As it was learned late on Saturday evening last that Colonel Adams had received a telegram from the Department of Militia notifying the Prince Edward contingent to be ready to leave Picton on Monday, it was decided to hold a mass meeting in the armory building to give the boys a farewell.

It was therefore decided to call a meeting for ten o’clock Monday morning. When the hour arrived the spacious armory building was well filled by a large crowd of the residents of the town and surrounding county, who were delighted to do honor to the brave boys who are leaving for the front. A large platform had been erected in the armory on which a number of the citizens of the town and county were seated, including the clergyman from the local churches. The 16th band was in attendance and when at ten o’clock the volunteers marched to the platform to the strains of “The Maple Leaf,” the audience applauded loudly. Mr. Jas. H. Porte occupied the chair in his usual very efficient manner.

The meeting was opened by singing “God Save the King,” led by the 16th regiment band. In his opening address, Mr. Porte said:

“I think you all know why we are here to-day. The war cloud that has been for so long on the European horizon has at last burst and to-day we have the thunder and lightning of real war. England, who has been working for peace is now fighting for “peace with honor,” and while England is fighting the colonies are loyal. The people of Prince Edward who have for so long boasted of their loyalty, are to-day making good by sending to the front a contingent to represent them in the defence of the Empire. They are going forward to fight for the same cause that Wellington and Nelson fought for. The ladies have raised $1000 for a hospital ship and are furnishing lunches for the men on their journey to the camp at Val Cartier. They are doing their share nobly, many of them present to-day at the meeting have husbands, sons or sweethearts going to the front, while their hearts are breaking, they are giving their loved ones to the service of the Empire, a free and full sacrifice.”

Mr. B. R. Hepburn was the next speaker, He said:

“This is a time that will live long in my memory. Prince Edward has responded to the call for volunteers and is to-day doing honor to their noble ancestors, the U. E. Loyalists. Colonel Sam Hughes will not have a finer body of men going to the front than the boys of Prince Edward. Prince Edward is proud of them and we can only extend to them on behalf of the people of Prince Edward County, best wishes and hopes for a safe return home.”

Warden Colliver after referring to England’s part in the famous wars of Europe, presented the boys with $200 in gold as a gift of the county council.

Mayor Adams, who was deeply moved by the occasion, said he could not go himself but he felt that the boys who were going were his boys, men of the 16th regiment. He also presented the boys with $200 in gold, the gift of the town council.

Dr. J. M. Platt said that the world today was face to face with its greatest calamity. He felt assured that the boys of Old Prince Edward would add to the glory of the flag. “Boys who are brave enough to enlist will be brave enough to meet any danger.” He cautioned them to care for their health and their character, and ended by saying. “Go forward, God speed your efforts, and may the God of battles be with you.”

Dr. Publow, on behalf of the 16th Regiment, said:

“Not all who have volunteered are going, as many more volunteers were rejected because of physical unfitness. All will be vaccinated with the typhoid vaccine, which makes them immune to typhoid germs.”

Referring to Colonel Adams, who was given three hearty cheers by the boys at the close of his address, he said that the Colonel was very anxious to go to the front, but owing to his recent illness he was not in a physical condition to do so.

The boys were then each presented with a $10 gold piece by Messrs. H. W. Bedell, G. M. Farrington and I. Frith Fraser.

The chairman then asked them to stand and, after bowing their heads in silent prayer, the immense gathering repeated together the Lord’s Prayer.

After singing God Save the King and giving three hearty cheers for Prince Edward contingent, the meeting dispersed.