The National tribune., 1901-10-03

o
S. A, was one of the most important il
the history of the organization. The at
tendance was good, though curtailed tC
q marked degree because of the death OF
President Mckinley.
The Encampment dates were Sept. 10
90. but the business was concluded and
adjournment taken Wednesday evening
the 18th, in order that Thursday, the 10Th
the day of the Presidents funeral, might
be held sacred.
Prominent members of the Order be-
gan to arrive early, among those coming
on Monday being Past Commanders-in,
Chief Jones, Bundy, Shepard, Com
mander-in-Chief Alexander, Quartermas-
ter-General Bolton, Past Adjutant-Gen
eral Speelman, Maj. Il. r. Campbell, and
many others.
Headquarters were established at the
Narragansett Hotel, which was a veri
table beehive of activity. Monday was
taken up by the officers in preparing re
ports. and by the Council-in-Chef in
auditing the accounts of the Adjutant
General and Quartermaster-Gener
which were found to be correct and show
ed the National body to be in good con
dition, with a balance of nearly $1,000 or
the credit side of the ledger, besides q
large lot of supplies.
Tuesday morning the Encampment
was called to order by COMMANDMENTS
Chief Alexander. in the Trocadero, where
the business sessions were held. Col
Frank J. Clinton welcomed the Encamp
ment in behalf of the Rhode Island Divi
sion, and Past Department Commander
T. A. Barton welcomed the Commandery
in behalf of the Department of Rhode Is
land, q. A. 4. responses were made
by Col r. NJ. ]. Reed, of Pennsylvania
and Gen. l. S. Bangs, of Maine, father
of the Order in New England.
The first thing done was the adoption
by rising vote of the following message
offered by Col. II. V: Speelman, Com
mander of the Ohio Division: Hon. w
r. Day, Canton, Ohio-The COmmandery-
in-Chief, Sons of Veterans, U. S. A, has
learned with profound sorrow of the
death of their friend, the President of the
United States. Please convey to Mrs. Nc
Kinley our sincere coincidence in her great
bereavement"
The Encampment was then opened il
due form and the roll-call of officers
Commander-in-Chief Adjutant- General
and Chaplain-in-Chief. Charles S. Dayi:
was advanced to Senior Vice Commander
in-Chief and Col. Frank J. Clinton was
appointed Junior Vice Commandments
Chief. and Past Col. A. B. Sphinx was ap
pointed Acting Adjutant-General. Rev
Herbert C. Dana was appointed Chaplain
L. u.
and II. L. Oatley Outside Guard.
The following committees were then
announced: Credentials-A. b. Sphinx, OF
Rhode Island; Newton J. Mcguire, of In
diana: George a. Libby, of New York
Charles L. Merrill, of Maine; Edgar
Allen, jr., of Maryland. Constitution
Rules and Regulations Il. Bun
dy, of Ohio; Frank L. Shepard, of Illinois
William NJ. Z. Bowen, of Rhode Island
II II SicSnu of MaSSa fhusattS. Tnhn V
b. Clarkson, of New York. Resolutions
L. H. Lonsbery. of Massachusetts,; w. A
Morris, of Iowa: Frank Reid, of Illinois
NJ. Crowley, of Massachusetts,. Officers
Reports 3. Abbott, of Illinois
Charles X. Darling, of Massachusetts
Charles Jones, of Ohio: X. Nj. j. Reid; OF
PENNSYLVANIA; Frank L. Merrill, of Maine
Press-WilIiam q. Dustin, of Illinois; Il
A. Barton, of Rhode Island; w. K. Cong
don, of Rhode Island.
Reports were presented by Commander
in-Chief L. W. Alexander, Senior Vice
Chief Albert ii. Rauvitzer
Junior Vice-Commander-in- Chief Charles
S. Davis, Quartermaster-Gener Bolton
JudgC-AdvOcate-General Folsom, Chap
lain-in-Chief Thompson, Surgeon-General
Traver and Inspector-General Buck.
An invitition was received from Secre
tary of State Charles Z. Bennett to at
tend the State Memorial service in the
First Baptist Church Wednesday morning
at 10 O'Clock.
His Honor Mayor Granger welcomed
the COmmandery-i Chief to the city, anC
he was received with tremendous applause
and accorded three cheers and tiger.
Recess was taken at 1870 o'clock and
the delegates boarded a chartered steamer
for Rocky Point, where 4 clam dinner was
served.
An afternoon session had been planned
but the idea was abandoned, and the Me
mortal service in the evening was the next
session.
MEMORIAL SERVICES.
Deeply impressive was the Memorial
service Of the National Encampment OF
the Sons of Veterans held in Infantry
Hall in memory of President Mckinley
There was large audience, representa-
tive of a sOldierly element, and each mem
Der was thoroughly in accord with the
sentiments expressed. The American
Band played several selections, and wheI
the audience WIS yOciferOusly applauding
ex-Lieut.-Gov. Jones, of Ohio, and cheers
were calling for q renewal of his persona
"reminiscences of William Mckinley, who
was boy in the same town, the banG
started Nearer, my God, to Thee" Ar
instant hush fell on the assembly, and al
rose to their feet while the strains of the
old hymn, made ever memorable as the
last words of the martyred President OF
the United States, rolled in slow, sad
cadences through the great hall.
Members of the Women's Auxiliary
were present and the platform was Occu
pied by speakers and committees ir
charge of the services. Col Cyrus NJ
Van Slyck presided, and the speakers
we're: COmmander-in-Ch Chief Il. w. Alexan
der; Col. X. NJ. J. Reed, of Pennsylvania
Division Commander Frank J. Clinton, OF
Rhode Island; Rev. J. J. Woolley, Chap
lain of the Department of Rhode Island
6. 4. r., and ex-Lieut.-Goy. 4. w
Jones, of Ohio, personal friend Of the
late President.
The Machine Gun Battery, in command
Of Capt. Il. Merle Bixby, attended thu
services in n body.
The speakers were escorted to the plat
form, and T. NJ. Sweetland, Chairman Of
the Committee of Arrangements, intro
duced Col. Cyrus NJ. Van Slyck to pre-
side over the services of the evening
Col. Van Slyck began his remarks by re
ferring TO the original plans for Il cele
bratiOn and their fitting change TO an &c
casion for the expression of respect an,
love for the memory of our latest mar
tyred President. 1T was characteristic
of President Mckinley" said he, tina
he should see in the assassin's bullet on
step nearer to his God"
Rev. Herbert c. Dana, acting Chap
lain-in-C Chief, invoked the divine blessing
Col. Van Slyck said that His Excellence
Gov. Gregory would have been presen
had he not been in attendance at Presi
dent McKinley's funeral in Washington
A letter was read from the Governor OK
pressing his regret at inability to be pres
ent and explaining the situation with Tia
hope that he might attend some of tn