Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-16
OFFICERS (|NSTALLED
Grand Army 6f Republic and
RELIEF Corps.
RoUsINGId sPEECHE Els
VETERANS ffhn DISMISSAL
FROM aovEKNMENT SERVICE.
Patriotic Observation-Disclosures With
Jeweled Badge-The New Officers
Greeted with Applause.

Greeted With Applause.
Flags and flowers flowers and flags. with
| men wearing the old army blue and wo-
| men handsomely gowned In attendance.
made Grand Army Hall appear most attrac-
tive last Saturday evening. The stage was
| set with tall palms that nearly touched the
ceiling and the big archway at the rear
| was banked with palms and crossed flags.
| The national colors were festooned in clus-
! tiers on the walls, and the front Of the gal
| lery was draped with a long red banner.
| bearing in letters Of gold the words, ''Wel-
| come, Commander" while high above the
| archway above the stage hung another
| banner upon which in gold letters appeared.
| Department Of Potomac. Grand Army of
the Republic. and Womans Relief Corps"
| The occasion was the joint public installa-
ton Of the officers of the two patriotic or
| ganizations mentioned, representing near
ly 5000 members in the District of CO.
| lumbia. Standing room was at premium
| on the lower floor, and the gallery was
literally packed before the ceremonies be-
gan.
A feature of the evening was an appeal
| by Colonel Hopkins to his comrades to
| stand together as they had never stood
before. as, he said, he feared that whole
| sale discharge from offices of those upon
whom the years rested heavily is impend-
| ing. An official high in authority, he de-
| clared, had said that he wanted no more
| old men in his department, and that he de-
| sired to be rid OF many who were too old
| to do the work. And that official. I re-
| gret to say" declared Colonel Hopkins,
| "was q comrade Of yours"
! Colonel Hopkins proceeded to say that 1t
| was his belief that the duties of the hour
demanded that the Grand Army Of the
| d oil No.
| gress for preferment of veterans, as that
| now seemed hopeless, and Join forces in de-
| manding that those in Office be kept there
till relieved by death.
The color bearers who took station in
four corners of the open court in which the
| ceremonies OF installation were conducted,
were Mrs. Agnes Keller and Mrs. Mary
Thatcher. past presidents of George H.
| Thomas Relief Corps; Mrs. Mary E. Hall,
| past president. and Mrs. Emma Ferguson.
! chaplain, both of Lincoln Corps. The con-
| ductor was Mrs. Mamie P. Dorsey. past
president and the guard Mrs Emma Ellis.
H. Thomas Corps
Those Who Participated.
The ceremonies OF Installation Of the Of
| fcers Of the wonaan.s Relief Corps. Depart
| ment of Potomac, were executed, and the
| Anna sanburn Hamilton, past department
president. While president Of the Depart
ment Of Potomac. Ms. Hamilton instituted
| George H. Thomass Corps, Of which Mrs.
Rosamond B. Meacham was made president.
and she Installed Its officers at that time.
Saturday evening .ttrddttef into the high
est office in the Department of the Po-
| tomac, w. R. c., the first president of the
corps which she Gtganaed many years ago;
Edgar. commander 81 the Old Guard, and
the Installing officer for the Department of
the Potomac. G. A. r.. was Col. Thomas S.
Hopkins. past commander OF the depart
ment. - Z
The musical plumbers IN connection with
the installation were with two except ons.
rendered by sons and daughters Of Union
soldiers. The exceptions were Col. A. T.
| Tasker. a veteran, and Mrs. Walcott, the
widow of veteran. each acting as piano
aecompanist. The soloist was Miss Eliza
beth Wahly, who was aided by violin
obligato, played by Mr.. Arthur N. Tasker.
The Peyton String Quartet consisting of
the wife. son and two daughters OF the late
Col. Walcott, y. s. A., rendered several Sc
lections.
One Of the most interesting numbers OF
the program was an. original poem by Dr
Thomas Calver. medical director OF the de-
partment. the title being THE Grand Army
Button"
When Colonel B. F. Bingham. commander
of the Department of the Potomac. called
the assemblage to order the various sta
lions were occupied by the respective OIL
GERS OF the Two OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES, diio M D
Ida A. Oldroyd. president of the depart
ment w. r. c., occupied chair beside him.
A brief invocation was offered by the de-
partment chaplain. Rev. H. S. stevens, and
Commander Bingham then turned the gaVei
| over to Mrs. Oldroyd. who announced the
presentation of the installing officer. Mrs.
Anna s. Hamilton. she being escorted 10 the
platform by the color bearers AS the IN
stallation proceeded the popularity OF the
various officers was evinced by rounds or
applause, which eliminated In quite an ova-
ton when the president-elect, Mrs. Rosa
mond B. Meacham, advanced with nag
escort and subscribed to the obligation.
Officers of the G. A. r.
The officers Of the Department OF the
Potomac, G. "A. R.. were Installed imme-
diately following the close OF the program
of music The oflcers-elect were all ap-
plauded as they advanced for muster. The
commander-elect, Judge Ivory e. kimoaii,
took his stand beside retiring Commander
Bingham, and made a speech, In which he
declared that to make his administrator
successful one he must have the assistance
Of every member of the department he
| also warned the veterans that they must
| recruit their ranks, for he said the aging
veterans are facing dismissal from the de-
partments. He added that as In union
there is strength. the addition to their
ranks of 1000 veterans would give the G.
A. r. power to demand the retention OF
their comrades in office.
At the conclusion of his speech Com
mander Kimball was presented with oou-
quet of red and white roses tied with long
blue ribbons, by Mrs. Edith Emmerson.
president Of Burnside Corps. The roses.
she said. were given with the compliments
of the corps auxiliary to Burnside Post, of
which Judge Kimball is member
Mrs. Temple, president Of the Legion of
Loyal Women. afso. Presented Judge Kim
bali; In the name df that ORGANISATION.
with a bouquet 81 pink roses Judge KIM
ball had already RECEIVED a jar of roses
and lilies from the IWoman's Relief Corps.
Mrs. Macgee. president OF Thomas Corps,
bunch of roses in behalf Of the corps. Mrs.
Mamie P. Dorsey presented another bou-
quet OF Golden Gate fbses in behalf Of the
ans and the Department of Potomac. w.
R. c.. presented Der With third one.
Last Of the Presentations.
The last of the presentations was to Mrs.