Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1899-07-20
Burlington Entertains Mem
bers of the Medal of
Honor Legion.
GEN. MILES GUEST OF HONOR
Gen. Theodore 8. Peck of This City Elect.
cd Com mander For the Ensuing Year
-Boatride on Lake Cham plain
with Banquet and Speeches at
Hotel Champlain, Bluff Point.

Hotel Champlain, Bluff Point.
The companions of the Medal of Honor
Legion held the business meeting of their
convention in this city yesterday morn
ing in the small hall of the Y. NJ. g. A.
building. The meeting was called to Or
der by Commander Cummings about 10
o'clock. Gen. II. S. Peck called upon Col.
Ct. @, Benedict to say a few words of well
come TO the visiting companions, which
he did, assuring them of the cordial feel
ings of the citizens of Burlington and
that all in their power would be done TO
make the visit of the Legion u pleasant
and happy one. The response was made
by Commander Cummings, who expressed
the appreciation of the Legion of their
welcome to Vermont hallowed as it was
by memories of the revolution and with
her reputation for good and brave soldiers.
Her troops he said, had fought and won
renown from Gettysburg to the Rio
Grande
The convention then proceeded to the
regular business of the session the roll
call having shown the attendance of
IS or more than a quorum. Chaplain
James Miller. sr, offered prayer. The
minutes of the last session of the Legion
at Scranton, Pa, in June, ~, were read
by Adjutant NJ. NJ. Durell and adopted.
The Legion then passed to the hearing
of the reports of officers, the first of
which was that of Commander Cummings.
He stated that the association was in
thriving condition and referred to some
matters of minor Importance, which had
come up during his administration.
Adjutant Durell reported six members
deceased and one resigned, leaving a total
membership in the order of i19 men.
tt,...
tee reported action upon the names of 20
new members TO the first class and five to
the second class.
Expressions of regret at not being able
to attend the session were read from the
President ice-President secretary of
state, secretary of the treasury, secretary
of the interior, secretary of the navy,
secretary OF war, postmaster-general. eN-
Senator George +. Edmunds, Adjutant-
General Corbin and Col. Myron NJ. Parker
of Washington.
The report of the quartermaster. j. r.
Durham showed balance of S57S.5S in the
treasury. The chaplain also gave his re-
port.
The statement that &c members of the
Legion were delinquent in dues led to the
Offering and passage of a resolution au-
thorizing the quartermaster to remit dues
without application in such cases as he
saw fit to do so.
An amendment to the constitution was
next discussed and acted upon. AS
amended the constitution allows the adj
mittance to second class membership in
the order of the eldest son or daughter,
who shall have become n years of age, OF
any member and upon the death of the
companion they shall attain fun pri-
vileges in the Legion. This was passed
after much discussion.
The Legion voted to adopt tho 1esign
,t..l p..,1r
for the second class medal and also voted
that the first medal of the design should
be given to Gen. Peck's daughter
1t was moved to appropriate 500 to
Quartermaster Durham in recognition of
his services for the past two years. This
was done.
Companion DR.. George w. Brush of
Brooklyn presented a preamble aud res
olution adopted by Il local organization
of the Legion in New York asking that
some action be taken to provide for the
adoption of a new and more distinctive
medal of the order, The present medal is
often mistaken for the q. A. Il. badge.
This was discussed to considerable length
and finally laid upon the table
The Introduction of a resolution by w.
l.. Ierrmance of New York which CEN
sured the press for denouncing the con-
duct OF the war in the Philippines proved
a fire brand in the convention. The res
olution moved to denounce the wholes ale
denunciatiCn of the press concerning re-
cent matters and its author introduced It
with remarks most emphatic. Suisse
quenty he stated that there was no pol
itics in it." The discussion of the resolu-
| ton led to several references to recent re-
ported cabinet and war department diff
culties and some spirited remarks on both
| sides of the question. The resolution in
a second clause expressed faith in the ad-
n list pa ion nd MAJ
ment of the war. Col. f.. G. Butterfield
moved to amend by striking out the de-
| nunciation and this motion was carried
although by a close vote. The resolution
was then passed.
! The thanks of the Legion to the citizens
of Burlington, the companions living in
the city. the Ethan Allen club and the
| committee of their thoughtful considera-
| ton were voted.
( The convention then passed to the cleo
| ton of officers, which resulted as follows
Commander. Gen. r. S. Peck OF Burning
/ ton.
Senior vice-Commander, DR. George w.
| Brush of Brooklyn.
Junior Nice-Commander, Capt. John w.
Heard Sd L. S. Cavalry Fort Ethan Allen.
| Chaplain, James Miller Sr. OF Philadel-
| phia.
The remainder of the officers are ap-
/ pointive. Each officer was escorted to the
! Platform witch ana edCn made q
| neat speech of acceptance.
! Invitations for the next meeting were
given from Brooklyn and Cedar Rapids.
/ Iowa and the former accepted after
which the convention adjourned.
APPOINTIVE OFFICERS.
Internationally q. Estes, Washing
ten, d. {.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS r. Durham, New
York.
| SWgeon-Dr Gabriel Grant. New York.
f Inspector-George w. WinGeu, New
York.
Judge advocate-Samuel L. Plngree.
Hartford W.
llstorian--J. Madison Drake, Eliza
beth, y, J.
Executive committee Neale If
| Philadelphia. William j. Wray OF Phila-
| dclphia. stephen I. Corliss Of Albany, n.
Y. George Grenyile Benedict OF Burling-
ten. VT, Erastus w. Jewett of Swanton,
VT.
Notice of the appointment of aides-de-
camp will be given later.
DRIVE ABOUT THE CITY.
After dnncr the members of the society
entered carriages which were furnished nv