The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-22
An Important question Answered.


whether he ought to join it or not, writes |
US, inquiring what benefit it will be to him |
to become member of the Order, and, in
asmueh as there are doubtless many others |
who have that question on their lips we
will endeayor to answer it here plainly
frankly, and once and for ALL
What viii the Grand army do for those |
Of our ex-soldiers who have not as yet
sought membership in it? We answer
1. 1t viii bind together the boys who
wore the blue in fraternal union, and con-
tribute to their happiness and social enjoy
ment. 2 It viii render substantial aid to
poor, dependent, crippled, and diseased COM
rades and their families, and care for desti-
tute widows and orphans. 8. 1t will take
from paupers home every man who wore
the blue. 4. It win aid in procuring en-
ployment for those who have strength to earn
their own livelihood, and of its own ample
means suecor the helpless. 5. It viii insure
decent burial and an honored grave to every
comrade who falls by the way. s. It will
stand by the soldier without regard TO re-
Ggion, nationality or party, and promote,
by the exemplifcation of its three cardinal
principles, Fraternity, Charity, and Loyalty,
the interests of the soldier and the country.
The Grand Army is not mere name, but
living, vital force, reaching to the farthest
limits of the land, and permeating every
community. Not to be member of ii, so far
as asoldier is concerned, is not TO know what
home is. There ought to be Post of the
Grand Army in every city, town, and village Of
the country where there are enough ex-sol-
diers to sustain one, and The TRIBUNEwill be
happy to furnish blank application for char
ter to any honorably discharged ex-soldier
who is SO unfortunate as to reside in place
to which the friendly arms of the Grand
Army have not yet been outstretched. The
following, which we take from the admira-
Bile circular of instructions, issued by As
sistant Adjutant-General Bennett, of the
Department of Illinois, are the chief points
to be borne in mind in organizing new
Posts of the Grand Army:
If you desire to organize Grand Army Post,
canvass the situation, and determine whether you
have sufficient number of active. Intelligent vet
eran soldiers in your neighborhood 10 make it
success. If not, there is little in organizing.
for lack of interest ability to collect sufficient
dues for running expenses would speedily cause
| failure.
Be careful to select persons to take the initiatory
steps who unobjectionable so far social and
| political matters concerned. The political
party to which they may belong makes little diff
| ference, but it must not look though the
made for political purposes, if the Post Is to
succeed. This petition should be signed by at least
ten ex-soldiers sailors eligible membership in
the Grand Army. The test Of eligibility Is an hon
orable discharge from the service of the United
| States between April II. 1861, and April O 1865.
| Soldiers belonging to State regiments, in active
service under the orders of United States general
| officers, are also eligible.
| When preparing the petition. it would be well to
collect from each sgner such sum may be thought
sufficient to meet the expenses of organization and
/ procure place for meeting. One dollar is the
smallest sum which may be received.
/ Whenthe petition is prepared send it with charter
fee (sl0 and such additional amount varying, ae-
cording to the various Department requirements,
from So to so for supplies may be stated the
1 application for charter, to THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE,
which will see that the proper authorities receive
t, and that the necessary arrangements for muster
made This will be the total expense of organi
zation, except the local expenses, which can best
be judged of on the spot. The practice has been to
pay the local expenses of the mastering officer.
Select some person TO correspond in regard to
time of muster and when the time is set. that
all applicants are notified. At least ten should be
| present for muster-in.
Blanks will be forwarded for name and record of
applicants which may be filed out before the night
/ of muster, to save time ON that occasion.
Upon the night of muster it will be necessary to
elect officers. The officers of Post are: Com
mander, Senior and Junior Vice Commanders,
Chaplain Surgeon Officer Of the Day Officer of the
Guard. Quartermaster. Adjutant, Sergeant Major,
observation-disclosures. The Adutant Is ap-
pointed by the Commander and the Sergeant
| Major and OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES also ap-
pointed by the Commander upon the recommends
ton of the Adjutant and Quartermaster respect
| lively.
The duties of these officers follows: The
Commander presides at the Post meetings, and in
his absence the S. " c. and J. V. O. take his place
in the order of their rank; the Chaplain's duties
indicated tltet the Aulutant Keeps Inc
records of the Post, and makes quarterly report
to Department Headquarters through the Com
mander; the Quartermaster keeps the funds oil
the Post, and also makes quarterly report to
Department Headquarters through the Com
mander forwarding Herewith the per capita tax
due from Posts to Department Headquarters.
/
DURING the past week we have received
the following additional subscriptions to the
"Steedman fund"
W. G. Ogden, Washington, Kan. so .
w H. Webb, Elk Fails, Kan.....-.............. %
Friend Port Severn Ontario, Csnada..... ] CO
War Relief Corps, Canton, Ohio............... o.
L. M. Kimba1 Kentville, Nova Scotia..-,.... l %
G. L. Dewey, Hawk Eye, Iowa.. 4G
Member Co. /, Goth Connecticut Great Bar
rington, Mass. %
Total 20
Previously acknowledged. SO rs
Total to date................. 81 60
| CeMRADE HENRY GUCKERT, Marietta
Ohio, writes us that Buell. Post, No. IT'S, oil
that place, has appointed a committee, con-
sisting of himself and Comrades a. S. Hall
/ ard u Miller to oaIieft an hscri N tiora IN