, 1885-01-24

HNNNeA-AA' 80
HEADQUARTERS DEPr. W. @. AR.
Vancouver, Dec. 20, 1884.
Comrades Of the Grand Army OF
Washington territory:
The seasons for sowing and reap
ing have passed. Autumn has come
and gone, and cold blasts from the
north warn us that we are In the
midst Of winter. In the times Of
plowing and planting, Of reaping and
threshing, Of gathering and garner
ing, there was little leisure to devote
to the active work Of the Grand
Army. But the season Of leisure has
come. May l not ask you to devote
at least small portion Of this leisure
to duties connected with our noble
organizationP The object and pur-
poses Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public are 80 unselfish, so patriotic,
so humane, that every good citizen
should desire to give 1t encourage
ment, and advance its prosperity.
1t Is certain that no man who is en-
titled to become a member OF this
organization should be outside the
pale Of its benefits and privileges.
Membership in the Grand Army
cannot be purchased with gold nor
secured by influence. He only who
barred his brow TO the storm Of war
In the defense Of an imperiled eoun-
try can be enrolled among our mem
bers. IT would appear impossible
that any man entitled to such dis
tinctlon should not wish to avail
himself Of It. Not to do so would
seem to be almost tantamount to
fOreswearing ones birthright to an
honorable and distinguished name.
And yet there are thousands Of "old
soldiers" who are not members Of
the Grand Army. Why2 In most
instances It is because their attention
has not been directed to the subject.
In other instances this neglect has
arisen from a misconception of the
aims and purposes Of the order.
What are the aims and purposes Of
the Grand Army? Before stating
them let me dismiss with a single
word the charge sometimes made
that our organization is a political
one. Nothing could be farther from
the truth. Unless patriotism and
politics are synonymous terms, and
they certainly are not, the Grand
Army of the Republic has no con-
nection with politics. By a positive
rule OF the order 1t is forbidden to
discuss political subjects at our gath
erings, or to attempt in any manner
whatsoever to use the order to ac-
complish political ends. This Is too
well known to every member OF the
Grand Army to require OF me even
this simple statement But It is not
what we know, but what others
think, that renders this statement
necessary. Comrades, take advan-
tage Of all proper occasions to make
known to the world, and especially
to old soldiers who have not yet
Joined us, that the Grand Army OF
the Republic is in no way connected
with partisan politics, but is purely
a benevolent and patriotic organiza-
tiou.
l come to ask you what are the OBJ
iects and aims OF the Grand ArmyP
They are to foster and strengthen
kind and fraternal feelings between
the men who fought for the union In
the late civil war; to Perpetuate the
names and history Of comrades who
have preceded us to the grave; to
extend aid and comfort to comrades
in distress; to assist widows and or
phans Of deceased comrades; to fresh
en- and maintain tue allegiance to
our country; to dlscountenance any
thing and everything that might
weaken loyalty to the government
and constitution OF the United
States; and lastly, to give encourage
ment by speech to the spread Of lib
erty, equal rights and justice among
all men. These are the precepts Of
our order-these are the tenets Of
our profession as members Of the
Grand Army. Is there any Ameri-
can who will take exception to them?
These precepts and tenets are all
and find their source
power in our common christian
faith. l ask comrades to give the
widest publicity to them. In this
way many an old comrade not with
US to-day may be induced to Join US.
But let us not forget that our
whole duty is not performed when
we have brought a knowledge Of
our order and its purposes to com.
rades who have not yet Joined US.
This is but a small part of our duty.
We are to quicken and fortify our
own faith, and to strengthen our
own resolves, to be true and faithful
10 the objects and purposes of the
Grand Army. How shall we do
ihisP 1 answer, by being jealous In
The performance Of the charities en-
olned by our rules and regulations;
BY the interchange Of courtesies and
friendly visits between members Of
posts; by frequent social gatherings
In our halls, where there should BE-
absolute equality between members;
BY exchange Of rosters and orders
with neighboring organizations; by |
he most scrupulous attention to
at the funerals Of de- |
,eased comrades; by observing in an |
impressive manner our memorial |
iayi by any and all means indeed, |
through which private friendship