The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1900-11-08
Meeting Of Waldo County Veterans.

The Waldo County Veteran Association
met November 1st with Dana B. Carter
Post, Freedom. President Higgins called
the forenoon meeting to order, and the
records of the last meeting were read and
approved. The committee on time and place
of next meeting, comrades Fernald, Stinson,
and Adams, reported as follows: Time, De-
cember 9Th; place, North Searsport. The
dinner call then sounded and the comrades
and ladies repaired to the dining room, where
bountiful dinner had been prepared by
Dana B. Carter Relief Corps and the good
people of Freedom. After dinner the meet
ing was again called to order, and the fol-
lowing program was given: Music by the
choir; prayer by Rev. Mr.. Richmond of
Freedom address of welcome by Mrs. Bush
er, as follows:
VETERANS OF WALDO COUNTY: To me
has been assigned the pleasant duty OF well
coming you here to-day.
Your old comrades welcome you to their
hall and to the good fellowship and social
cheer which YOU find within its walls.
The Relief Corps bid you welcome to their
tables, filled with all you need to satisfy the
cravings of the inner man, and which no
doubt your long ride has helped you to ap-
preciate. The citizens of Freedom welcome
you to to their little village and to the best
therein; but amid the pleasure of meeting
you to-day there comes note OF sadness.
Since you met with us a year ago four
comrades of this Post have passed over the
river and joined the great majority on the
other side. Who is there among you that
does not miss the kindly face and welcom-
ing voice of Dr. Billings, and who shall fill
tba MT obair pf a
ways so ready with cheering words for
those in trouble and strong words for the
cause of right
"Sadly each recurring year,
Ye who still are lingering here,
Scatter flowers of sweet perfume
Ger each fallen herO'S tomb
Comrades who have gone before,
Tenting ON the other shore:
But, as one by one they fall out by the way,
how much stronger grows that cord of love
that binds the remaining ones together. No
sooner does the dark cloud Of atfiiction
enter one of our homes, but its shadow is
cast over all. With us Fraternity means
something.
Friends, let us not forget the living. Let
us strive to fill the few remaining years Of
our lives with sweetness; speak approving,
cheering words while their ears can hear
them and while their hearts can be thrilled
and made happy by them. The kind things
you mean to say about them when they are
gone, say now !; the flowers you mean to send,
give them to-day. Now in their weary and
troubled hours do they need your sympathy
and help.
A year or so ago, when we had our war
with Spain, what craze there was among
our society ladies and leaders of fashion for
helping the soldiers.
Nowadays you hear very little about it,
Those fine ladies have found some newer
fad. Do they ever think of our boys in
blue in far off Manila, | wonder? There
are homes to-day all over our fair land made
desolate by the loss of those who fell under
the same flag you fought to save.
But it was something more than petty fad
with our mothers in the Civil war. How
many thousands We're there who gave their
husbands for their countryS sake, and with
their helpless little ones around them Strove
to keep the home for the husband and
father who perhaps never returned. 1t was
something different to be soldiers wife
then.
To-day the Relief Corps is quietly and
steadily trying to work along the same line
with us as with you. Charity means love-
dear old flag when it has cost us so much.
One of our statesmen once said: Il have
seen the glory of art and architecture, the
beauties of mountain and river: but the
falrest vision my eyes ever rested on
was the flag of my country in a foreign
lstlii. anu every [AlllVIlNlli SitlLtll NuO
stands beneath its protecting folds knows
that it means liberty and justice for all
Veterans. i'll Fraternity, Charity and 10y
atty, we bid you welcome, and when the
taps have sounded for the last time on
earth, and the lights are all out, may you
all meet on the other side and join in the
ranks, true comrades forever, and all answer
there" at the final roll-call
In response Comrade Stinson said: We
miss the faces of those who met with us in
this hall one year ago-Dr. y. J. Billings
and comrade Boulter, both members of the
10Th Maine, but their smiling faces and kind
words still remain with us, although they
are no more.
Then followed recitation by Josie Brown :;
reading by Lorenzo Jones, Jr. music; re-
marks by Lorenzo Jones; recitations by
GLAND Nutter and Lena Russell; remarks
by comrade Furbush; recitation by Josie
Brown; remarks by comrade Rowell song
by A. Stnson; remarks by Mrs. Flye; reci-
tations by Mrs. Stevens and Mrs. Higgins.
A rising vote of thanks was given to the
good people of Freedom for hospitality.
The meeting was not an exception to other
meetings, but was tfrst-class in every re-
spect All agreed to meet at North Sears
port, December 9Th. A. Stinson, Secy.