AIDES the order was obeyed. The next
'rder was to about face and get into
inc for action" and that order was
,beyed and now our lines are formed
With many new recruits IN the field.
When | received the list of COM
hands from Gen. Longs, Asst Adj't
ZEN, five commands were marked doubt
uf, ey had not paid up their per cap
ia tax for some time. and when | re-
eived the property from Gen. Long
eceived the charters from two of The
Cedar Springs and Green
lille. The other three were Lansing,
,oldwater and Montrose. After some |
with Lansing COM
land was informed that it was dead. {
t had but a few members, not what
he constitution says they should have,
nd most of them were employees
round the capitol and had moved
way. Coldwater next came into line
nd after great deal of correspondence
got date to meet them, December z,
s96, and long before daylight the
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