The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1900-10-31
OFF, EKS REUNION.

OEEI LhO hEONIVNs
The thirty-seventh annual reunion of the
society of Vermont cflicers closed on Thurs
day with an addre, = ~ Hon. Joel O. Baker
OF Rutland in the Hal OF Representatives
and banquet at the Pavilion. The Off
cers, accompanied by their wives, we're es-
cOrted TO the State House Oy tie Mont
peler band anu msrshaled by General w.
W. Henry, Governor StickDey aud lady,
heading the procession.
The band rendered the appropriate selec-
tioDi "Ienting ON The Old Camp Ground"
and Chaplain Hay mes of Rutland offered
prayer, after which Colonel Fred e. Smith
OF Montpelier spoke bri fly regarding the
origin OF he association in 1864 and intro
duced the speaker Of the occasion. Mr..
baker said: This society Ia one OF the
venerable Institutions OF the State of YER
mont, Five months before the surrender
OF Lee at AppOmstox it met in Montpelier
to do respect and honor TO he memory of
George j. Stannard man whose name
stands foremost in the military annals of
Vermont" He paid an eloquent tribute 10
the names OF VeHzey, NlCh, Is, Barton Pin
gree and Benton, men " hose patriotism ex-
tended the honor aud reputation OF Yer
mont sOldiery.
He said that the society came into being
through the suggestion of Senator Redfield
Proctor whose states m nship and congress
siOnal record has enriched LIS native State.
The tp5aker made historical reference to
the dis,i essing conditions chat prevailed
during the early ytaTs OF the rebellion aud
wildly recalled the scenes and events In
which Vermont officers pla, cd orious
and immortal part. Comrade Baker held
the clos, 81 attention for hall hour and at
the conclusion OF his discourse vote OF
thanks was rendered him for his able, in
structive and patriotic address.
The audience then co nter-marched to
the Pavilion and at shortly after o'clock,
the officers gathered in the dining all to do
Justice to we'll ordered baLquet, Post
prandal exercises followed ami Colonel
Smith called upon Comrade T. II. Haynes
to oficiate as postmaster. Chaplain Haynes
at once responded to the call and humor-
ously suggested that it must be through his
responsibility rather than his ability that
prom pied the president to call upon him to
perform this Junction. In an eloquent
speech he alluded 20 the sadly diminishing
nun Der Of the association nd the increAs-
ing vacant chairs from year TO year. "The
years o. 1920 to 1S40," he said, produced
class of men destined to great achieve
ments; they were the men Who fought aud
nObly triumphed in the war OF he rebel
lion. Their memories i'll be as renowned
a. the fame Of the country itself.
No one will ever be called to face and
| overcome more gigantic perlls and none
will ever perform sacred duty more faith
fully. You were he personal factors, the
vital participants ia all the hatdships and
!
during he great civil strife" Referring 10
the distinguished hOnOrs that a graceful
people have conferred upon the vete an
soldier in tllesselectiOu Of pr sidents Hay 80,
Garfield, Harrison and Mckinley he said,
We shall continue to take such leaders,
as long rs they last 10 lead us still" Gov
5tickney was then called upon TO respond to
the State Of Vermont He said in part,
"If there is any place where /, is ii ting for
! the chief executive to speak IL is in the
! Vermont Ulcers association" He briefly
reviewr the conspicuous part that YER
monters had enacted for the salvation,
maintenance and perpetuily Of good gov
eminent and gracefully extended the cor
| dial greetings OF the State to the society and
offerred as sentim ent MAY you live long
to enjoy the honor in hch you are Gro Hn-
| ed in the estimation OF all"
Lieutenant Governor Allen iety re-
! sponded for the Senate of 1900. Major Ira
| II. Evans Of Austin Texas but native of
! Vernon, responded to the toast, "The SEN
timent of The South" He showed that
tnere is the same Loyalty to the Union and
the flag in the South as elsewhere, fact
which was exemplifed in the late war with
Spain. The desire OF the South to show its
patriotism daes from the magnificent seed
| sowing from 1861 to 65
Senator Proctor, upon being named, face
| tiou-ly remalke that as the tOastIuaster
had asked for noihiDg particular, he felt
| that hat WAS d call which he could fill. He
| spoke OF the prominent Vermont officers
now serving valianty in the Philippines
and in China, aud said that the brightest
onor that could be theirs was to be wor-
thy successors Of the Vermonters who fought
from 81 to So.
Gen. Villa n W Grout followed and re.
ferred to the motto on the old ate HOu o
in Boston, "By the sword it seeks quiet
peace under liberty" being the principle
tina has dominated and dete mined the
course of the government. 1.-THE sun wor-
SHIPPER" he said, "uever worships the set
ling, but the rising SUI, and he asked that
Kitlrtdge Haskins be not allowed TO es-
cape without y speech, In response to loud
calls Mr.. Haskins spoke briefly and remi-
nisCently.
During the evening An excellent quar-
tette inter p-rsed several selections appro-
pirate to the occasion. Colonel French
closed the exercises and The thirty-seventh
mlest one # the association passed into his
tory.
At the business meeting held in the al
ternoon the officers elected for the ensuing
year wer.: President, e. j Ormsbee b au
don; vice presidents, e. b Swasey, + yde
Park, and Horace French, Hartford; ere
tary ami treasurer, l.. w Sh-dd, Mont
peier; executive committee, j l. Bart W
She hurue b. j, Der by an Cassius Peck
Burluetc was y, tod to hold the mex
annual NEE ing al Burlington