The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-09
DIST ING us He D
GUESTS At c. AR.
CAMPFIRE
ROusing Gathering That Packed
Opera House
C. M FERRIN COMMANDER
Essex Junction Physician VIII Head
Department During Coming
Year

II Is the custom of the G.. A. r. to
hold campfire meetings at It's annual
conventions. This custom has been
religiously adhered to-, and a consid-
cradle number have been held.
Many OF those who have attended
these meetings, and who were pres
ent at the gathering held in the
opera house last night, were not at
all backward in declaring last nights
campfire meeting to be one of the
best ever. Hon. John A. Mead OF
Rutland, Governor of Vermont,
Speaker Frank h. Howe Of the Yer
mont House of Representatives, Col
John A. Gilman of Boston, National
Commander in Chief of the G. A. r.,
Capt. Granville c. Fiske of Ashland,
Department Commander of Massa-
chusetts, DR.. h. j. Foster of Water
bury Center Department Commander
of Vermont, Col. Hugh Henry of
Chester, President of the Trustees of
the Soldiers Home, Mrs Lou Stewart
Wadsworth of Boston, national pa
triotic instructor of the W. r. c. and
other prominent guests were present.
And all of them paid deep tribute to
the members of the G.. A. r., and also
to the allied organizations which
have been in convention here.
Seated in semi-circle about the
governor on the platform, besides the
guests of the evening, were two rows
of veterans. In the center of the
stage was placed a stand of arms,
over which was suspended a large
American flag. The whole scene was
impressive and, although the glow
of a campfire was missing, it did not
require a great effort of the imagi-
nation TO picture these same uni
formed veterans grouped about a
sentry guarded campfire. In the
audience, which numbered about 900,
were the w. r. c., the Ladies OF the
G. A. r., and the Sons of Veterans
and their auxiliaries and other lnvit-
ed guests. Mrs. John A. Mead, Col.
d. l.. Morgan of Rutland, a member
of the governors staff, Mrs. ID. l..
Morgan, Senator and Mrs. II. II.
Cushman and DR. and Mrs. w. Il. Put
nam occupied the right box. The
gathering contained more distinguish
ed visitors than have been seen In
Bennington for some time.
After prayer was offered by Rev.
G. $. Mills Of Bennington, Frank T..
Howe, the presiding officer introduc-
ed Fred G. Martin, Village President,
who extended the welcome of Ben
nington. In closing his address OF
welcome Mr.. Martin declared that
we of Bennington hope that you will
always be under the three great gen.
erals-Gen. Peace, Gen. Plenty and
Gen. Prosperity" The address was re-
sponded TO by the department com
mander of Vermont, DIR. Il. j. Foster
OF Waterbury Center, who thanked
the people of Bennington for their
hospitable entertainment.
| In introducing Governor Mead, Mr.
Howe declared that Vermont had
had many good and hard working
governors, but in 1910 the peo-
pie had selected one who immediate
ly went to work for the state of Yer.
mont with unusually splendid re
suits. The governor, who was greet.
ed with loud applause, declared that
he was delighted to be in Bennington
and has been long anticipating the
visit. He pointed out the difference
in old and modern warfare, and, al
though he was opposed to warfare
he was glad that all the wars fought
for the United States were for liberty
and the betterment of mankind He
paid high praise to the regiments OF
Vermont. He further called to the
attention of his audience
the great part played by
Vermont in the history of the United
States. The governors remarks were
constantly interrupted by applause.
The presentation of flag to the
Bennington high school was made by
Mrs Harriet Sleeper of Newport. In
making the presentation Mrs. Sleeper
declared that it stood for the home
the child and the school The flag
was accepted in behalf of the schol
ars, by IL. B. Dickinson, principal OF
the high school,
The next speaker was Col John A
Gilman of Massachusetts National
Commander of the G.. A. r.. Mr.. Gil
man delivered very eloquent ad
dress and was frequently applauded
AiV AhdllhCu lhc ptOpl6 VI NtIluDH
for hospitality and extended the
greeting of the veterans of Massa
chusetts. After an address by Cap
tain Granville c. Fske of Massachus
etts quartette sang Camping To
night on the Old Camp Ground"
Mrs. Lou Stewart Wadsworth de
livered an eloquent address on the
Patriotic work of the w. II. G. She
told of the work being done in the
south, where many flags were being
placed. Mrs. Wadsworth closed hei
address by asking the help of every
body in this work.
Col. j. II. Golding was the mex
speaker. He paid high praise to the
G. A. r. and declared that they were
the noblest order on Gods earth.
The last remarks of the evening
were delivered by Col. Hugh Henry
Judge Henry spoke in high terms o
the G. A. r., and the other organiza
tons present. Excellent music wal
furnished by Mrs. Mary Hutchini
Wilcox, Mrs Cocklin of Rutlan,
and quartet composed OF Mrs
Mary Hutchins Wilcox, Mrs l.. II
Ross, Wells White and E. E. Bottum
Mrs. Cocklin sang Serene ant
Holy" and responded to an encor,
with "The Star Spangled Banner