The Republican journal., 1900-02-22
Maine q. A. R.
ihe Ssd Annual Encampment Meets in
Portland

Grams Wednesday morning, Feb 14tb,
when the 33rd annual encampment of the
Maine Department, G. A. r., was called
to order by Commander Robbie, whose adj
dress was comprehensive review of the
events during the period of his admins
tration. Following is an abstract:
While the department have suffered
loss OF two posts by surrender of charter
ana one by delinquent reports, during the
year or 1899, it is gratifying to note that
the loss OF comrades in good standing has
oeen less than for any year since 1873,
When the department of Maine reached
the nigh water mark of its membership.
The loss by death (234) is the greatest OF
any year III our history, with one excep-
ton, but the loss by suspension is less
than that of any other year since the peri
Cd OF our greatest membership. The
membership of the department OF Maine
although deere ssing, is still hearty and
| vigorous, and capable Of increase and de-
velopment.
The financial condition of the depart
ment exhibits a considerable degree OF
| Improvement. While the per capita tax,
our principal source of revenue, has been
diminished by the loss of 4Ol comrades,
there has been an increase in the amount
received for the sale of supplies which,
! combined with strict regard to economy
in expenses, enables us to show comfort
able balance on the right side of the cash
account. A part of this is due to the ac-
ton OF the last eneampment in discontlnu-
| ing the expense of post inspections, but
! the larger portion should be credited to
careful management of the financial bust
n I'm /, E,la 10
| turned over to the assistant quarfermas
ter general by his predecessor was s267. II.
| The balance in bank, to- day, is sos. 81
and there are no outstanding bills against
the department. ] respectfully refer the
the comrades to the reports of the assist
ant adjutant- general and the assistant
| quartermastel- general for full details of
their respective offices.
The present state of our noble organ
lzatlon and the high plane on which its
work is conducted, should be a cause of
rejoicing to us all We stand upon the
threshold of new century, and as we
look back and compare the present with
the past, we are filled with admiration and
amazement at the marvellous progress
that civilization has steadily made.
1t should be a source OF satisfaction and
congratulation to every loyal citizen that
the country has been 50 generous TO the
men who won their scars in defending the
Stars and Stripes. We find enrolled upon
the lists in evidence of nations gratitude
the names OF about 900, 900 pensioners of
the Civil War, requiring an annual apprC-
priation of nearly $50, 900, 600.
There is no source from which we can
repenish our diminishing number. Our
only consolation is the hope that the sons
! who are bound to us by the strongest
| family ties will take our places, defend
our principles, honor our memories, and
hand down to future generations the glory
! of our achievements thereby perpetual
ing the free and independent government
''of the people, for the people and by the
people, which our efforts have preserved.
Upon them and their posterity will rest
in large measure the responsibility that
this government does not pass from this
earth. The Sons of Veterans form an or
ganization which should be very dear to
us, and it is fitting that we should aid our
children to establish an order that shall in
due season take the place of our own, and
| become like it, tlourishng and great and
| strong
| Among the elements that have con-
tributed most prominently to the success
and prosperity of the posts of the Grand
!
/ Corps, composed largely of the mothers,
/ wives and daughters Of the soldiers. The
two Relief Corps of our State, entirely
/ independent organizations, have accom-
! plshed the most valuable results. Work
! ing along the same lines, and filled with
! the same aspirations, they have won the
heartfelt gratitude of the veterans whose
! necessities they have allevated.
| A most pralSeWOrthy work has been ac-
complisled through the efforts of the
National and State encampments Of the
G. A. Il. to arouse the educational institu-
| tons of our country to the need of giving
mere prominence to the teaching of civics
and patriotism in the public schools.
Let us forever cherish the memory of
the heroes who fought SO bravely and suf
fered So much to defend and save the flag
of this republic of ours. Let us lay them
tenderly one by one in the windowleSs
palaces of eternal rest, and mark each
grave with a suitable monument and in
scription. Then on each successive re-
turn of that Memorial day, which the
Grand Army has instituted, let old and
young gather about the spot where lie the
old soldiers of 1861 IS, and with appro-
pirate exercises deck their resting places
with the most beautiful flowers of spring.
1ASoloodDl Il. ~ ioNtct
submitted the following report:
Number of posts, Dec. 81, 1898 ........ 1874
Loss by surrender of charter. ......... 3
Number of posts in good standing Dec.
81, 1899. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 161
Number of comrades in good standing,
Dec. II, 1898 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. ,46S
Gain during term ended June 20, 1899. 1872
Number of posts in good standing, Dec.
Number of posts in good standing, Dec.
81, lo99 ....-........... 1Ol
Number OF comrades in good standing,
Dec. 81, 1898. ........-..............74 6S
Number of comrades il good standing,
Dec. 81, 1899. .......................7O OCT
Number of comrades remaining sus-
pended, Dec. 81. 1899. .................1,17 2
AS shown by the foregoing, two posts
| have surrendered their charters during
the year. John H. Morgan Post, No. 163,
of Guilford, surrendered its charter in
February, 1899. This post was under
stood to be in the last stages of dissolu
ton at the close of the year 1898, and its
anticipated surrender was reported to me
by my predecessor.
The mortality during the year was 234,
the greatest, with a single exception, in