Evening star., 1902-03-03
Commander in Chief, G. A. R..

The hall, which has been newly painted and
frescced, was lavishly hung with bunting,
| flags, giant badges of the various veteran
| orders and large shields, bearing the coats
| of-armS of the states in colOrS. The front
| of the platform, which stands nearly four
| feet from the floor, was draped in front
| with festoons of tri-colored bunting. caught
| mp with great rosetteS of the same. The
back ground was mass of big flags caught
| up with badges, and in the center on blue
background lettered in gold, were the words,
Department of Potomac, G. A. r. and
| underneath the letters wv. r. c."
AT the right of the presiding officer stood
the tables of the department secretary, Mrs
Emma Newton and that Of Assistant Adju-
tant General Enrrikin G. A. r., draped in
tr-colored bunting. OF great interest to all
was the furniture upon the platform. which
was loaned for the occasion by Capt. o. II.
OldrOyd. chief of staff, to the retiring COM
nanGer, Israel Stone The small center
table used during the evening once stood in
the parlor of Abraham Lncon's home in
Springfield, ILL.,, and the long wooden set
tee, used to stand upon the wide Veranda
Of his house, and was his favorte lounging
place. Just in front of the pla atform, upon a
f1ag-draped table was placed what is consid-
| cred the finest steel engraving Of Lincoln
| eXtant. made in heroic size At it's base
were great bouquets of roses and laurel
and on each side large china vases, which
sented to his friend. Caleb Smith These
articles We're from the collection of Mr.
O1droyd, who was a personal friend of the
| martyred President, and who has devoted
his life to gathering relics and mementoes
Of Lincoln.
Lincoln Predominates.
The occasion was pre-eminently a Lincoln
affair, for the communicated and presi-
dent-elect, the two installing officers. the
cictar a1i ont
tary of the department W. r. c. were all
from Lincoln Post and Corps, respectively
The front portion of the body of the hall
was arranged in q hollow square. with the
flag draped stands of the officers stations
on three sides, and the altar spread with
large flag in the center. Inside Of this
square the ceremonies Of installation were
performed, the obligation in each instance
being taken at the altar. The installation
of the officers of the department G. A. r.
was strictly military, all wearing full uni
fern, with the usual military crush hat
The ceremonies Of the relief corps were
frightened by a guard Of four color bearers
Mrs. Mamie 8. Davis, Lincoln Corps; Mrs
Agnes Keeler. Thomas Corps; Mrs E. Bar
Der and Mrs. Hannah Devoe of Lincoln
Corps, who stood with crossed flags at the
altar while the obligations were taken.
The pianist of the evening, Mrs. Kath-
crime Phillips, played patriotic airs through
out all the ceremonies. 1t is said that Mrs
Phillips has been pianist Of Lincoln Corps
| nearly ever since it was organized. The
singing was conducted by Mr.. Barker Miss
McFall accompanying him upon the piano
the audience joining In the chorus OF the old
army airs with vim.
The Formal Ceremonies.
1t was just o'clock when Commander
Stone called the audience to order, and, af-
ter the invocation by the department chap
lain, Rev. E. S. Stevens introduced Mrs
whose hands he placed the gavel Mrs.
Tew Immediately ordered the conductor
Mrs. Lizzie Mason, to escort to the plat
form the installing officer Just as the con-
ductor, with the installing officer and four
color bearers entered the door. Assembly
was sounded by a uniformed bugler. and to
round after round of applause, and the in