Durango semi-weekly herald., 1905-09-11
TELEGRAPH News.

vast coEcourse OF delegates and thei
friends stood at parade rest as Char
iain-inChief Bradford invoked the d
vine blessing. calling upon the favo
OF heaven for the encampment an,
asking comfort for Mrs. Blackmar
widow OF the late commander-in- chief
After this Governor Mcdonald deliv
cred an address of welcome, being fol
lowed by Mayor Speer; memoriam,
were adopted in honor OF former Com
mander-in-Chief Blackmar and routin,
business was then taken up
The proceedings were interrupted
by great delegation from Texas. pre
sehting letter from the governor, e,
al.. to the G.. A. r. people of the Lone
star state as well as the United Con.
| federate Veterans. The letter begins
Daiias. Texas, the biggest city In the
biggest state in the biggest Union on
'he globe presents You an invitation
10 hoid your encampment for 1906
within her gates"
Ihe great crowd continues. although
10000 left yesterday.
DENVER, Sept THE continuous
round OF pleasure that the veterans Of
the Grand Army have enioyed since
'heif arrival in the city gave way this
morning to a season of work. Prompi
~ at 10 O'Clock the 39th annual nation.
al encampment of the Organization
was called to order In the Broadway
theater by Commander-in.C Chief John
Ii King, of Maryland, The auditorium
had been deliberately decorated for the
occasion by the ladies of Denver
Tne opening hour was devoted tn ad.
crosses by representatives OF the state,
the city and the Colorado veterans
and appropriate responses were made
on behalf of the visitors. This was
followed by several selections of ma.
trlotlc music. As soon as the prelim
mary program was over Commander
King directed ALI persons not members
oil the Grand Army to withdraw from
the hall, as 1t was to be a secret meet
ing. When all such had gone out Gen.
eral King directed Rev. ]. II. Brad.
ford, the national chaplain, of Wash.
lhston, ID. C., to invoke the blessing of
the Deity. In his invocation the chap.
lain paid an eloquent and touching
tribute to the memory OF the late com.
General Wilmon w
Blackmar
Chief King. In his an
nual address, touched on many sub.
Jects OF interest to the veterans. In
opening his remarks General King
paid the following tribute to the mem
ory of his predecessor, the late Gen.
eral Blackmar:
III the spirits of a higher and bet |
ter world could revisit the scenes of |
their earthly labors. the first utter
ance that would fall from the lips of |
the devoted man who served you as |
COMMUNICATIVE chief during the major
part OF this administration would be |
words 1 sincerest affection for the |
dear old comrades whom he loved so |
devotedly. He would repeat to You
what he had so often said when with |
you, that your unanimous choice OF |
him as your standard bearer one year
ago was an honor the equal OF which \
could be conferred by no body Of men
outside of the Grand Army OF the Re-
public: and that. SO highly did he ap-
the confidence you then plac.
ed in him, he resolved from that hour
10 devote his time, mis- talents and his
fortune to your interests, and to make
The success and upbuilding of the
unique organization which you repre-.
sent the study of his life. How he
kept that resolve you, who so lately
sazed upon his splendid presence and
listened to his impassioned words. will
willingly bear witness. From the very
beginning of his term mis- purpose was
To do all that man could do to encour.
age the several departments, particu-
Iarly those that were weakest or most
remote. and. so far as lay in his pow.
er. infuse new life and energy and zeal
into their ranks, and give them added
Inspiration to continue bravely and |
In the great work they were
carrying on for God and country and
On the subject of Memorial day the
commander-in-chiefs said:
That sweetly solemn day, 80 dear
TO the heart OF every patriotic citizen.
and so doubly dear to the valiant men |
whose loyal service Of more than two.
score years ago led to It's inception,
has now become an institution OF the |
land as firmly rooted and immoyable |
as Independence day itself. And well |
IT should be. for in the whole worlds |
history no more beautiful sentiment |
Is more generally and appropriately |
expressed than is this fidelity of the |
loyal living to the memory OF the 10y |
al dead.
The observance of the exercises |
of Memorial day has become so wide |
spread that at the present time scarce
ly city. town or village can be found
in this great republic that does not
in some manner pay tribute to the ma
tion's honored dead. And what q
graceful form this tribute takes! The
fresh and fragrant flowers, produced
from nature by the power Of natures
God. and the stainless flag, with Its
stars and stripes. emblematic OF the
thirteen colonies that gave 1t birth
1928 years ago, and Of the 45 sovereign
A. .