Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-08-24
The UNDERTAKES
CONTINUE THEIR
ANNUAL SESSION
Officers Installed and
President Names APP
pointive. Officers -
Purple Cross Assn.
Approved - Trolley
Ride to Togus- List
Of Those Present.

The real purpose of the meeting OF
| the Maine Undertakers' Association
was reached at the second day OF the
two-days session, Thursday. Much
business was done in the course OF the
forenoon and plans for the future were
discussed The undertaking rooms OF
Henry w. Plummer, Water street. was
the place of the meeting Thursday
morning. In the list of officers "hlch
was published in Thursday mornings
Journal there is but one change, the
vice president, John F. Cusnman, VINO
was elected, signed the office ana
Bryce X. Edwards of Madison was
elected in his stead. The incoming
president, f. f. Dillingham; of Au-
! burn was installed by the senior pres
iGent. j. F. Jefferds, who was the
associations first president. Inc
newly made president in few words
expressed his gratitude for the honor
OF being installed as president or the
Maine Undertakers' Association by
such a worthy man. The president
appointed as members of the legislative
committee the following: F. S.
Adams, Farm;ngton; Henry W.
Plummer. Augusta; Frank Redjngton,
Waterville; George Pulsifer, Poland;
F. X. Narcotic Lewiston. The mem
bers of the legal committee are:
Roscoe F. Staples, Welchville; Thomas
j. Finngan, Bangor; George H. Gro
seier, Rockland; Frank Hewins, Au-
gusta; Albert d. Davis, Thomaston.
The sergeant at arms appointed was
Col. Daniel j. Conley, Lewiston.
One of the most interesting features
of the forenoon's session was the Legal
Question box which was presided over
by Lawyer John E. Nelson of Augusta.
Mr. Nelson answered queries of the
members in regard to the legal side of
their business in manner which was
very enlightening. Among the ques-
tons which were of especial value and
which were we'll answered were those
in regard to the collection of bills from
the estates and the responsibility of the
parties in the collecting of the bills.
The president spoke upon topics of
intimate interest and value 10 the
members Of the association. among
them being the details of Sunday flu
nerals, the upbuilding of the reputa-
ton Of the association, the necessity of
the working together of the members
in business way and the need of
conferences in regard to various
bra inches of the work
One matter which was taken up and
which was considered to be of interest
to more than the members of the as
ISOLATION was the work of the Amer
lean Purple Cross Associate AS
one member of the Maine Undertake
ers' Association expressed it: THE
work Of this association is something
which touches a spot near to the
hearts Of all mothers who are so stu
ated and the outcome of the association
cannot fail to interest those who have
loved ones fighting for the cause" The
following is a letter which was read
before the association:
American Purple Cross
BROTHER UNDERTAKEN:
We have been asked by the officers
of the American Purple Cross Associ-
alton (Prof. H. S. Eckels and associ :
ates) to request the undertakers of
the State of Maine to join their associ-
alton and to assist further in it's pro-
motion by asking your Senators and
Representatives in Congress to do what
is possible towards it,
Prof. Eckles says in his letter to u.s.
My Dear Sir:
The time has come when you can do
more to aid the cause of the undertake
ing profession and increase member
ship in and the influence of your asso-
citation than at any time in it's history
There is now before the Military
Affairs Committee of the House of
Representatives at Washington "a Bill
to render possible the return of the
bodies of our soldier dead to their
home burial grounds in a sanitary and
recognizable condition" This is known
as the Purple Cross Bill H r 5410, and
directs the Secretary of War to accept
the volunteer aid and services of the
Purple Cross Association in caring for
our dead abroad.
Already the Purple Cross has accom-
plished a great deal towards securing
professional recognition for our pro-
fession. 1t has induced the War De-
partment to create a special service
for the care and burial of the dead and
has given the embalmer in this service
the highest non commissioned rank.
Unfortunately, the number Of embalm-
ers in this unit is only about sufficient
to care for the higher officers. This
volunteer service Of the Purple Cross.
therefore. is rendered to assist them
just as the Red Cross assists the med
ical profession in the Army.
To obtain professional standing BY
federal law will be to the interest of
every undertaken Of America. This is
secured if Congress passes this bill
and may I. therefore, urge that Won
write to every member of your Associ-
alton asking that they in turn write TO
their Congressman and Senators, ure
ing the passage of the Purple Cross bill
H r $40
Howard s Eckels"
JAMES z. WARREN. President.
HARRY c. QUINBY, secretary
It was voted that the association 20 on
record as approving the work Of the
American Purple Cross Association
During the course of the Thursday ses-
IL