The National tribune., 1883-09-20

charges against nlIn Oeneral Gresilam Will
have reason to rejoice that he did not deny
him hearing
Open Meetings and Camp-Fires.
In General Orders, No. 8, printed in our
issue of August 80, Commander Charles 7.
| Clarke, of the Department of Ohio, made
the following excellent recommendation:
The practice adopted by some of the Posts of
making one meeting in each month an open meet
ing, campfire, is heartily commended. Such
meetings. if properly conducted, are not only full
Of interest to comrades, their families and friends,
but may be made the means OF greatly strengthen
ing the Post Posts holding but meeting each
month. by holding a second one of a social char
acer will find the interest in and attendance at the
regular business meeting greatly improved.
This recommendation is worthy of reit-
Grafton in the orders of every Department
Commander. In the opinion of THE TRIB-
UNE open meetings are not only useful ad-
juncts to Post work, but indispensable to the
preservation of Post vitality. Indeed, one
of the causes which, in the past, has retarded
the growth of the Order, and which, to a
certain extent has cut it off from the SYM
pathies of the outside public, is the exclu-
sion from Post-rooms of private citizens and
ex-soldiers not affiliated with the Grand
Army. We fully appreciate the Importance
of cultivating among the members of Posts
| the most intimate acquaintance with the
work and ritual of the Order, and to accus-
toming them to the conduct of regular Post
meetings in due form, for nothing is more
painful than to witness at Post meeting
any laxity of discipline or unfamiliarity
with the work of the Order, and we
believe that, as rule, those who are
| the greatest sticklers for a close adher-
ence to the work and ritual of the Order
make the best comrades. The work of the
Order, in fact, is sovery beautiful, instructive,
| and impressive, that no comrade can fail to
be benefited mentally and morally by an
| intimate acquaintance with it. But it should
| be remembered that the Grand Army, though
a secret order so far as its conduct is con-
cerned, bears a close and personal relation
to the interests of the community at large.
One of theobjects of the Order, as stated in its
rules and regulations, is to maintain true
allegiance to the United States of America,
based upon paramount respect for and
fidelity to the National Constitution and
laws; to discountenance whatever tends to
weaken loyalty, incites to insurrection, trea-
son or rebellion, or in any manner impairs
the efficiency and permanency of our free
institutions; and to encourage the spread Of
universal liberty, equal rights and justice to
all men," To accomplish this object it is
manifest that it must exert its influence not
only internally upon its own members but
outwardly upon the public at large, and il
is essential therefore that occasions should
be created when, through personal contact
and by personal observation, those who are
not members of the Order may become ac
! auainted with its benefcent and noble work
and be brought in sympathy with its pure
and patriotic objects. Just such occasion.
are these open Post meetings generally tax
ing the form Of Camp-fres, but sometimes
that of concerts, lectures, dramatic enter
! tainments, suppers, dances, or what not
) The most useful and instructive Of all i
5 doubtless the Campfire, where the recita
e Of stirring war "reminiscences, the revelation
g of what the soldier suffered and endured il
e order that the Union might be preserved
f the singing of the grand old camp songs
9 and the illustration of the works of benevo
, lence and charity in which the Order i
engaged, are calculated to give the inter
ested spectator q much more vivid idea O
e what the Nation owes to the men who risket
: their lives in its defense, to inspire a kind
E iier and more grateful appreciation of thei
: services and to immeasurably deepen th
] patriotic feeling of the country, than an,
! other means whatsoever How often do ou
4 veterans bitterly complain of the ingratitud
, and indifference of the general public, ye
l E4w often are they themselves to blame 70
this coldness and neglect! 1t is but natura
S thaf at this late day the outward manifes
j, tat7ons of concern and regard for the soldie
i shohld De less exuberant than they one
J, weke, but we believe it will be found tha
in every community there exists a vita
spark of patriotism, which needs but littl
3 Jealous tanning to be kindled once moro int
3 | a bright and steady fame. We say to on