The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-04-03
THE GRAND ARMY.
General Beaih'S Chicago Trip---NewS
From the Departments.
Special Correspondence National Tribune.

On Thursday night "a large number of repre-
sentative comrades met at the Grand Pacific
Hotel. where tbs General was stepping, and
after shaking hanas al around adjourned TO
The rlub room, where General Beath made n
stirring speech. reviewing the Order since its
organization, explaining the secret ofthe success
OF Eastern Posts. ana making some practical sug-
gcstio2s TO the Pests Of the West. de said that
the Order now has membership of 229.090
and Is increasing at a rate unprecedented,
especially IN the West where the field has not
been 50 fally worked as in the older States
The Chief cause Of this increase is that it hiss be-
come generally understood that the hane OF the
Order at lis iirsl inception, its prostitution to
political ends, has been thoroughly eradicated
by clauses in lis organic law, which make such
use impossible.
An adjournment was then had to an i'm
pToiGptn banquet at the Sherman House, to
which about seventy-fiye sat down. After
thorough discussion of the many dainty and
substantial articles with which the tables were
loaded, speeches were made 10y General Beath
aad Acknowledgement J. :. Bennett Depart
ment Of Illinois, Comrades +. ID. Lout, C. A.
hattes9a, w. s ScrihRsr and others.
On Friday evening the COmmander-in-Chie
attended the regular muster Of George III.
Thomas Post, no. 5. lie was accompanied by
Department Commander Swain Past Depart
ment Commanders Hilliard and Gould, and
Assistant Acknowledgement Bennett There
were also present delegations from other Posts
in the city. After the muster Of several re-
cruits and the transaction of regular business,
Past Department Commander Hiliiard was
presented with an elegant gold badge, which
had been ordered by the Department Encamp-
ment in January last The presentation was
made in feeling address by General II II.
Thomas. C0mrade billiard responded briefly,
expressing his thanks. General Hilliard IS
Il = - o.
Department and his unceasing and effective
lalors for It's building up and growth in useful
ness were deemed by the Encampment worthy
OF this testimonial After the presentation
General Beath made one of his stirring
speeches and was followed by Comrades Swain,
Gould. Aatteson. billiard, Bennett and others.
The evening wound up with 4 banquet in the
Post room and good time generally, which
old soldiers know so well how to create
The Commsnder-iR-Ch Chief has accepted an in
vitation from the Memorial Day and Executive
Committee Of the q. A. r., OF Kings county, n.
T., 70 attend Memorial Day services in Brook
lyn. I'm the evening he viii be the guest of
Post 81. Of that city.
The first annual Encampment of the DEPART
ment Of Dakota VIII be held at Sioux Falls,
on Wednesday and Thursday, April % and SO.
POLITICS N THE GRAND ARMY.
The following extract from circular issued
by The Commander Of the Department Of Cali
fornia is highly appropriate. now that we are
about entering upon an exciting national poiit-
ical contest. After referring 10 certain i'm
proper publications IN the daily papers. comp
ling the name CT the Grand Army with po-
litical organization, Commander Davis, says:
Tie Grand Army Of tie Union al the close OF
the rebellion LAID aside te implements OF war and
ocsetly disappeared isto tie innUmc-abe paths OF
civilization and peace il reappealed IA the Grand
~ gan
country, and s;ands to-day az the strongest expo-
nes q those principles for which i marched and
fought Slnetilied by FIRE asc made sacred ~ the
blood o. martyrs ca hundreds 81 battiehelds the
Grand Army o. the Republic sUEld lie 20 the r3eo-
pc the very embodiment of The spirit uf patriot
i ana 80 Ear above tire turbulent pool Of politics
tiisst any attempt 10 drag ii down should lie made
ssssBaliy unsuccessful: asid. further. the Grand
Army ~ the Republic. while Being strictly nom
poifticai !, % important degree, iFaiernal and
benevolent ia ~ operations, regardless Of party.
Icrese fsaiires q all creeds Of political faith be-
lng ia its ranks.
Decisions end Opinions Of the Commanders
in-Chjcf and Judge AdyOc4tes-fScn Of the
Grand Army OF the Republic % is tae title OF
book jCst Issued, AID which has been compiled
by COmracc James T. Cagnahan, Past Depart
meat Commander OF Indiana and late Judge
Advocate General. Ia addition 10 these decis-
ions and opinions are given the rules FOR gov
eEllment OF cOurts-naItial. The work is the
most complete Of the kind ever Issued. and
=. y. J..
the last National Eocampment Ii contains q
fGil index aud syllabus OF opinions, and with
snch decisions is given the article aud CHAPTER
OF isles and regulations that applies to It. A
copy Ol the book viii be sent free Of charge to
every Post ia the country through the respect
i've Department headquarters.
At the Encampment held at Lancaster, Feb
ruaIy 9th and 9Th. resolution was adopted
directing the commander OF the senior Pest OF
70 ascertain aud report the names Of all Union
soldiers Of the rebellion who have been or are
low inmates Of the poor OF almshonses Of said
cities and counties; and also, Of al who have
died while inmates Of such places and have
been buried ia pagpcr burial grounds. At the
same time, On suggestion Of COMMANDMENT
Chief Bcath. a committee was appointed 10 for
nuiate plan for establishing soldiers home
and take the necessary steps towards securing
u. General Orders, No. .. just issued from De-
partsseut Headquarters desi gnate the Post in
each county upoa whose commander viii de-
voive the daty Of furnishing the desired infor-
nation.
Ia accordance with the action Of the semi
annual LBcampment, at Gettysburg. August
~ l5p5, this Department viii so into camp
under canvas at BelieiOnte, Pa, during July
or August, 1so5. The date, rates of trans
porfa1i0n and other information viii be an
EOunced IN future orders
NEW POSTS
Sill tho good work Of Organizing new Posts
~ this Department is kept up. Orders have
been issued from Headquarters for the muster
Of Post No 5Za, 70 be located at Harmonsburgh
Crawford county, and 10. s25, at Mount Pleas
ant Carton c0anty. On April 7th the final
meeting viii be held by the veterans OF Hat
bor0. Montgomery county, and vicinity for
completing arrangements for forming Post at
that place. Already forty names have been
received and more are promised
Recruiting among ali the Posts Of this Ct tv is
being pushed with commemorate viger, musIers
Of new members and Teillstatenemts of old
ones occurring every night
Assistant Acknowledgement Thos. J. Stewart
has accepted an invitation 70 deliyer the Grafton
for Post On Memorial Day, and Rev Waldo
MessarOs, having rendered his services TO Post
~ on that Gay, his offer was thankfully &C.
copied. Rev. Mr. MessaHos, although young
and OF foreign birth, being native of Greece
Is Que OF our most eloquent diyines. and during
the short time he has been a resident Of this
city has Won a Weil-deseryed reputation for
unusual oraterial abilities.
The visit Of J. v Department Commander
Daniel Caldwell 70 Post g. Of Germantown. on
Thursday night last, WAS a very ENJOYABLE one
lie WAS accompanied BY Assistant Adiutaut-
General Stewart and Others OF the Department
stat, escorted by Commander Kane and dele
CATION Of Post -. After the regular business
OF tie evening short Campfire was held. Com
rade Caldwell presiding at which songs. adj
dresses and rectati0ng were given BIZ the
chairman, Assistant Acknowledgement Stewart
Comrades johnson, Of Post -: Kane. Of 10.
Thatcher of 100: C0rnet, of 63; Waterhouse. of
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