The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
SONS OF VETERANS.
The Philadelphia Braue:,-Reanioa OF an Obi
t,anga

The first annual Reunion Of Mark T. Sibley
Camp, Sons OF Veterans, Division Of Ohio, was
most interesting occasion. The evening
opened with an address by the commander,
Saptain :. A. LIvermOTe. nephew of the gall
lang young patriot IN whose memory the Camp
IS named followed with an historic address az
the ONO Division by Colonel Nicholas, the
Commander OF the Division OF Ohio Wkose
residences, together with Division headduarters.
IS III this city. Among others responding 10
SUBJECTS assigned, there We're Rev. Dr. Bacon
O. the advisory COMMITTEES, Commander Evstar
Tor Forsyth Post and Mrs Sherwood of For
syth Post Auxiliary Rev. Colonel Anderson OF
cavalry fame, delivered stirring address.
Following the opening exercises there was the
supper call when an elegant collation. was
served. after which there WAS promenading
| and dancing TO string orchestra The Sons
o. Veterans made fine appearance. and both
Forsyth Post and the Auxiliary are Justly
/ proud of the young Order. Colonel Nicholas
gave a history OF the growth OF the Ohio Di-
VISION, which now embraces eight CamDs OF
what IS known as the Philadelphia branch. and
which mas extended the work into Michigan
where there Is state Division and five Carlps.
Post Department Com mander H. T. Bacon cave
an outline Of the organization Of the Phila-
delphia Division. The Pittsburg branch. which
put n an experience at Denver, has nine
camps in Ohio, with headquarters az Coluna-
DJ1s- IL seems unfortunate that the National
DlvisiOns did not c0sliesCe at Denver IL his
/ remarks Colonel Baeon cOntrasted the work Of
the Divisions and gave his reasons for adher-
ence TO the Philadelphia Division 3 very nu-
meroUs body in the United States, and Of the
objections 20 the plan Of work set forth by
General Ross IN a recent communication to
The NATIONAL TRIBUNE The Commander OF
the Philadelphia Division is Colonel Earn. OF
massachusetts,, himself the son of veteran. as
Is the rule In this Order In the other Order
I r1-1r til1rs -ff ftras.H
hers by erevet OF the Order of the Sons OF
Veterans ST. the commanding Offices Colo
nel Bacon said: = We believe the organization OF
which we are members the better Of the two,
Tor the following rea5ons:
= Is. The simplicity of cur work throughout
Zt. We lock np0n the comforting of brevet
rank upoa G., 4. Z. nleu BIZ sons of Veterans as
something IN itsef ridiculous With US the
veterans Of the Grand Arm are advisory men,
6ers. Again, We consider the broad plan OF
DestoWng honorary membership IN the Pitts
burg Order, a departure from one of the
distinctive features the G. 4. R.
3D. We object 10 the members into classes,
and more especially to that provision by which
the helr or q deceased member of the first class,
whoever Ne may be, iuherits all the rights Of
the sOn OF : veteran, opening. as it does, the
way for the organization 70 lose It's distinctive
character as an organization Of Sons of Vet
erans."
OF the local work Of the Toledo Sons Of Vet
Grams, Colonel Bacon said ia conclusion. "A
peculiar charm Of the G.. A. E. is that its men,
hers bound together By those strong ties OF
coInTadeship formed in the camp on the march
and or che fed OF battle, are largely organized
TO take care Of their disabled comrades and the
widows and orphans Of deceased comrades
The great WORK of the G. A. K. is relieving the
wants of their comrades and I know that the
members Of Forsyth Post viii bear me ont
If n II
Post are they more proud tEan of their relief
work, and wniie other Posts n the Department.
OF Ohio may lead numerically IN relief work
Old Forsyth Is still az the front. Recognizing
the importance Of the work, We. your sons,
have organized TO assist ygu IN esirr ing it out
and 20 complete what must Be let tHdone
when you mustered into the Grand Army
above Bound together by the strong ties of q
common brotherhood, which, while differing
from those binding you together as comrades,
are stronger than the ordinary ties OF friend
ship. We feel that 90 Us, IN a peculiar way,
belongs the right 20 carry on this work.
Camps OF the Division are recognized BY the
Post OF the q. A. L. as aaxiliaries, each Camp
having advisory committee of five from the
Post appointed By the Post Commander, who
is an ex-othcio member Of said committee.
Your correspondent interviewed the Depart
ment and Camp officers very generally, who
expressed a great desire for National organ
izauion Of Sons Of Veterans, but said that UNI
less the order that appeared at Denver should
simplify their work and make it broad enough
TO put every son Of veteran on the same foot
ing, while refusing TO recognize . remote heir
as eligible to sonship, they must continue to
carry on their work IL their own way, content
with the recognition OF the Posts to which they
were auxiliary.
REPLY TO GENERAL ROSS.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
Ny attention has been called TO the articls
of General William Z. Ross in your last issue
explaining the Order Of Sons OF Veterans of thu
United States. better known as the Pittsburg
branch. l hope / viii net be intruding on your
space IN calling attention 70 two features OF
the organization which he represents which to
me, are very Objectionable. They are the di-
vision into classes, and admitting as honorary
members officers of the United States army,
navy and marine corps. officers of foreign
governments, and distinguished civilians. The
general states In his article that the sons of
sn ex-selGieF, who have arrived as the age. OF
eighteen years aud are OF good neral character.
are eligible to membership Of the first class;
the eldest son of melub-F of the first class is
eligible 1t the age OF eighteen IS q member OF
the second class, aud upon the death Of his
father he Is promoted TO a member of the first
class, taking his fathers place." while the
constitution of the Order goes much further
than this saying. in addition, that if there
are no descendants, male or female, then the
male heirs of SGch deceased members IN the
collateral branches OF their families in the
order OF genealogical succession, according TO
the rules OF descent. 0ue. Of the main features
OF the Grand Arny organization is the taxing
care OF their disabled comrades and of the
widows and orphans OF deceased comrades. The
Sons OF Veterans were organized 70 assist them
in their work and 10 complete " hat must neees-
sarily be lett undone when the Grand Army az
an organization ceases 10 exist. Our OrglniZa-
ton should, therefore, copy after them rather
than tho Legal Legion. l hold that this work
belongs peculiarly 60 the sons Of soldiers and
the necessity Tor this relief work viii doubtless
cease long before our organization shall have
run its allotted time I see 40 reason for the
further extension Of the Order. should the
time come when il is necessary 20 extend il,
let our sons organize Is auxiliary TO US, rs va
have organized auxiliary 70 the Grand Army.
The admission Of officers OF the United States
army, navy, aud marine corps, officers Of for
eign governments, and distinguished persons
IN civil life rs honorary members IS utterly
foreign to the spirit of the Grslnd Army organ
izaEion. Yours fribernally.
HAIRY X. BACON
Past Col, Div. of Ohio, Sons Of Vets.
philadelphia BFanch.]
TOLEDO, o.
Ssw Connecticut Camp.
Comrade G. F. Elicit writes us that John
n. Symmes Camp, No. ,, Sons of Veterans, was
aud mustered at stamford, Conn.,,