Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1885-06-25
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
Progress of She National EncamPment
at Portland. Me.

PORTLAND, June 24-The streets are
crowded to-day again with 100000 visit
ors. Everywhere the uniform of the
Grand Army is conspicuous. At the
great encampment the veterans have set
tied down into comfortable eamp-lilc.
Good order and good nature preva.
everywhere. The secret executive ses-
sion of the National Encampment began
at IL o'clock this morning in the City
Hall, with full attendance of delegates.
Alter calling the Encampment to order
the COMMUNICATIVE chief proceeded to
deliver his annual address He said that
four years ago there was membership
of nearly 10000. On March 30, 1885,
thirty eight departments repnrted 1925
posts and 269,6 s4 members, while the re-
ports of the acknowledgment shows the
membership to be 2S7 ,637. The number
of 54,292 reported by the adiutant-gen-
eral as suspended during the year is due
in great measure to the negligence and
inefhciency of post officers.
Our finances" the commander-in-
chief continued, ARE in excellent condi-
ton. We have on hand cash balance
Of SIS, 124 The question having been
raised as to whether the late comrade.
DIR. b. L. Stevenson, of Springfield, ILL.,,
was ICdlll lLC nIcl nOhCI III NllC OiEdlll-
zation of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, it is deemed but simple justice to his
memory, as well as to his family and
ords confer upon him that very great
honor. During the past eleven months
there have been issued 5000 badges, at a
profit OF 5000. l heartily indorse the
organization known as the Veterans
Rights Union, the object of which is to
secure to our comrades their rights and
privileges, under the revised statutes Of
the United States. The union urges, as
it rightfully may and ought, that when
the other qualifications are equal the sol
der should be preferred because he was
soldier. | am opposed to the per-
petuation of the Grand Army, be-
lieving that the mission of our
great comradeship will have been
fulfilled when the last comrade has
joined the final muster out. Knowing
that there is nothing in the Grand Army
OF the Republic inconsistent with the
most exacting personal duty or the strict
est religion, | deemed it for the interest
OF the order to appoint speciul commit
tee to lay its nature and It's workings be-
fore the Catholic authorities of the
United States that they might know our
organization has nothing to conceal, and
that our purposes are commended by ell
who understand them. The committee
reported having fulfilled its mission, that
assurances had been given by Archbish-
ops Ryan and Gibbons that nothing could
be found in the aims of the Grand Army
to prevent any Catholic from becoming a
member"
The commander n-chief deprecated
participation in politics as an organi-
zation, and urgently advocated the
Mexican pension bill and bill to grant
disabled soldiers pension from the date
of disability. He also urged that dec
Grafton day be not desecrated by devotion
to recreation and pleasure.
The Woman's Relief Corps now has
twenty-five permanent and three provis-
ional departments with subordinate corps
in nearly all the States where the Grand
Army exists. The resolutions of sympa-
thy with Gen. Grant were adopted by a
unanimous rising vote, amid great cheer
ing.
Remarks were made by several com
rades eulogistic of the sick soldier at
Mount McGregor, after which the usual
committees were appointed and various