Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-01-14
Adjuiani MeDayId Pays Tribute
To Departed Comrades.
Rev. B. G. Roberts Says Soldiers
Victory Was That Of Humanity.

CARNATIONS and invited guests were
present. The supper was Immediately
followed by the work of installation.
First in order came the installation of
the officers of Seth Williams Post,
which was impressively performed by
Past Commander Arthur l.. Brown OF
Augusta. Following were the officers
installed:
Observation-Disclosures w. White.
Senior vice commander-A. A. Mich
OILS.
Junior vice commandments S.
Cony.
Chapiain-Arthur l.. Brown.
Decentralization McDavid.
Quartermaster-LeW Selbing.
Surgeon-Thomas Clark
Officer of the day-Levi NJ. Poor.
Officer of the guard-E. A. Getchell.
Sergeant ma jor-George f. Gannett.
Ouartermaster sergeant-D. p. Han
son.
Patriotic instructor-Col. A. S.
Bangs.
Department President Miss Maude
Merric,< of Waterville installed the Of
ficers Of Seth Williams National Re
lief Corps, performing the work very
efficiently. The officers installed We're:
President-Dcborah Clark.
Senior vice president-Annie Farm
ham.
junior vice president-Melva Lynn.
Treas.-Annic Fletcher.
charlottesville Perkins.
Conductor-Carrie Allen.
Guard-Nellie Tibbetts
Sec.-Ada F. Purinton.
Patriotic instruct or-Sarah Stetson.
Press rrespondent-Annie Field.
Musician-Abbie I. Comns.
Assistant conductor-Clair Harvey.
Assistant guard-Frances Nichols.
Color bearers-Lucy Hanson, Emily
Dickson. Nellie Crane, lmogene
Doughty.
A musical and literary program FOL
lowed the installation Cf the officers OF
the two organizations. The opening
number of the program was an lnstfu-
mental duet by Mrs. Annie Farnham
and Mrs. Abbe Comins. The feature
Of the program was the resume OF the
work done for the year. which was
presented at some length by AdJutan'
McDayid under the title. The Passing
of the Grand Army" He said in part:
we have had u meetings the pas
wear with a total attendance Of 2S9
Average attendance a. The largest
number in attendance at any one time
was IS. the smallest number six. we
have gained one member the past year
and lost nine, eight by death and one
by transfer, making a net loss of eight
Our present membership is 13l upon
which we pay a per capita tax of 20
cents a year, or 10 cents semi-annual-
Is.
There was a time in the heyday OF
our life as an organization that ] had
much to report. Our meetings were
held weekly and large attendance
was always sure to be present. Our
muster in service was frequent and
there was hardly a week when we did
not add materially to our membership
We were and are one of the largest
Posts in the State and our influence
and standing was such as to give us a
department commander three times in
our history. Eloquent discussions took
place in our hall to cnlven the even
ing's work. Money was raised by
thousands by the giving of fairs and
our aid to needy soldiers and their
families was large and generous. We
were comparatively young in those
days and fought our battles over, show
ing how we could have much better
managed certain campaigns than
Grant. Mcclellan or Sherman
But all this is changed. Like a
thief in the night old Father Time has
been creeping upon us and before we
hardly realize it we fiEd ourselves get
ting down towards the bottom of the
hither side of the hill Of life. Take the
statistics of our last years work for
instance. We have had just one re-
cruit while our losses by death
though not exceptionally large. show
the inevitable trend or the passing
away Of our organical life.
We have lost by death the past$year
eight comrades. The list begins with
our late Comrade Lane, who died Feb
3, 1919. Comrade Lane was one Of our
ablest members and filled with great
credit offices in Post and Department
and in 'civiElife as we'll. Untilshis last
sickness he took an active part in all
things pertaining to the welfare of the
''tS' oHOHiHEs HIN WdS .1OIIl-
rade Henry A. Cummings of the 5th
Maine Battery and Patrick Lynch Of
the I'D Mass. Infantry. Then Comrade
George a. Staples of the 4th Maine, a
good and worthy comrade, Sylvester
Keys of the 18th Mass, Infantry and
George r. Stevens of the 5th Maine
BATTERY, brother to Comrade Judge
Stevens. Then another 5th Maine Bat
terry man, John Murphy and finally
Comrade Daniel w. Emery. Comrade
Emery was much respected comrade.
put did not seek official recognition
from our organization but was content
20 remain a plain comrade. Had he
peen willing to have served US there is
no office he could not have had.
"A noticeable feature of this list of
ieaths is the number of 9Th Maine Bat
-ery men. Three out of the eight seem
70 have belonged to that organization.
md remember that the 5th Maine Battery
vas the Stevens battery of which our
IGNORED Judge Stevens was commander
md Of which our Commander White was
fighting member. j