Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-01-03

disruption; and many widows and or
phanS left by the death of their support
without means to sustain life have
blessed our organization for kindly car
rying for them.
LADIES RELIEF CORPS.
| desire to mention in the warmest
terms our Ladies Relief Corps of which
Seth Williams Post is justly proud 1t
is source of great qualification to be
able to report that this auxiliary to our
order has not failed during the year to
keep up the glorious record accorded to
its care since it came into being many
years ago. For looking after the wants
and needs of our deserving comrades,
their widows and children. they have
surpassed even the efforts put forth by
the Post itself. AS q help to our organ
izatiOn in all of its methods to extend
relief, words of praise cannot too
strongly be applied, and we are greatly
encouraged in our work by knowing
that for intelligent, persistent and per-
severing work, they remain second to
I no other crops within the scope of our
/ knowledge, Notwithstanding the fact
that they are Independent from the
State or National Ladies' Relief, this
gives them a better opportunity, and
greater funds for the work they are so
kindly doing.
SONS OF VETERANS
! While the time is not vet near when
! their entire cooperation will be essen
| tial to our success. it may be looked
: forward to. and preparations should be
/ made to build up this organization to
IN,
| stand by our sides. If battles are to be
fought, IN order to preserve the honor
or rights Of the veteran. 1t Is not policy
| to turn the cold shoulder TO our sons
in the time of our strength, and then
expect the organization 10 heartily re-
| spond to our call when we need their
aid and assistance. | cannot refrain
therefore, from speaking these words
OF warning in time to be of service to
our order, and hespeak the friendly CO.
.peratiOn Of Seth Williams Post with
the Sons of Veterans in all matters
, when such cooperation seems proper
Thirty years ago Seth Williams Post
| first saw the light of day. Our lament
ed comrade, John D. Myrick. was its
first commander, and from that time
! until the present 33 comrades have
graced the chair of its organization.
Eleven OF that number have answered
the final roll call and have gone to join
the Army of the Great Beyond: having
fought the battles of life to a success
tul issue, and have now entered into
their rest beyond the warfares of life.
Perhaps il is not necessary for me TO
read their names because each of these |
comrades are deeply engraved upon the |
silent recesses of orr hearts. and indi- |
ridually they pass in review, as We |
meet here, tonight, TO bid farewell to |
the present command with all that il |
has been 10 us. and the world, and well !
come those who are soon to occupy our |
places and assume the duties which we
lay down. II is fitting. however. upon |
an occasion OF this moment for US to
have in remembrance those prominent |
members of our organization, who per-
formed the duties belonging to the COM !
membership of Seth Williams Post,
whose faces We shall never see again
on earth to cheer our marches by day !
and by night, and who, when here with |
US performed well and faithfully the |
arduous duties which rest upon us who |
remain.
"
elected as commander of our Post at its i
last annual meeting. died after a brief |
illness, September % following. 1t is |
unnecessary for me upon this occasion |
to eulogize his name. His genial face
and cheerful voice. his warm friendship |
and kindly greeting remain with us, as |
if it We're but yesterday that he moved |
amongst us, and we mourn his sudden
1ay a,.t,,r
express.
1t is with the greatest satisfaction as
We meet here. tonight, and have in
mind the great good which has come to
our country during these years since
the Boys in Blue" came out of the
smoke of battle. prison pens. and ma
larial swamps, enduring the terrible de-
privations of army life for four long
years. away from home, and all that
was dear to them that all might look
upon nation united, free from slavery
the curse of our beloved land and more
prosperous today, than any other ma
tom upon earth.
1t has been our good fortune to live
long enough to see with our own eyes, \
the wonderful material progress of a
country and nation undivided and in,
Invisible; and to know beyond a single
point in dispute that all this greatness,
and all this glory was brought about by
the indomitable pluck of those who
constituted the Grand Army of our Re
public t"a
The truthful historian is bound as a
result of that terrible struggle in which
American valOr was engaged upon op-
posite sides. and which was the most
stupendous conflict of all times when
measured by the loss of life, as well as
by the sufferings and hardships cndur- |
ed for love of country that the sur
vivors of those heart-rending scenes
have received little at the hands of the L
government they fought to save. in
proportion to the lifelong sufferings
which they endured to perpetuate I'M
sullied the supreme blessings which it
Is continually receiving, because Of the
unselfish love for country which was
exhibited all along the line by the
Boys in Blue
Every old soldier now living ought to
receive from our country, which is now
enjoying all OF these blood bought