Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1916-06-02

away from the exercises in the Audi
forum. The general outline Of the OBJ
servancc was the same rs in former
years. There were about 80 m n.bcr'
of Scdgwick post, No. S, G.. \. r., aud
visiting veterans in the line, among
them Ransom c. Farr of West Chester
field, n. H., who was in, the Ford
theater when President Lincoln was
shot. Several owners of automobiles
gave the use of their cars, but most
of the veterans preferred to brave the
storm and the mud and stay in the
line. The veterans are grateful to the
owners of automobiles and all others
who assisted them in any way in the
observance. The speaker this year was
Rev. George E. Tomkinson, pastor OF
the First Baptist church, who forceful-
ly emphasized the integrity of the
United States government
In the morning delegation from
the post met in G. A. R. hall at $50
and went to West Brattleboro to per-
form the service of decorating graves
in the West Brattleboro and Meeting
House Hill cemeteries.
Previous to the afternoon services
in the Auditorium the veterans assem-
bled in their hall. They were met near
the entrance to the hall shortly before
o'clock by the First Regiment band
and Company |, V. n. G., who marched
from the Armory, and were escorted
to the Auditorium, where they occu-
pied reserved seats, as did also the
members of Sedgwick Woman 8 Re-
lief corps. There was not large
gathering present. The front of the
platform was banked with flowers and
wreaths which later were used in the
cemeteries.
Jonathan C. Howe, president of the
day, presided. First came music by
tle band. Rev. Thomas w. Owens of
the Methodist church offered prayer,
male quartet sang two selections,
Rev. George f. TOmkinsOn of the First
Baptist church gave the address, the
male quartet rendered two more selec-
tions and the program closed with the
singing of two verses of America by
all. The male quartet consisted of
Walter A. Gilbert and Arthur l.. May
nard, tenors, Frederic C. Adams and
Arthur L. Clapp, BASES. The veterans
had asked tlat old war songs be rem
dered, and the selections gwen were
Tenting on the Old Camp Ground, We
Old Boys, Just Before the Battle Moth
er, and When Johnny Comes Marching
Home. The innovation was pleasing
to the Grand Army men.
Rev. Mr. Tomkinson, in opening
his address, said it was a solemn thing
to him to behold a soldier, a feeling
that was enhanced by the fact tlat
his father served on the battlefield
where he won a medal which is now
in the vault of one of the BrattleborC
banks. He said that as he looked up
on the line of veterans, which was be
coming thinner, he could not help of
fering the prayer that God nigh
spare them many years to be a bene
diction and an inspiration to this land
He said he had been impressed wit.
the greatness of the land which thu
men he was addressing helped hold to
gether, on a trip from which he re
turned that morning, and he expressed
tle feeling of reverence which he ha,
for the veterans because of his pro
found esteem for Lincoln.
"The nations abroad" the speake
said, "laughed at the outbreak of TIL
Civil war and said, 1--WE told you tina
no nation could live as republic,
but today this nation is caring for thu
people of the monarchs who laughed
Mt us so years ago. The Red Cross o.
this nation watch you held tOgethe
is caring for the wounded of the lands
beyond the sea- He pictured repre-
sentatives of the United States at TIL,
Hague a short time hence listening Il
the inquiries of the depleted European
peoples as to what they could do t.
help themselves and to their expires
sions of trust in this country because
they had no reason to be suspicious O.
it and because it had no desire to ex
tend the borders of the nation by
means of aggression. Then he pictured