Tama County Republican. (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1867-1872, 1869-06-17

TTlaUucT-lH-SIHti, SENIOR anu JNHioT
Vice e-Commandersin Chief, Adiutant-
General, Qdartermaster General In
spect orr General, Judge Advocate Gen
eral, SurgeonGeneral, and Chaplain
in-Chiet. These are chosen annually
Departments and Posts have similar
officers, with suitable notifications of
title. At the annual session in Cincln-
natl, May II, it was found that there
are 81 Departments, over 1000 Posts,
and membership Of between 30o,-
900 and 100000.
The objects Of the Association
which are all printed and published, as
also are its regulations-are three
fold: first. to preserve and crafty the
sympathies which grew up in the field;
secondly, to assist all disabled and
needy soldiers. their widows and or
phans; and thirdly, to perpetuate a
steady loyalty to the government OF
the United States
In the first object, there is the graf
ification of those tender feelings which
even enemies cannot despise.
In the second object, there is a sa-
cred duty. This is the great work OF
the Association, and is to be made
still more prominent. No one who is
in the way to see these things, but has
his heart often sa,ldened by the sight Of
quiet suffering. / could give examples
OF needy widows and children, who
were once enjoying every comfort,
which would surprise the community.
The public is not to blame. l have
found a generous response always,
when wants arc made known. The
people are ready to help; but they
need guard against imposition, and
channel for gifts. This ASSOCIATION
furnishes both. Committees Of Relief
are bound to investigate, and to apply
sacredly every cent at their disposal. 1t
ought to be understood that membership
is no requirement in that charity. As
member of such committee the
past winter, | think l understand the
working. At a particular date our
committee looked through the list OF
recipients, and found that cnly tuo
persons, out of every hundred families
assisted were members of the ''Grand
Army" and the amount given the two
was less than twenty-five dollars
Members give freely, but they rely on
the generosity of the people; in my
town, the people responded to every
call. Mainly widows and children
have been h lped, to -four. groceries,
meat, shoes, clothing, and, in some
cases, to money. During the past year
scores of thousands of dollars were
raised and dlsbursed; yet where scores
We're raised hundreds are needed.
In the third object, every member is
bound to obey conscientiously the laws
OF the land, support the authority OF
the national government, maintain the
honor OF the flag; and, whenever his SER
vices are needed by the government,
to the best of his ability, defend the
country agains, home or foreign enc.
mics.
Alleged secrecy" has led some
charches to withdraw fellowship from
the members Of this association; and
by this rule am lot permitted to sit
a, some of the communion tables in
our denomination; thank God that
can sit at the Lords table every where
and therefore | do not trouble mysel
about mea's tables. But the charge o
secrecy. is badly founded. The asso
citation is publicly known; all its rules
laws. andobiects are printed and freely
l., 10 hn Il. ! nttf
are known; its places Of meeting are
known. True, its meetings are held
in private. But so are business meet
inss OF a church, and still ottener those
Of family. Even Bank directors do
not generally invite the public to their
sessions; nor college faculties, nor an
editoral-corps, nor business firm, nor
the missionary committee every Tues
day in Pemberton Square, nor Tract
committee of twenty-five" The pro-
ceedings OF the annual session are as
freely printed as those of a Tract So
ciety. And all receipts and disburse-
ments OF money given by the public,
are publicly reported to the donors. 1t
is true that there are methods of re-
cognition; they are precisely like a
letter of introduction which a stranger
brings. \ church does not need such
at Its private meetings, because each
member knows each other; but in a
group OF 400 900 men, each does not
know the other. As political influence
the discussions otaHy partizan subject,
under whatever name, and the nomi-
nation OF any man for any office, is
prohibited in the most explicit terms.
| know that in Massachusetts, persons
of both political parties are active
members.
Within this organization, "comrads"
IS the only title allowed, except tenn
porary official titles. The vote of for
mer private is as good as that OF his
former General Doubtless, however,
former relations have some force.
AS to caste, there is no word white
i'll the Constitution of the Grand
Army" That there is not, in practice,
is seen in the fact that in the recent
session of the National Encampment,
three colored delegates were not even
that they were black, and
one Of them, by nomination OF a white
colleague from his own former rebeD
State, was made, against his own pro-
test, 4 member OF the National Coun,
Gil OF Administration. This one, full
bloodcd black, and brave soldier,
was enthusiastic at his reception. His
speech at the banquet was applauded
to the utmost. 1t was union Of 10y
atty, Christian faith, and joy.
1t any body feels jealous Of this or
2anizalion. suffer us TO keep up our
camp friendships. We shoulder mus
kets in parade III May, but there are
no bullets in them We promise you,