The National tribune., 1902-01-30
A NOBLE VETERAN ORGANIZATION.
Address by s. A. Darnell, Past Commander
Department of Georgia, Before o. M. Mitch
el Posi-, Atlanta, Ga.

Address by s. A. Darnell, Past Commander,
| Department of Georgia, Before o. M. Mitch
el Posi-. Atlanta Ga.
| Comrades and Friends: While | am
not Il member of .. NJ. Mitchell Pest, it is
/ always TO me Il source of pleasure to he
within its charmed circle and to catch
that spirit Of fraternity and business
which SO conspicuously marks its func-
| tons.
! This Post is, in many respects n dis
! tinguished organization. When its full
history shall be written it will embOdy
many interesting and complimentary
| facts. Organized, as it was, i'll the very
heart of the old Confedcracy, and in the
midst of battleields that ran red with
| blood of brethren estrangcd, but now hap
| PLY reunited, its environments at the time
were anything but sympathetic and en-
cGuraging. 1t started out, however, with
a purpose, and from the beginning it has
worked Loyalty and energetically toward
proud of its record. which has gained for
it the highest respect of the community
in which it is located. II has been an
Indispensable factor in dispelling sectional
| animosity and bringing about that frater-
nifty and community of interests which
now exist i'll this portion of the South
| In this laudablc undertaking it has been
generously met by its Confederate neigh
bors and friends, who extended the olive
branch in the beginning by giving the use
Of their hall, free of cost, for the pur-
pose Of organizing.
Never have the members of this Post
neglected an opportunity to demonstrate
to their friends who were on the other
side their earnest desire to harmOnizc
with them in the spirit Of true progress
iii the upbuilding Of their common inter
ests in the rich inheritance which has
come to lis all: as the grand final result
of four years of civil warfare. Among the
first contributors to the Georgia Home for
Confederate Veterans, inaugurated by the
late lanented Henry w. Grady, was 0.
NJ. Mitchell Post When this Home was
finally occupied, by tardy action 0s the
State Legislature, The Post contributed
500 toward its equipment, and recently,
while the fire which destroyed the Home
yet smonldered! message from this Post
was sent, accompanied by the pledge of
another liberal contribution, which pledge
was promptly fulfilled.
Besides the liberal aid which has al
ways been extended to its needy members
and their famiies.uif has been generous
and kind to biindfbds of old Union sol
dicrs who have become stranded in At
lanta while en- route Southwark in vain
search of renewed health. Annually. for
many years, the Post has conducted the
solemn and beautiful services on Me
mortal Day at the Marietta National Gem
ctery, and covered with flowers the gravCf
Of more than 10000 heroes who offered
mp their lives for the preservation of the
Union.
No ex-Union soldier, whether or not n
member Of the Order. occupies a pauper's
grave in Atlanta, to the knowledge of this
Post.
The Post was organized Sept "a. 1884.
and of the II charter members only five
remain ON the rolls, as follows: Com
rades A. E. Buck, w. A. Burns H. s.
Eggleston, n S. Hill and G. L. Watson:
three have died and three have been trans
ferred. 1t now has Il membership of %,
representative citizens Of the city and
community in which they live; 81 of these
reside in Atlanta and 50 are scattered
from Maine to the State of Washington:
from the Lakes to the Gulf, with one in
Japan, so that it may not be inaptly said
the sun never sets on it's membership. Its
financial condition is good. A remarka-
bic fact is found in the report of the
Quartermaster Of the Post, which shows
hat the dues of every member were paid
in full on Jan. 1. During the year ending
Dee. 81, 1901, the Post paid ont for char
liable and patriotic purposes S265, and is
free from debt, with a small balance in
the treasury.
The potent influence OF it's devoted aux
iliary, the Woman's Relief Corps, has
much to do with the enviable record Of
the Post. This Corps is cOnposed of 81
members from among the influential and
public-spirited women of the city. The
good which they have accomplished will
never be fully known and can hardly be-
appreciated. The practical and efficient
manner in which they have done their
work during the past few years cannot
BE- better illustrated than bv quoting from
Mai. Taylor, SurgeOn-in- Charge Of Nc
pbarsnn Military HnSnitaI JI.t.
ing the Spanish American War that these
women found ample opportunity in ad |
ministering comfort to the homeSick sol |
ders in the fever wards of the hospital |
AS might be expected, the offers of their |
services were at first received cOldly by |
the Surgeons, but after weeks of such |
service as only self-sacrifcing women |
know how to bestow, Surgeon Taylor
stated to the President Of the Corps: II
will confess to the reluctance with which !
| consented that you ladies enter our sick
wards and furnish supplies, for fear of
the results of over-zeal and imprudence
| will now try to atone by asserting that
you have not only brought comfort to the
poor boys, but the Saving of lives is di-
rectly traceable to your kind ministra-
tions." stgIs
At the Atlanta Jubilee Parade, when
President and Mrs. Mckinley were hon
ored guests, Il division of that parade was
their Relief Corps, commanded by Past
Department Commander james o. Ladd.
The ladies rode in 20 carriages, beauti-
fully decorated with roses. and. accenting
the opinion of President Mckinley, it was
the most conspicuous and impressive fea-
turc of that great occasion.
In September, 1900 the city of Calves
ton, Tex, was smitten by Il mighty hor-
ror. The country was appalled, and
touched to the depths by its great SYM
pathy. Appeals We're made by comrades
in the State of Texas and by the Woman's
Relief Corps of that State for immediate
relief. The Commander for the Depart
ment of Georgia communicated these ap-
peals, in general order. to all the Posts
and every Womans Relief Corps. through
such Posts, in his Department. Responses
We're liberal and prompt, the Woman's
Relief Corps of o. NJ Mitchell Post, of
which Mrs. James L. Averill was the ef-
f"icnt President, contributing the sum of
S341 20.