The National tribune., 1885-06-25
THE NATIONAL CHAPLAIN.
Increasing Mortality Among Members Of the
Order.
OFFICE OF CHAPLAIN-Iy-CH CHIEF,
L.. oe

OFFICE OF CHAPLAIN-IE-CHIEF,
w. W. ALcoRN, Adjutant- General.
CoMRApE: have the honor to submit to the Ma
tionai kncalnpment the following report as Chap
The duties Of this Office not very clearly de-
fined in the Rnles and Regulations. but far as
have understood them, they have been made
known to me- have eudeavored faithfully to per-
form them. l have delivered large number of
addresses and discourses on various occasions,
more especially IN the Departments of Michigan and
Indiana, and also in the Departments of Nebraska a.
Kansas and Missouri. Last Sunday, by invitation
of those ia charge of the arrangements for this En-
canpineHt. 1 preached a sermon in the First Bap-
tit Church in Portland Me-, before large as~eu-
bly, of L. Posts and officers and representatives
of the varioGs Departments
have maintained an extensive correspondence Oh
subjects relating to the general welfare of the Order
and, so far as other necessary engagements would
permit, have tried TO respond to every call of duty
pertaining the office which ! have the honor to
hold. On examining the published proceedings of
the varousStSte Departments especially the reports
of Department Chapains and the statistics furnished
by the Assistant Adjutaut-Generals the fact is es-
tablished that the death among our cofnrade,
Is rapidly increasing. In the natural course Of
events this il not surprising thing, bat something
to he expected. IL Is score Of years since laid
down arms at the close of the war. The elias
tcily of youth Is gone. The nfrmities OF age are
creeping on in too many cases prenatureiy be-
cause of the effect of wounds disease contracted
while in active service, and so we must expect that
hencelort our ranks will toe rapidly reduced until
the defenders Of the Union will live only in the Sons
OF Veterans.
And 1t not alone rom the rank ana nc That
many passing away. Many of those who led
us through conflict TO victory have bowed to tho
mandate of death.
Even the hoIsored name we have always greeted
with acciarnaton aud applause we have been men,
tioning with subdued voice, ns with bate breath
we have waited TO see him who never surrendered
to mortal foe yield obedience To the last enemy
With thankful hearts rejoice that he is yet with
us and let pray that the day be far distant when
u. s. Grant, the Nations hero shall be counted
among the dead The rapid growth of public sent-
inent in favor of Memorial Day, and the general
participation of ali classes in The Observance of the
day have set apart to the memory of fallen
comrades, il indication that the popular heart is
with us in this special feature of our organization
As we who yet survive called away go
down TO our graves confident that they will not be
left unmarked and unuotced our deeds be for
gotten.
We are members of an organization feeble in its
beginning. but powerful to-day. not only in the
| strength and dignity of numbers but also in char
acter and influence and in ability to mold public
sentiment and direct il 10 appreciation OF the
wants and rights of tho citizen who a soldier
when our imperiled country needed soldiers.
May the God of Nations. who led us through peril
times and gave ns the victory, now give wis.,
dom to our de,riy-bought privileges To be
able to promote the highest good and greatest pros
perity not of section, but of the whole country |;
not Of party. but of all the people.
Respectfully submitted, in f., G. and L..
r. NJ. SHAEAFELr.
Chaplain-in- Chief.