The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-11-08
THE GRAND ARMY.
General Beath'S Visit to the Capital
Department News.
{. Special Correspondents National Tribune.

Special Correspondence National Tribune.
PHILADELPHIA, Nov.6 1888.
The Commauder-in Chief, accompanied by
Adiutant-Ge Nanderslice, made a flying
trip to Washington on Friday. They were
net by q committee of the Department OF the
Potomac. headed by Comrade Fred Mack,
Senior Vice Department Commander. During
their stay they were the especial guests of Mr..
and Mrs c. Z. Royce, and with them visited
Arlington Cemetery on Saturday. In the
evening the distinguished visitors were enter
tanned at a fine banquet, set out in elegant
style in the parlors of the Arlington House.
Alter enjoying the many good things with
which the tables were bOuntfully provided,
short speeches were made by the Commander
in-CEief, Acknowledgement Nanderslice, Com
rade w. ~. Dudley, Commissioner Of Pensions;
COmrade Mack. Senior Vice Commander of the
Department of the Potomac, and Comrades
Alexander Dingman, and Taylor, ali Of that
Department. AT a late hour the comrades
separated, mutually pleased with the visit
which is TO be followed later in the year by an
official visit to the Posts in the Department Of
the Potomac Comrades Beath and Wander
slice returned home on Sunday evening
Two more Posts are about to be added to the
roster Of this Department, orders having been
issued isst week for the muster Of Post No 1872,
10 be located at Nicholson, Wyoming county,
and No 1913, at Baskerville Dauphin county
The application for charter of the former is
signed by thirty-eight eligible persons, which
is more than The usual numbEr. 1t is rule
adopted by the Council ef Administration that
10 charter VIII be Issued unless the application
is signed by tT-eTty-fNe or more names. VII
Transport now has shree Posts in good working
order, TWO new ones having been mustered last
week, one OF which is colored. In each case
the mastering officer was Aid-de-Camp a. III.
Stead, p. =. c., Reno Post, No. Ga, located at
the same place. On both occasions he was as
sisted by 3 large delegation Of comrades of No.
81 who SLED al the positions creditably, even
70 the four guards. The following are the
Posts referred to:
Colonel S. d. Barrows Post, No. 355, was
mustered on Tuesday evening, October 3Gth.
The officers who were installed the same even
ing by Comrade William 4. Sprague, of No. 6z,
are: Commander, John w. Hall; s. V. c., L.
A kellogg; J. V c.. II. II. Caldwell; Adj't, E.
C. johnson; G. n, NJ L. Strine; Chaplain, J.
n Furmsn; o. D., ". Il. Simpson; o. G., John
Sp0tfs. The positions Of Surgeon, S. NJ, and
Q. n. S. are as yet vacant. The regular mus
tiers viii be held on the first and third Tuesday
evenings In each month.
General Kinks Post, No 800 fcolored.l was
mustered on Monday evening October 2, with
the following officers: Commander, 5. c. Col
Inns; S V. c., Thos. T. Norton; J. V. c., Geo.
". Watson; Adj't, David c. Fisher; Q. NJ,
Geo. W. Haean Surg, Joseph Croft: Chaplain,
Patrick LarEins: o. D., Peter Green; o. G.,
Joseph Barber; S. n. Richard Batler; @. IL s.,
Joseph Mellix. Immediately after the muster
these officers were installed BY Comrade 6 NJ
Smith, Commander Of Post Cox The Post
VIII meet on Monday nights, but how often IN
each month has not yet been decided
STRENGTH OF THE DEPARTMENT.
OF the sixty-seven counties composing the
State Of Pennsylvania, sixty-fve now have
Posts Of the Grand Army within their borders,
the two exceptions being Pike county in the
extreme northeastern corner Of the State and
Fulton county on the southern border. The
only large towns having no Posts are Neon
nelsburg IN Fulton county, Mechanicsburg
and MELVILLE IN Cumberland county, MERGERS
burg IN Franklin county, and Iittletown in
ADAMS county. Efforts are now being made to
organize Post at Aechanicsburg. and there is
q strong probability Of success. OF course.
Philadelphia leads the list In number as well
rs discipline and all that pertains to Grand
Army work, there being within its limits
tbirty-tour Posts, with an aggregate member
ship. in good standing, Of 5000. With proper
exerti0n on the part Of the Order, the number,
ythe close OF another year, would be increased
10 IT least 10000. Next come PIttsburg and
Allegheny county with tWenty-eight Posts,
while the other counties range from fifteen
Posts down 10 one each. Among the best In
the interior Of the State Is DR.. Geo. /. Potter
Post No POI, located at Milesburg, Centre
county. Organized July i, lsS2, with twenty
nine charter members, 1t now has eighty-nine
comrades u good standing on the rolls, t@e Of
whom wers added al the last muster, while
fourteen applications are on hand awaiting
action 1t was the first Post in Central Penn
fvlvania to make use Of the sciopticon in the
nEster-in ceremonies, ana has a comfortably
furnished Post Te9ln conveniently situated.
Connected with the Post is Camp No. II,
Sons Of Veterans, and Woman's Relief
Corps under tie National organization, which.
shout f0nr times q year. accompany the
Post 70 some Of the churches IN the vicinity
70 attend service. The Post also own a large
circus tent which is used for festivals, Camp
fires and other occasions where the Post room
cannot properly be used This Post has for its
Commander Austin Curtin, one Of the most
enthusiastic and Woodworking comrades in
This O. any other Department. So earnest and
active have been his efforts IL organizing Posts
Snd pushing forward the good work BY every
means IN bis power, that he was cOmplimented
IN General Orders from National Headquarters
last summer.
Post 70 s., located at Bellfonte, Centre
county, Pa is the largest Ia the county, and a
good Post il is. too. So is Post No 80 OF Phila-
celphia- the Oldest IN the county, and a ver.v
live one. There is s prospect for the organize
ton Of two more Posts az suitable places In the
county.
THREE NOTABLE EVENTS
The three notable events during the week
among the Posts in this city, were tie delight
fni concert OF Post No /, the rousing Campfire
Of Post Z, and the very enjoyable entertain
ulent and supper Of Post u. As noticed ia a
former communication Post No. had IN con-
tenn, iation the throwing open Of its new rooms
for the Inspection Of the wives and lady friends
Of the comrades. and al Halow Fen was the
time selected THIS was the first occasion OF
the kind since the Post has occupied the pres
ent quarters, and was really delightful affair.
Tic entertainmeat committee very wisely re-
Trained igoE any attempt at extra decoration.
for any such would only have marred the al
ready beautiful effect produced by the many
valuable paintings engrayings, relics, &C.
which adorn the walls, SO that, with the ex-
ceptlOn Of baskets Of choice fragrant cut-tiowers
o. the altar and Commanders pedestal. the
Post room was just as il is on ordinary occas-
,cDs. II is needless 10 say that there was a
large attendance, for SO popular is this Post and
50 high a reputation have their social gather.
sngs attained, that II is simply necessary Il
announce such an affair. g. bring the ladiesoui
en- masse On this occasion a carefully ar.
reyeed programme Of choice musical selections
Eas given by q fine orchestra, under the leads