St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-07-20

I
~ sn9 Outside of the Hotels.
The "Globe, ''as Usual, Presenting the First
Complete Review of What is
| 47 500 and Is to BE.
1t was not until the smoke of battle had
| lifted from the land and comparative peace
bad been restored in the United States that
an organization of the Union soldiers of the
late war, for social purposes, was contem-
plated. After the surrender of Johnson, and
the general review at Washington, and the
| mastering out which followed, the soldiers
returned to their former trades and occupa-
lions, or sought new ones in their places.
The friendships which had been formed in
| camp and march, and the evident reluctance
OF all parties to break such ties, probably sug-
gested to few the possibility of such an
organization, though it is doubtful if a
national organization was ever dreamed OF
| until after the posts in certain states had be-
| come so numerous. 1t is far more probable
that the first organization was merely social
club of soldiers, who gathered at their meet
| ing to fight over the battles of the war.
THE FIRST POST ORGANIZED.
In the spring of 1896 DR.. B. F. Stephen
| son, of Illinois, organized the first Grand
| Army Post in the United States, at Dakota.
H., with a membership OF forty-three, all
| the Union soldiers in the village. The time
was ripe for his experiment, as there was a
strong feeling in the country, especially
among the soldiers, that something ought
| to be done to encourage the comradeship en-
| gendercd in camp, on the march, and at the
| bayonet's point and the lannon's mouth,
and to perpetuate the memories incident
| thereto. There was existing at the time a
society known as YThe Boys In Blue,'' which
was formed as a political organization, and
for that reason had not been altogether sue
eessful. Under these conditions DIR. Stephen
| son organized his post, having for it's object
| the social intercourse of all men who had
| fought in the war of the rebellion on the
| Union side, no matter what might be their
political principles.
sTATH ORGANIZATION.
Illinois sent nearly 10000 soldiers to the
war, and in no state, perhaps, could an Or
| ganization Of this character have been under
| taken with better prospects of success. The
success of this post was so great and its
| popularity spread SO rapidly that before six
months DR.. Stephenson, in response to in
vitations, organized over forty other posts in
| the state, each being distinct organization,
and controlling It's body by authority derived
from its own members. The need of GEN.
| trail organization and general regulations
was soon felt, and in June, 1866, it was de-
termined to hold convention at Springfield,
the capital of Illinois, of the posts of the
state. The convention met in July of the
same year. Gen. John NJ. Palmer was
elected grand commander, and DIR. Stephen
son was made provisional commander-in-
chief, with Col j. c. Weber as adiutant
general. The headquarters of the state or.
ganization was established at Springfield.
A NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.
In the meantime the fame and popularity
of the organization had rapidly spread, and
posts were promptly started in several adj
joining states. The growth of these post:
|
that on Oct 81, 1886, the provisional com.
mander in chief issued call for representa-
tives from the several states to form ma.
tional organization. This call was a genera
order, and was known as general order No
! 10. The convention was called for Nov. 20
1856, to meet at Indianapolis, Ind.
FIRST NATIONAL EScAMPMENT.
The meeting was success in every way
aud attracted much attention Posts from
Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Ken
| lucky, Missouri, New York, Ohio
Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and the
| District of Columbia were present. Gen.
John W. Palmer, Of Illinois, presided. anc
the encampment adopted plans for the or
ganization of posts, state departments. an(
a national cncampment, substantially as they
arc in force to-day. AT this meeting Gen
| s. A. Huribut was elected grand command
| er, and appointed as his adiutant genera
! Col. B. T. Stevenson, who had organized thC
first post in the country. At this time, som,
| ten months after the organization OF the frs
post, the movement was Attracting attention
throughout the country. A committee wa.
| appointed to draft bylaws and ritual fol
the proper government of the association
and when it was done the cabalistic letter,
of F.. G. and J.. were adopted. and tn,
Grand Army of the Republic as q nationa
organization became fixed factor.
PRINCIPLES OF THE ORGANIZATION.
Faith. charity and Loyalty were its car
| dinal virtues, and no man who had been
disloyal to his country or flag could enter
Honorably discharged soldiers and sailor
were the only ones who could be initiated in
TO the ranks. Among the bylaw
enacted at the last national encampmen
was one forbidding the use OF the organiza
ton for any partisan purpose. the discussion
of partisan questions at any of IFS meetings
and declaring that no nominations or politi
cal offices should be made.
SECOND NATIONAL EScAxPMEST.
The second national encampment met ii
council chambers, Philadelphia, January Is
Uses. The organization had continued it
phenomenal growth, and in addition to III
states which took part in the first encamp
ment, departments in the states of Maine
New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachus
etts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Ney
Jersey. Maryland, Delaware. Mich
igan, Minnesota, Tennessee and Louis
| lana were represented. At this meeting tn
ritual and regulations Of the organization
were revised, and the order natianslized b
establishing It's headquarters at Washington