The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1913-07-22
Grand Army Meeting.

| vi u0 Amy 4ACCtAASs
John W. Bodine, Department Comman-
der of the Grand Army of New Jersey,
paid an official visit to Gen. A. E. Shiras
Post Of Mount Holly, Friday evening.
The auditorium of the High School was
placed at the disposal of the old soldiers,
and at eight o'clock, despite the fact that
/ the mercury was high, there were over
200 persons present, nearly half of whom
were ladies. With Mr.. Bodine were
several members of his official family,
two of his aids being Robert M. Brown
and Frank Armstrong, of Mount Holly.
The stage was decorated with flags,
among them being the state flag of the
Grand Army and the emblems of the local
Post. Old muskets, canteens, bugles
and other things used in the war were set
at different places on the stage. The
meeting was called to order and Comman-
der Bodine was placed in charge. Prayer
was offered by Rev. T. j. j. Wright, of
the M. E. church, after which Commander
! Bodine made short address, In which he
referred to the fact that he always would
have warm spot in his heart for Mount
Holly, the place of his birth. He recalled
some of the incidents of the war connected
with his srmy life and spoke good word
for the survivors of the contest not only
in Mount Holly but throughout the state.
Messrs. William Randall, Fred M. An
derson, Byron Grigg and Aubrey Worrell,
sang "Tenting tonight on the old camp
ground, and Professor ]. L. p Eckman
rendered two euphonium solos, all of
which we're heartily enjoyed. Harry L.
Hartshorne, Past Commander, and one of
Commander Bodine's staff, gave a brief
account of the condition of the Grand
Army in New Jersey, and closed his re-
marks with recitation appropriate to the
occasion.
John H. Fort, Esq, of Camden. was
the speaker for the evening. He was in
troduced as a native of Burlington county,
but he said that was not exactly the case.
He felt, however, that he could claim this
county as his native place, for all his an
cestors hailed from this county, reaching
back to the days when those oppressed by
the rule of an English King, sailed for
this country, some of them landing at the
city of Burlington. Recalling the good
deeds done by Jerseymen in the Revolu-
tionary war, Mr.. Fort showed that Bur
lington county was entitled to as much
credit as any other part of the state in
that contest, Burlington being one of the
IS original counties. and sending many
brave men to the front. With these facts
in his mind he had visited the historic
spot at Valley Forge and felt that monu.
ment to the memory of the Jerseymen was
needed, and to-day there stands such a
tribute, one which no one need be ashamed
of, massive piece of granite with a
bronze figure of soldier facing towards
the New Jersey shore.
Coming down to later events Mr.. Fort
recalled the many noble men sent from
New Jersey to aid In preserving this
country in the dark days of the Rebellion. |
Again he paid glowing tribute to Bur
lington county, and said that in war or
peace we had always been found at the
front. The speaker felt that there should
be more interest taken in the Grand Army
Posts and he hoped the people of Mount
Holly would see that the local organiza-
ton would not be allowed to go down |
The men who compose the Post are grow |
ing old and he feared they were entirely |
too modest and did not present their |
claims as they should, for Mr.. Fort de- |
clared the old soldiers had claims upon |
the present and future generations that |
never could be entirely settled.
1t was not necessary, he thought, to put |
all of this claim upon the adult portion of |
the community The children should be |
be educated to look back with gratitude |
upon the good work done by the old SOL |
diers. During the war the youngsters |
were very much In evidence He was one |
who solicited subscriptions wherewith a |
drum was purchased and used to draw |
out recruits and he remembered standing |
and pounding on his drum while his |
father enlisted men into the army. He |
also related how he tried, with his drum
on his shoulder, to be mustered into the |
service, but was rejected on account of |
his youth, yet statistics show that the |
majority of the men who were allowed to |
serve their country during the Rebellion
were under q years of age, many of them
less than IL years old.
Mr.. Fort said the women must not be /
overlooked. They could be a great power
In arousing interest in keeping the Grand |
Army Post alive. 1t was question |
whether they did not do more real suffer
ing during the war than did the men at |
the front. News of every battle was
eagerly read, and anxiety was felt from
day to day for fear that loved one would |
be victim of the next strife. Then there
were meetings in the little school houses
and public halls where the women pre-
pared lint and bandages, arranged for
festivals and other functions to procure /
Injuries and necessities for the boys at /
the front. The work of women In any
stage of life mast not be overlooked and |
If the women of Mount Holly would take
hold OF this subject they could materially |
aid in keeping the Grand Army Post In /
existence.
At the conclusion of Mr.. Forts address |
Commander Bodine returned thanks to |
the quartette, to Professor Eckman and to |
the Board of Education for their aid in |
making his first official visit one of so |
much pleasure.