Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1903-01-22
c. 4. R. POST At BANQUET
MESS PREPARED BY RELIEF CORPS
Officers For the Coming Year Installed
Commander Lafayette Porter and Other
Members Made Excellent Speeches.

AUDuU lOELy lUClU DeIS u UI0 WOOU
County Post Number p, Department
Of Wisconsin G. A. r. assembled at
their lodge room Wednesday evening,
January IA to witness and take part
in the installation Of their newly
elected officers Geo w. Baker, past
Post Commander, a"ted as installing
officer and installed the following
officers:
Cummander-LaFa Fayette Porter.
plain-Vine Wales.
Adjutant-George Baker.
Quartermaster-Dav Cameron.
S. V. CT. j. Cooper.
J. Y. Crank HaSkinS.
Surgeon-T Thomas Burr.
Officer of Day-Wm. Brown.
Officer of the Guard-H. Lambert.
Q. NJ. S.-John Grignon.
Sergeant MajOr-P, MulrOy.
TrusteeS--GeOrge Baker, VIM.
Brown and James Gibson.
At the close of these services the
members repaired to the large audi
ence room where the ladies of the Re.
lief Corps, served an elegant banquet
During the banquet the following
persons gave short talks: Mesdames
F. Beadle, n. ]. Boucher, D. E. Carey
". IT. GettS and L. Porter and MessrS
NJ. S. Pratt, T. j. Cooper, P MurOy
J. G. Davis, of the town of Richfield
Vine Wales, George w, Baker and L.
Porter, the newly elected commander
whose address we hereto append in
full:
COMRADES: While this honor as
commander comes to me unsought and
Unsolicited and, | might say, some,
thing in the way Of a surprise, | want
to sincerely thank you for electing me
to the highest Office within the gift
of this Post. | can truly Say that nc
one could feel their unworthiness
more than | do at the present time
and [ hope that shall never do any.
thing to betray the trust and confid-
ence you have placed in me.
Personally. feel that you have made
an unwSe selection and that you have
greatly over estimated my worth. |
hink that there are many comrades
in this Post that are much better
fitted and qualified. more deserving
more entitled to this office than my.
self.
And in behalf of Ex-Commandel
Pratt who has just retired from the
cOmmandery of this Post, / want tC
say in all sincerity, that l believe WE
owe to him a great deal for the pre-
sent fine working condition our Post
is in today. He deserves great credit
for his fine ability as a presiding
officer. and for his prompt and regular
attendance at nearly every meeting
and for the general interest he alwaY.
manifested in the welfare of the Post
And in behalf of all others who
served US as officers the past year anC
discharged their duties so faithfully
and we'll. [ would suggest that the
least we could do in recognition OF
his valuable services rendered to this
Post would be to give to him a vote
of thanks. | do not feel that I an
capable, and | do not want you t(
expect that [ can in any way make
our retiring commanders place good
| do not want or expect praises in any
way, neither shall | expect severe
criticism at your hands. | shat
expect your fOrbearance with me anC
each other. Let US have charity fol
each other.
Permit me to say that I eLter(ajr
nothing but good will for all comrades
of this Post. | harbor no unkind
thought toward any of you. And il
will always be my purpose. and !
shall eudeavor at all times to treat all
alike: to use no partiality, but to give
to each Of you the same degree Of
respect.
| shall also further strive, so far as
L can consistently. TO make your
wishes mine. Now, / promise with
your help, cooperation and sympathy
that / will do all can, to make this
coming year 1903, one Of the best
years. in The history Of our Post. and
in the words of our Immortal Lin
coln, "Lct US have faith that right
makes might, and in that faith, let us
dare 10 the end to do our duty as we
understand it.
LADIES OF THE RELIEF CORPS
In behalf of my comrades present
also the absent ones, for | would not
be fOrgetful of any, and fer myself. /
wish 10 say that your presence among
US brings TO Us joy aud gladneSS oil
heart. First. on account Of the fact
of our again having Il living relief
corps; and secondly, because we are
again privileged, to meet together.
and on this occasion where we are
soon to enjoy such Il bountiful spread
prepared by you.
Comrades. let US thank our better
half, the Relief CUfps and uIr better