The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-02-24

rector, Dr. ii. j. Power; representative
to national encampment, Benjamin F.
Bair; alternate, Allen AllenswOrth; A.
A. G.. F. NJ. Bishop; A. Q. NJ. c., r.
G. Sleater; judge advocate, NJ. A.
Breeder; department inspector, s.
richardson; department mastering Of
ficer. f. H. Clark.
The ceremonies were very interest
ing, and We're performed in the pres
enee of a large number of comrades and
friends. Colonel NJ. NJ. Kaighn. the
new department commander, on behalf
of himself and the other new officers.
made brief address. as follows:
ADDRESS OF ACCEPTANCE.
Ladies and Conference.-The Grand Army
thanks you for the honor you do us bv
your attendance here at this. our annual
meeting. 1t warns the hearts OF the old
soldiers when they are made to feel. as
they do tonight that the services they
rendered their country in her hour of
need are not forgotten, and that they
nave a place in the affectionate regards of
their fellow citizens.
II is fitting and proper that at this time
ana place, should, in behalf of ali the
comrades Of the Grand Army, pay a crate
ful tribute OF thanks and praise to the
noble and patriotic women who make I'D
the Women's Relief Corps auxiliary TO
the various posts in this department.
They are the very right arm of the Grand
Army. Without them half the works of
70 perform, must have been left undone
They assist up in our socials our camD
fires, our entertainments and our memorial
services. And better than this minister
ing angels that they are whenever and
wherever disease or want attacks an old
soldier or his widow or orphans, there
these good women are to be found sooth-
ing pain and bringing happiness and COM
fort.
God bless the good women of the Grand
Army Relief Corps, and may they con-
haff-
the old soldiers are mustered out of their
earthly service, and into the Grand Army
beyond the dark river. And may kind
providence give them the final rward
which they SO richly merit.
Comrades and old soldiers, Il word to
you No more do our bayonets glisten in
the sunlight, No more do our sabers fash
in the air. No more do our bugles wake
the echoes in the sunny southland The
rebel yell'' and the northern cheer
have alike faded into silence.
The hot lips of our cannon have grown
cold, and our battle flags are furled. The
hot passions of the war have also cooled
and veterans of both the blue and the
gray fraternize brothers, and alike re-
Joice that slavery is abolished and that
We have but one country and one flag
But when we meet as We do tonight.
memory touches US with her magic wand
and transports us back across q full gen.
Grafton of departed years to the memoir
able years of the civil way.
Can you forget how, scattered on the
farm, IN the SnOp, IN the Store, IN the
school room, and in the Office, we received
the news that the southern states had
risen in rebellion because a president had
been legally elected and inaugurated who
was not acceptable to the slave owners.
How we left our homes and friends
kissed our mothers and sweethearts good
by. ana went forth to fight and die, if
need be. to put down rebellion and save
the nations life.
How we marched under blistering sun,
through soaking rain. through sitting
dust, and through almost bottomless mud
How we experienced the baptisms of fire
and blood. the rumble and roar and rattle.
the smoke, the confusion, the hell of
battle. and then victory or defeat con-
tinued for four years until treason and
rebellion was crushed, the flag triumphant
and the national authority restored. Then
the gathering at Washington and the
grand review. Then the discharge and
the return to friends and loved ones. Yet
not all went home with US for Tom and
Joe and Bill and Jim and Charley who
had marched and slept and fought with
us we had left behind sleeping their final
sleep on southern battlefields in soil that
they had hallowed with their blood and
with the sacrifice of their
bright young lives.
And now we boys who hammered and
pounded Lees army from the Potomac.
back step by step to beyond Richmond
and the James; who hurled back the red
tide of war and rebellion at Antietam
and Gettysburg; who stood with Thomas