The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-10-23
"NOT A SECRET SOCIETY,"
The Work and Principles of the Grand Army.

To THE EDITOR: In your issue Of the I'd
inst / see an article headed Not Secret
Society" In the various Posts which / have
mustered, as we'll as in public installations,
have seen fit to make a short explanation
touching upon the secrecy and cause of the
GAR. The first / felt necessary by frequent
questions from undecided recruits; the second
that the hearers during public installations,
composed mostly of relatives of comrades, might
the better appreciate the ceremony and at the
same time help to increase the Order in the
future by removing doubts without the least
exposition. Permit me to give you review of
the following. as used during the muster of
Post 474 at Washington, H., Aug. Is, remem-
bering that during installation or mastering
use words appropriate for either:
Our secrets are such that we can readily
make use of our rules laid down in books even
for public installation. Whatever a few papers
may say in regard to our secrets and its in
furious influence received by us through a
dreadful oath and a stringent Obligation
and what not every member Of oar organza-
ton knows it to be q falsehood, an in
territorial SANDER, coupled with jealousy,
of cause, better than theirs, of which they
know nothing. and the honors of which they
would gladly share could they belong, in some
cases had not their cowariice kept them at
home during the war, or, in case of former
membership, had they not been rejected or
expelled for conduct injurious to the Order.
Even the principles of Notwithstanding
against secrecy-in most cases sanction it, and
it is hoped and believed that those who do not
will, after the prin0 pies of our Society are bet
ter understood, not prevent those entitled from
joining US. We are today as much secret
organization as we were rs soldiers during the
war. 1t was necessary then to enforce laws,
the violation of which was even punishable
with death There were signs and counter
signs, secrets strictly guarded for the expos-
ton of which might prove fatal to whole
army. In one sense we might be called secret
society. Every family is or should be such.
What would our organization be without its
rules and regulations to govern it, and its laws
of recognition to its members as well as for the
exclusion Of impo:ters?
What is it for? is otter asked need
but to allude to few of its main objects: For
the preservation of its national integrity and
unity and to assist all worthy and distressed
soldiers of our late war; also the widows and
orphans of our late comrades in arms Stats
tics show that thousands of dollars are annually
expended for this purpose by Posts and by the
Ladies' Auxiliary Societies OF the GA r. or
the Relief Corps, which are all gaining growth
OF membership as astonishing and unprece-
dcnted rs that of new Posts aud new members,
while the Sons of Veterans are rapidly follow
ing our footsteps, and will no doubt in due
time take entire possession.
Politics are not recognized by our Order,
and are strictly forbidden in connection with
it. true comrade will grasp the hand Of an
other, regardless of political opinion.
. In short, it is a society formed of honorably-
discharged soldiers of our late war on the
Union side Within this Brotherhood only
those can enter whose unsullied record of a
soldier life proves them the deadly enemies of
treason. "A. III. MUNDT, S. M. O., Co. A, 1lth
ffnr, Is,,.. 1~.