Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-06-11
COMMANDERS AND
TREASuRER'S REPORT
TO SONS OF VETERANS

Inc following reports were made
Wednesday to the State encampment OF
the Maine Sons Of Veterans at Ranger
oy DIVISION Commander W. o. Cobb and
the Division secretary-treasurer:
Commanders Report.
feature Of the afternoon meeting y,
the Sons OF Veterans was the renor, =,
the division commander, DR.. William n
Sooo Oh Gardner. who referred to the
prosperous condition of the order, say
ing that he could see only a glorious fu-
lure ahead OF It, I'VE are met as renre.
sentatives OF sons of great and noble
men. not only OF the 5000 members of our
order. but of the 1000 who should and
are to be members. May we review care
fuliy the work OF the past, plan wisely
the future. and legislate with much
tnousht ana elaboration, realizing tina.
we are building the foundation of q
mighty organization that is to live until,
the END OF time. 1t is not only to honor
our fathers and perpetuate their honor.
out 1t is to have broader principles, the
upbuilding of humanity, teaching love of
country, loyalty to the flag and true na-
triotsm.
The Grand Army has been mighty Or
gahiZauon. In a few years it viii be no
more. Are its principles to perish and
the great work OF its members accom-
plished from 1861 to 1866 to be forgotten,
Is Memorial day to be thing of the
past? To me it is a beautiful thought
that no matter how long it may be, many
years from now perhaps, my fathers
grave will be visited at least once each
year and upon that little mound of green
will be placed that flag for which he sac
rificed. suffered and fought and which
he loved SO well. We have a great work
10 90. Let US go at it with an unselfish
purpose. without fault finding and COM
planning, but with a noble purpose.
l have only words Of praise for my as
sociates in Office. If we have prospered,
l give the credit to the fact that l have
had the cooperation not only OF the off,
GERS, but every member of the Maine
division.
On taking Office 1 felt that if We were
TO succeed this year, l must get in touch
and sympathy with as many members
as possible. and 1 began a system of cor
respondence with every camp. l have
written five letters to every camp besides
the special correspondence. The replies
TO my first letter were far from encour-
aging, but later, the results were splen-
did.
After l learned the condition Of our
DIVISION / decided l must meet as many
ofothers as possible face to face, so
gave out in general orders that i would
visit any camp that would give me an
invitation. l have visited q great many
camps in the State since then.
From reports received, ] believe our
installation work was carried on better
this year than for some time. / believe
that anyone who is asked to install the
officers OF any camp should be expected,
to do it without ritual And the work
should be interspersed with musical
and literary entertainment. ~ en-
Brothers, let us extend greetings to
the Spanish War Veterans We honor
them-they fought for our country and
fought well. / have the greatest respect
for the Women's Relief Corps. They
have done and are doing great work
and have been help to the Grand
Army. But every Sons of Veterans camp
needs an auxiliary. There should be
closer relationship between the Sons of
i Veterans and Auxiliary.
THE Ladies Auxiliary should be con-
1 graduated in having such an efficient
person as their president this year
(The president of the Ladies' Auxiliary
/ is Mrs. Cobb, wife of the division COM
| nlander)
THE division should and must have 300
members in 1916 and 5000 in five years.
The report of the secretary-treasurer
was read as follows: