The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-05-08

with anxious fear-fears that they would
never march back to us again-and our
auivering lips refused to say the sad
"eood bye" And while our hearts cried
out in anguish rs some loved one was
reported among the slain did not feel
ing of pride mingle with the sorrow, as
the word came in "He fell In battle"
Can, We forget those daysf No; ours
is pride and pleasure that was born Of
pain, that we canuot share with others.
In memory of those days the thought
comes TO us.perhaps unbidden, are We sell
fish or is 1t they who would take from us
our honors. And can our comrades who
consider the q. A. r. sacred to them
selves, expect that we will not have the
same feeling for eur organization, that
Is of its very nature part Of the q. A.
Il. an organization that Is rs dear to us
as Is the @. A. r. to any true and loyal
coinrade.
. We do not desire to do harm to any
other Organization. We honor all kin
dred associations, but we do want our
own, and we WIFI use all honorable
means to keep our own. As long as the
g.. A X, remains an organization the
W. S. II. q. will stand by its side, I'M
changed and unohanging--our first and
last thought to labor for the tcause we
q. A. X. and to right and justice, with
charity for all and malice townrd none.
The Women's State Relief Corps has
been criticized because 1t Is not ma
tional organization; that our work is only
know at home. lam sure We as well as
the comrades of the Department OF Maine
should be glad that it Is not national
organization. Our work Is certainly
needed at home end We have no national
per capita tax to pay nor delegates ex-
penses to national meetings. Our funds
are used to assist our deserving, unfortu-
nate comrades and their families and
local posts Many Of our posts could not
remain in the ranks Of the q. A. h. with
out the assistance of their auxiliaries.
We thereby bring comfort to those around
us, give pleasure to our comrades, profit
to the Department of Maine and assure
them that we consider 'woman's high
est sphere Is home.
Sisters OF Bosworth Relief Corps, as
you look back over your work Of 80 years,
you canfdo2so with an justified feeling OF
pride and satisfaction. Many Of you have
certainly earned and won your laurels,
and wa gladly accord you the honor that
is your due. Rut we feel there yet re-
mains work for you, in the interest Of the
Women's State Relief Corps, and should
you fall into state Of apathy, other
members would do likewise. The state
officers, the members of each subordinate
corps, the younger members OF your own
CUTDb, lOuk " yOu III oAoihPiOot ~. az
SEPARATION and encouragement. Your
words of sympathy and counsel are
needed rs much now MS in the years past.
Younger members will willingly take
the cares that you must lay aside, but
they expect and are entitled not only to
the loyal support, but the active co'opera-
ton OF the older neInbers
president know full we'll the success or
failure Of any organization does not de-
pend alone on its president, AS "eter-
nal vigilance Is the price OF liberty" so
eternal activity on the part OF the older
mem bers will increase the interest In the
work in the younger members. Each one
of us have personal influence, and our
influence over those with whom We are
closely associated, will extend to Others
and thus tie good work may go on.
l thank you for the Invitation extended
to me to be present with you tonight. l
you in your many good
deeds done. and to the success that has at
tended your efforts. May God bless you
in your work and grant you many added
years of activity to labor in the cause for
whioh you were organized.
Commander II. r. Sargent of Bosworth
Post was the next speaker. He spoke OF
the great assistance which the relief
corps had been to the POST and said that
Bosworth post spent for charity since it
was organized S31, 900, of which amount
more than seven tenth has been expended
outside of the post to support and aid the
families of needy soldiers and sailors. He
then called attention to the mustered
OUT rolls of the past which have grown
larger year by year and to the pictures OF
the members of the post which shows
many faces which are no longer among
us He then spoke Of the peace flag which
had been presented to the post by Col.
al, fado off of I.nntg.
Vile, and told of the generosity which this
man had shown to the boys from Maine
at the grand encampment held in Louis
VILE some years ago. This flag which WAS
given to the Maine departm emit Bosworth
post Is very proud OF and delights to. show
to all corners as an evidence that there 1s
now a friendly bond between those who
wore the gray and those who wore the
blue.
Col. Robert L. Whitcomb was then
called upon to speak for the Sons OF
Veterans. He said that Portland has
more fraternal organizations and societies
than any other city of Its size In the
world, but among this number no orga-
has been so successful or 10 held
In greater esteem than Is Boswortn Relief
corps. He said that the Sons of Veterans
stand today not for what they are doing,
but for what they are expected to do in
the future Col. Whitoomb then delight
ed the gathering with several of his reci-
tations which were we'll received.
Letters we're read from State Secretary
Mrs. Sarah +. Pascal and Major Henry
A. Shorey. The letter of Major Shorey
WAS especially interesting. he spoke Of
the early days of Bosworth Post, of its
in the Office of Col. Mattocks
and of the distinguished men, many of
whom are now dead. who have been its
members. He had warm praise to give
Bosworth Post and its Relief corps for
the great work they have done in the
S. ldiers' fraternal organization in Maine
Ths last speaker of the evening was
Assistant Adjutant General K. G. SWEET.
HIS tribute to the American woman, che
master piece of God work, com bining all
the virtues of all the women of all the
OF the world, was eloquent and
graceful. "Of such is the kingdom of
heaven" said Col SWEET in closing, land
such are the women of Bosworth Relief
corps"
During the evening excellent music was
rendered by the Mozart quartette. The
exercises concluded with lunch which
was served in the banquet hall. 1t was
n most successful and delightful CeIebra-