Evening star., 1902-03-03

dents several Of them having been depart
ment officers. and some having been upon
the staff OF national presidents. They are
all veterans in the work, and as the ma
tional encampment Of the Grand Army is
to meet in Washington in October, much
extra labor will be required of them, the
department president, Mrs. Oidroyd hav-
ing been appointed by Mrs Mussey chair
man of the committee on Womans Relief
Corps.
The Grand Army Next.
At the conclusion Of the Relief Corps In
stallation the department president return
ed the gavel to Commander Stone with
thanks for the courtesy extended, and the
mastering Of the officers Of the Depart
ment G. a. P. began. Capt. j. M. Edgar
of the Old Guard was appointed officer Of
the day. Capt. Edgar evidently has a
mortgage upon this office, as nobody pre-
tends to remember when he was not off,
GER of the day on such an occasion. HIS
first duty was to escort to the platform
Commander-in-chief Ell Terrence and Col.
Burton Of Missouri of the national COM
mittee ON pensions, who had been taking
in the exercises from the back of the hall.
Their introduction was the signal for pro-
lOnged applause.
Capt. Edgar then escorted to the plat
form Col. Marion T. Anderson, past de-
partment commander, who had been de-
tailed to install the officers Of the Depart
ment of the Potomac, G. A. r.. The cere-
mony was brief, but impressive. Mrs.
Phillips presided at the piano at the re-
quest of the commander. AS Col. Benja-
min F. Bingham, the department COM
handkerchief, was escorted to the altar he
was greeted with every expression of re-
gard and enthusiasm. Mrs Phillips render
ing softly MY Country. 'Tis of Thee" as
took the solemn oath Of office. Command
er Bingham has a remarkable record, it Is
said. He has held almost every office in
the post and many in the department. and
has been elected to each unanimously.
When elected commander of the depart
ment every post on it's rolls instructed for
him.
The other officers installed were: Senior
vice commander, Ivory G. Kimball; Junior
vice commander Abraham Hart; medical
director DIR. Thomas Calver; chaplain,
Henry g. Stevens; council Of administration,
Messrs. P. NJ O'Bryon, A. B. Grunwell,
]. H. Dony, w. H. Anderson and j. w.
Butcher.
The applause was almost continuous as
each was escorted to the altar by Captain
Edgar.
The Appointments.
The commander announced the following
appointments: Assistant adjutant general,
B. F. Chase; assistant auartermaster gen
eral, George E. Davis; inspector. s. w.
Bunyea; Judge advocate, w. w. Eldridge;
chief mastering officer, George NJ Rowe,
and chief Of staff, Henry Romeyn.
Comrades "A. f1aTt, ". LAWS anu
w Hayes were appointed committee to
tender a testimonial to the retiring COM
mander.
Tho pianist perpetrated a pun uncon-
sciously when Assistant Adjutant General
B. F. Chase, one of the tallest men in the
department, was brought in. He marched
down to the altar to the strains Of When
Johnny Comes Marching Homo Again. B"
a laugh, as Captain Chase has been adju-
tant over and over again, as well as de-
partment commander and several other
things, so that Johnny will be right at
home in department headquarters.
Commander Bingham made a brief ad-
dress at the conclusion of the ceremonies,
in which he assured the comrades that he
would serve them faithfully and zealously,
the Woman's Relief Corps, the Legion of
Loyal Women, Ladies Of the G.. A. r. and
all other organizations of women whose
object is it to assist the fast-aging veterans
Some Surprises.
At the close of Commander Binghams re-
marks Mrs Mamie G. Davis advanced to
the platform, and in the name Of Lincoln
Corps presented to Mrs. Oldroyd great
bouquet of roses tied with streamers Of tri-
colored ribbon. The flowers, she assured
Mrs. Oldroyd, were as fragrant as the
memory of her good deeds In the corps, as
beautiful as her work for the veterans and
were given as a simple tribute Of affection
its beloved past president, now at the head
of the department Mrs. Oldroyd respond
ed feelingly, much affected by the unex-
pected gift.
The department commander was the next
one surprised. Mrs. Ball, bearing in her
arms the counterpart Of the bouquet just
presented to Mrs. Oldroyd. stepped to the
front and, saluting the commander. said
she had been delegated to perform a very
pleasant duty. Lincoln Relief Corps, the
banner corps of this department" she said.
presents to you, member Of Lincoln
Fost the banner post Of this department,
these flowers, which you will please accept
as a token Of their regard for you, their
love for Lincoln Post and their loyalty to
the Grand Army of the Republic
Commander Bingham's reply was scarcely
less beautiful than the flowers he had just
received, and brought rounds of applause
as he instructed Mrs. Ball to carry back
to the members of her corps his sincere
thanks and assurances of his deep regard
for Lincoln Corps and it's members. Com
mander-in-Chief Terrence, who spoke a
few moments later said that in all his ex-
perience in Grand Army affairs, and it had
not been limited, he believed he had never
before seen flowers presented to man,
'.and," he added, II must confess I like
the idea and like the sentiment they ex-
press"
Beautiful bouquets were subsequently,
presented to Miss Tillie Durham, Mrs CAL
houn and Mrs. McMonigal.
On behalf Of the Department OF Potomac.