The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-08-30
Grand .ar,nv MIs.ionary word.


things:
II often happens IN communities where the sol
der clement is largely represented that no one Is
disposed 10 take the lead in organizing the move
meni fer the establishment of Post II is in just
such that the need Of missionary work on the
part of comrades OF the Grand Army is manifest.
Il would be wise thing for the Department au-
thorites to ascertain in Just what counties and
what towns where the Order has not yet secured a
foothold, material enough exists for the organza-
ton of a new Post and then delegate TO discreet
and jealous comrades the 6uty Of canvassing the
ground IN person and ascertaining whether il
would be FOR the interest OF the Order to occupy
the ground.
The above suggestions appear to have had
the effect intended, for we have since re-
ceiyed a letter from an Indiana comrade, in
which he says:
Your article meets my views exactly. We need
missionary work to instruct The soldier in the OBJ
jeets and benefits of the Grand Army. For in
stance we have IN close proximity 10 this place
nearly sixty ex5oIdieTs. and at time, am told,
there was Post in existence bere, though it never
recruited more than half the veterans who were
eligible hare talked with many of our ex-sol-
deTs About the establishment of Post. and they
them. Now, am not sufficiently informed myself
to fally answer their questions, since not a
member OF the Grand Army. ! applied FOR aaTlis-
sion year ago and my application was favorably
acted upon / paid my fee and notified 10
present lnyself and be mustercd.;n IN. but the Post
was too far away, and conld not End time to at
tend
Now, am anxious to see Post established here,
and effort l. being made to have the old charter
lratT t3,aFx have
Post unless some conlrade of the Grand Army,
with little Of that spirit that is able to raise
mortals to the sky for we have too much of that
other spirit that would drag angels down
viii come among us. We want 10 hear the long
roll heten once more in midst tl.e band strike
up OF The old familiar army tunes that fired the
veterans heart during the war and 10 catch again
the army steps. Cur old oamp-iires have gone out;
our canteens and llayersseks. rusty from dis
use, hang the bayonet; our minds are occu-
pied with the daily routine of business. What we
need is TO hear the bugle once more sound Fail
in"
Il know ron are tired, but still you must go,
Rubbing that blister right under yolir toe"
IF some live ocmFade would but come here and
address our old veterans they would soon become
entliused, and stand shoulder 10 shoulder, they
did in the days that tried mems souls
The aboveis but one OF many letters that we
have received of the same tenor, and 1t seems
but reasonable to conclude that the need of
missionary work of the description here given
is much more general than has been hitherto
supposed. For our part, we must confess to
| feelings of the Eveliest establishment on
receiving. as we Go, inquiries from old sol
Sso-> oe 80 ,rI,a4--4,o o,rra.,i1a.:o-, 30 xvF,@4
its objects are, and what benefits are con-
1 ferred by membership in it. Yet that there
are many thousands of veterans worthy OF
admission to the Order, and to whose in
terest it is that they should be mustered
into it, who are yet outside of it, is but
too evident The fact stares MS in the
face, and while this state of things can
not be justly ascribed to any want Of
zeal on the part Of the officers of the Grand
Army, it certainly does call for more earnest
and more systematic efforts to make the
character, principles and objects of the Grand
Army known and extend its organization.
accomplishing this than the one which W,
suggested in the editorial in question. ant
which is SO warmly commended by oul
correspondent. 1t is well known that Com
rnander-in-Chief Beath has laid great stress
upon the importance in this years recruit
ing of guarding against the muster into tn,
ranks of the Order of any veteran who's
military record and personal character ar
not above reproach, and we do not know
how that close scrutiny can more effectu
. ally be made than by this preliminary sur
vey by some competent comraae of the Orde
of the material out of which ii is proposes
to organize new Posts. More can be accom-
plished through personal visit of som
, official Of the Order who is thoroughly i'm
bued with its spirit and heartily in sympatl1
s with It's aims, than in any other way. III
' presence among a community of ex-soldier
heretofore unacquainted with the compos
ton and actual workings of the Order, anC
though possessed Of keen longing for tha
companionship which membership in th
Grand Army affords, without any clear ide
! of the mode of establishing or conducting
e Post, would inevitably kindle their enthr
siasln and quickly crystalline local sentimer
in favor Of establishing Post. We al
fully aware that in nearly every Departmel
at the present time the district and speci:
mastering officers have their hands full
work, but it is not necessary that the entil
burden Of this missionary work should
thrust upon them. It should be intruste
> TO the members of the Post which happier
TO be nearer TO the uncultivatei field, an
the Commander should make it speci
duty TO delegate some competent comrade
undertake the necessary missionary visi
/. In great many instances this course h
been already pursued with the most graf
flying results, and notably so in the Depar
J. ment Of Kansas, where counties in whic
Is there is a very numerous soldier populatio
], hut that less Than year ago could boast b.
~ a sfn0fe Post ara now blessed with five