The Portland daily press., 1900-06-13
Reports Show Order To Be Losing
Membership.
Renewed Effort On
Part of Members Urged.
Delegates To Re Given Trolley
Ride This Forenoon.

The first days sessions OF the 18th an
nual encampment of the Maine Division,
Sons of Veterans, ana the 9th annual
encampment Of the Maine Division La
dies Aid societies, were held in this city
yesterday.
The sessions of the Sons Of Veterans
were held commencing at 1850 O'Clock at
Bosworth Post hall, on Free street, while
those of the Ladies' Aid societies Were
held commencing at o O'Clock in Thatch-
err Post hall. The delegates and visiting
members of the order are quartered at
SWEETS, the United States and Smiths
hotels.
The opening of the encampment was
at O'Clock at Bosworth Post hall. The
first business Of the encampment was the
reception Of credentials Of officers and
delegates and the formal organization Of
the encampment.
The first business of the afternoon was
the reception of the reports Of officers.
The first in this line was the annual
address Of Division Commander Edward
H. Smith of Westbrook. The address, In
brief, wassas follows:
To the officers and members of the 18th
annual encampment:
Brothers-The close of this session will
mark the beginning of a new year in the
history Of the order Of the Sons of Vete-
rams, and while the past year has not
been SO prosperous ms might be wished,
still the order has advanced. Firm and
steady efforts should be exerted durin z
the coming year to place the Maine Di-
vision at the top in the matter o men,
bership, and give to 1t its rightful place,
among the most prosperous divisions OF
the order
During the past year we have met with
losses in camps and in membership in
some localities, owing to lack Of interest,
termine to retrieve these losses and make
substantial gains all along the line.
NEW CAMPS.
During the past year one camp has
been mustered and many letters and
pamphlets distributed with the intent of
interesting posts of the q. A. X. in our
order and induce eligible sons to organize
camps in desirable localities.
LADIES' AID SOCIETY.
Our auxiliary, the Ladies' Aid society,
is doing great deal of work for the or
der in the places where 1t exists and we
strongest influence to aid in the forma-
ton of new societies wherever possible,
as by so doing we shall materially
strengthen our order.
NATIONAL MILITARY COLLEGE.
ter which should be the subject of much
thought, and not hastily acted on. L
have not been able to devote as much
time to the subject as / should wish but
my belief Is that something of this ma
ture is ne eded to call attention to the Or
der, and obtain the hearty support of the
general public. The establishment of "a
college on the plans outlined by the com
4littee would be most fitting monu
nent to the memory of the brave men of
the Civil War.
When this matter is brought before you
in this meeting l urge you TO consider il
carefully, from all its standpoints, go
that our action In the matter will be wise
and creditable to the Maine Division.
HISTORY AND HIS TORIC RELICS.
This department is one of the most
interesting and important adjuncts of
the division, and by the aid Of our menu
beers 1t will be able to present a collection
of records, mementoes and relics which
will be greatly priced in the years to
come.
Past Colonel f. X. Gould is an indefa-
tigable worker in this department., and
to him Is due much credit for procuring
many of the works and articles in the
possession OF the secretary.
would recommend that every member
of the order be on the lookout for articles,
histories, ETC., which would be suitable
for this department. and that this en-
campment appropriate q certain sum of
money to be used at the discretion of
the trustees in prosecuting this work.
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
This great and noble organization of
veteran soldiers of the war of '6l-65 is
diminishing rapidly in numbers, owing
to the wide swath being cut every year
by that grim harvester, death. But as
they, one by one, join that other grand
army of those dear comrades who gave
their lives for their country in the effort
to preserve It's Iiberty-their |
sons will follow in their footsteps, taking |
up the work which they have laid down |
come that the last honored veteran of the
Grand Army of the Republic shall have
joined his comrades in death, to us will
be left the duty of placing loving tributes
OF beautiful flowers on the graves of the
veterans and keep alive the memory OF
their noble deeds.
1t should be the duty of all Grand |
Army members to use their best endeav |
ors TO foster this order, for our interests
are entwined, and to us must be left |
the perpetuation of the beautiful Memori- |
al Day set apart in memory Of the brave |
men who upheld the nations honor.
CAMP BENSON.
Shortly after my election to the posi- |
tion of commander, / received an fnvi- |
tation from the Association of Vetera ms |
that control Camp Benson, inviting me
TO be present. and stating that one day |
would be devoted to our order.
This being the second time we have |
been invited on short notice, and as / |
understand similar invitation will come |
10 us again this year 1t would seem to |
be advisable TO take action at this meet |
ing IN relation thereto. 1t has been sug-
gested that 1t might be arranged to hold |
our annual encampment at this place.