The daily morning journal and courier., 1900-05-03
are gradually growing too old and too weak to perform.
 S,JrrJuI I1NTCi |,OIoDS

are gradually growing too old and too weak to perform
 CITIZENS CORPS.
 Tn this department there are about a dozen posts who have attached to them bodies of influential and patriotic citl- zens organized under different names as | auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Re- 1 public These gentlemen came forward | as friends and associates of our com rades to encourage them in the mainte- nance and support of the posts, to coun- sel and aid in all that is desirable, to | fraternze with and uphold them, to , help in defTaying the expenses of the G. 1 A. R., and at all times join the com- rades as honorary associates in the charitable offices of oar organization. | May more of these corps be organized, that we In our old age may have these generous friends to look to for kind words and sympathetic encouragement. THE NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT. Every comrade in this department has | reason to feel proud of the showing made by Connecticut at the national en- campment in Philadelphia in September, 1S99 Upon the parade on the morning
  four hundred men, and the manner in which the old veterans kept the step' and made their wheels" showed con- clusively that they had not forgotten the military instruction which they had received thirty-eight years ago The line of march was long one, but near ly all held out to the last, so inspiring and invigorating were the strains ot martial music as discoursed by the many bands.
 A feature of the parade which added to the appearance of our department was the long platoon of past depart ment commanders leading the depart ment under the command of P. D. C.. and Past Junior Vice-Commander-in- Chief Ira E. Hicks of Stanley Post, No. IL ish and hope that my successor in office may have as much to be proud of in his command next September in Chi cago, the great metropolis of the west. It is. however, to be desired that the line of march may be made as short as possible, for it is hard on men of our ages to march upon a stretch so many miles.
 THE CONSOLIDATION OF POSTS
 NOS. IS AND S7.
 An important event in the department during the past year was the consolda- tion of James D. Moore Post, No 1S, and Nelson L. White Post, No. ST, in the city of Danbury. The members of the to posts had fully discussed the matter, and both had passed resolutions in fla vor of the consolidation by the requi- sfA ,i.r; n,,f fL,n, ,{rrl,t nfh Der 15, 1899, the department commander and staff being present, the two posts were united into one, under the name of James F. Moore and Nelson l.. White Post No. IS. Officers of the new post were elected and were installed at the same meeting by City Mastering Officer John K Bucklyn. The post immediate ly started out successfully under the new administration and a new order of things.
 On the night of April 12, 1900 a grand ratification meeting and campfire was held under the auspices of leading citi- zens of Danbury. who were pleased at this consolidation. Ex-Governor Nor gan G. Bulkeley, a comrade of the Grand Army of the Republic, and q I presided over the meeting. The mayor of the city welcomed the guests of the post to the city. His excellency, Gov ernor George F. Lounsbury, was present and delivered an address Addresses were also made by the department com mander, pr. w. c. Vile of Danbury, past surgeon-general of the Grand Army of the Republic, Dr. George L. Porter of Bridgeport, and other com rades and citizens. It was a notable and very enjoyable occasion, and was admirably carried out under directions of a committee of hich Past Post Com mander N. Burton Rogers was chair man and the leading spirit In this happy manner the affairs of two con- tending posts have been harmonized, and the Grand Army stands stronger in Danbury to-day than it ever did before
 ASSOCIATION OF POSTS.
 In the western part of the department six posts-Oren H. Knight, No. 5S, of Lakeville, John M Gregory, No. 59 of Sharon, David S. Cowles, No. 60, of Ca- naan, two posts of Massachusetts, and one of New York-have organized them selves into an association and meet each year on the 22d of February for fraternal greetings and social enjoy ment. It was my privilege'to meet with them this year at Lakeville, and a pleasant and profitable occasion it proved to be. I would recommend that other posts located contiguous to each other adopt this idea and hold out-of- door meetings in warm weather, or in door meetings in cold weather, and thus extend the fraternal spirit which is the life and aim of the Grand Army of the Republic.
 MILITARY INSTRUCTION IN PUB
 LIC SCHOOLS.
 This is a matter which has not come under my observation to any great ex- tent I cannot report any decided re- suits because l do not know of any. Comrade John l.. Saxe, of Post No. 49, has held the position of aide on the staff of the commander-in-chi in charge of this work in this department for seve- ral years, and l think a report from him to this encampment would be an appro- priate method of informing the depart ment of the progress made during the past year.
 MUSTERED OUT.
 The necrology of the department is a subject which is solemn one to us, all of whom have passed the zenith of life. C,,r oor,,,o Jac arp off in