Norwich bulletin., 1918-04-17
LOCAL DELEGATES AT
 6. 4. R. ENcAMPMENT
s. S. Stocking and John Service Rep-
 reseHtins Sedawiek Post.

Delegates to the state encampment of the G. A. R. in New Haven from Sedgwick Post, No. 1, are s. $. Stock ing and John Service. Mr. Stocking is one of the oldest member of Sedg- wick Post being nearly 90 years of age. The encampment opened on Tuesday.
 In his address Department Con- nnander Benjamin H. Cheney said; When, a year. ago, you gave me the high honor of unanimous election as
 your department commander, ac- cepted 1t with a deep sense of the confidence and esteem thus manifest ed by you. During my term of office
 it has been my constant endeavor to maintai 'nthe prestige already attained
 by this department in the ranks of the Grand Army of the Republic, and to promote it's interests as far as lay in my power. Y Always, on looking back, one sees things which might have been done differently, perhaps better but in every case have acted as seemed to me at the time for the
 welfare of the order. Condition of the Order. I would reiterate here what was said last year by Past Commander Sselev with regard to those comrades who, for one reason or another, have l fallen out of our ranks. Every effort should be made to reclaim members l and the way made easy for their re- turn. l would suggest that the chap lains of posts seek out these former comrades and, aseertainfng the cause Iof their defection, persuade them te renew their membership. There are ] also veterans of the Civil war wft have never joined the Grand Army and some of these might even at this eleventh hour be induced to do so Our numbers are rapidly diminishing by death. During the past year tss 1 mortality was 191. It must be ren1em. bered that our roster is less, and pro portionaily the mortality is increas ing.
 We have lost during the year ont l of our past department commanders 1 Comrade William Hillard of Post No l 12, Bristol. He was past corlfnandel of his post; the Gilbert ". Thompson was department commander in 1894 and at the time of his death was |; In1smoer of the council of administra tien.
 1 With the near approach of Memor ial Day it is pleasing to note tha
 there appears to be an increasing ap preciation Of it's significance on tn part of the public. The civic autfIori observance, as is shown by the clos l ing Of saloons and the forbidding il
 many cities of circus parades and otl1 Ter public festivities which would ma land detract from its sacred cflarae
 ter.
 I Visits to Posts.
 1 I have had the pleasure of visitin teyery post to which the staff and my self were invited. At each one " Ireceiyed a cordial welcome and wer royalty entertained by the comrade assisted by the Women's Relief Corpi T the Sons of Veterans and other aux iliaries.
 It is now a little more than a yea | since the ominous cloud which l1a
 been so long hanging over our eoun . ttry burst asunder, revealing behin lit the, lurid flame of war. Into thi war the nation was forced by the con
 stant perfidy and repeated acts (
 hostility on the part of the inperis l government of Germany Our flag fla
 lnow crossed the sea to defend thos
 principles of liberty ana justice fc
 which it has always stood. It ma we'll be that it is thus fulfilling a n1is , 1 sion of diffusing those principle , throughout the world. The far reach ing consequence no human eye ca measure or foresee. But we have tn 5 faith which casts out all fear as t the result, feeling that in the end ther 5 must come the triumph of the rieh {, The report of Assistant Adiutar
 IGeneral William M Barnum follows i l part:
 have t!2se honor to submit to yo
 lnny reTort for the year ending Decerr her 31 1917:
 5 Membership: Members in zoo < standing Dec. 31, 1916, FOOT: gained | muster 2. by transfer 2s, by reinstate ment 1e,> total gain 4s; total 2053. z Loss by death 201. by honorable dis charge 4. by transfer 4, by suspensio
 2S total loss 2S7.
 | Remaining in good standing Dec. 5 1917. 1s16.