New Britain herald., 1915-04-14
s. OF '. fNCANPNENT
 OPENED HERE TODAY
Annual Reports Made by Division
 Commander Pratt and Others.
BANQUET AT HOTEL BEIOIN TONIGHT

Gain of Three New Camps and 26S
 Members During Year-Invitation
 to Attend G. \. R. Camp Fire To-
 morrow Evening.
 The thirty-first annual encamprnent of the Connecticut Division, Sons of Veterans, was opened at 3 o'clock this afternoon in G. A. R. hall, when the reports of the officers were presented and the resolutions of the committees and recommendation of the division commander were received.
 The delegates began arriving this morning and the afternoon trains brought the bulk of the representa- tives from the different camps. Members of the reception committee were stationed at the station and the center to receive the delegates and headquarters were established at tho Hotel Beloin and Judd's nall.
 The principal reports made this afternoon were those of Allen T. Pratt of Hartford, the division com- mander, and Harry J. Parker of Hartford. the secretary and treasurer "A camps and 26S members in the state was reported by MT. Parker.
 Recommendations Made.
 The following recommendations were made by Commander Pratt in the report presented this afternoon:
 That the division commander call attention in an order issued not later than November 15, to our annual custom of the camps sending a con- tribution to the veterans at Noroton Soldiers Home for Christmas.
 That this division make it an an- nual custom to observe what shall be known as Veterans Night which shall be held by the camps on Or as near as possible to November 19, the anniversary of the delivery of Lin- coln's Gettysburg address, and atten- ton called to the same In an order issued not later than October 15.
 That this division officially endorse the Death Benefit association, Sons of Veterans, U. S. A., and recommend it to such camps as are not members, and that it be explained in a division order. ..t .s.. .
 That the retiring division com mander be authorized to prepare the pAoIC0olHSS oL tIllS ChIuhIpilSiL lOA publication at the expense of the division as soon as possible after the adjournment of this encampment.
 That the sum of $100 be appro- priated toward the expenses of the voting members of this division at the next national encampment.
 That the following expenses of holding division encampment shall Tn future be appropriated by the division: First, the sum, of $1O for an official stenographer; second, the sum of $50 for the division souvenirs and the hall rental for the encamp- ment sessions.
 That the per capita tax remain the same. sixty cents per annum
 In regard to the patriotic work of the order, Commander Pratt said:
 The year has been one of marked increase along the line of patriotic observances and public meetings of various kinds among the camps of this division. Possibly some of this has been due to the fact that it has been the year of the fiftieth anniver- sary of many of the eliminating events of the Civil war, but it is to be hoped that this branch of our work will continue to become more and more prominent and that more of the camps will seize the opportu- nifty thus afforded to not only eX- emplify this principle of our order but put the Sons of Veterans more prominently before the general public as the greatest patriotic order in America-neXt to the Grand Army of the Republic.'
 The report mentioned the services held in commemoration of the one hundredth anniversary of the writ ing of The Star Spangled Banner" the observation of Veterans Night, Union Defenders Day, and Memorial Day. A report on the Christmas con- tributions to Noroton Soldiers Home also was made.
 Rev. Maicr Praised
 Rev. Henry W. Maier of this city has been chaplain of the organization during the year and in spea king or the work done by him, Commander Pratt says:
 AS division char..air, Rev. Henry W. Maier has fulfilled his duties promptly and efficiently, issuing a chaplain's Memorial Day letter of which Connecticut division may wei, be proud, and getting in a Memorial Day report from every camp, thus securing 100 per cent. again for Con- necticut."
 Banquet Tonight.
 The biggest feature of the S. of V. convention today will be the banquet at the Hotel Beloin at o'clock to- night. Rev. pr. G. w. C. Hill, pastor of the South Congregational church, will be the toastmaster. Speeches will ha ,,,a6a h,y Com m 1 n 6pr-in- iaS