Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1886-09-09
SOLDIERS DEPARTMENT.
THE GRAND ARMY.

THE GRAND ARMY.
| Aims and Objects of This Great Non-Po
Iitical Organization of Union Veterans.
The general public, it is believed,
have but vague ideas of what the Grand
Army of the Republic is. A general
idea is all that outsiders can have OF
any secret society. Most OF the secret
orders have come down through gene.
rations and have certain pomp and
display and brilliant uniform which they
exhibit to the public at spasmodic inter
walls. The public think it is something
grand and mysterious, and this passing
thought is all they give it. The Grand
Army is known to be something of re-
cent creation; banding together of old
soldiers for social purposes. 1t is but
few years since the public learned
that it was not political body. This
may have been an idea in its beginning,
but the architects of its beginning
builded better than they knew. 1t soon
outgrew the narrow, waddling bonds of
politics and put on the broader robes of
charity and fraternity. 1t has become,
zeal organization extant, its constitution
laying greater stress upon the oblitera-
ton OF party lines than upon any other
thing. and the bylaws of every post i'm
pose heavier penalties upon offenders in
this direction than for any other infrac-
ton of its rules.
AS early as 1869 the Grand Army in
national encampmentp put itself squarely
on rncnrG an tbIc Y,nint hy- tho fn1io,vir, ~
resolution unanimously and enthusiast
tically supported:
Resolved, That whatever suspicion of a po-
litcal nature may have heretofore attached
to the Grand Army of the Republic as to its
being political organization, we hereby de-
clare 1t above and independent of all partisan
feeling and action, ami actuated only by a de-
termination to SUSTAIN, to the fullest extent,
the principles so clearly defined in the rules
and regulations adopted by the National En-
campment, and embracing only the patriotic
duties enjoined by charity, fraternity and
loyalty to flag and country, including just
condemnation of that fell spirit of rebellion
which would have destroyed. not only the
country, but rooted liberty Itself out of the
land.
A subsequent National Encampment
declared that the Grand Army was '.in
no sense a political organization, and
any comrade who endeavors to use the
order as a political engine for any sell
to his comrades.
The order originated in 1866, at
Springfield, in this State, where four
meeting. The first formal organization
was at Decatur, April 6, 1866, and,
therefore, that city can claim the honor
of having the first post of the Grand
Army of the Republic. The first ritual
was written by DR.. Benjamin Stephen
son, formerly Surgeon of the Fourteenth
Illinois Infantry, and he mustered the
first three comrades besides himself at
Springfield in February, 1886. The or
der grew rapidly from its birth, and the
five Western States of Illinois, Wiscon-
sin, Indiana, Ohio and Missouri soon
had posts in all their principal towns.
There is not now Il State-if indeed
there be single county-in the Union
from which brave men went out to up
hold the flag, that has not these organ
lied gatherings of the ex-solders, meet
ing at regularly fortnighty intervals in
their halls to re-atfirm their devotion
to the Union, their adherence to trea-
son and oppression, and to maintain in
civil life those great principles for which
they stood in arms. The first resolutions
I'll !" Ii ttuo pdSScu tuC VI. IA. IL. COl-
tanned the above clauses, and also
pledged it to the crushing out of OPP
preston and the protection, liz the
race which, to man, had been the
friend of the Union, no matter Where or
under what circumstances they were
situated. The resolutions further de-
clared that mo man is worthy to be a
free citizen of a free country who is not
willing to bear arms IN its Defense
and this is yet very strong sentiment
with its members. They can not respect
the man who fought by proxy, or did
not fight at all, as they do those who
not knowing if on their return-if they
were so fortunate to return-they would
find themselves possessed of what they
them for acquiring a competence or
honorable position as were surrendered
by them when they enlisted for the
front.
The objects of the order can be de-
scribed in no more plain, unmistakable,
and forcible language than in the follow
ing, from it's constitution:
l. To preserve and strengthen those kind
and fraternal feelings which bind together
the soldiers, sailors and mariners whOgunited
to suppress the late rebellion, and to perpet-
uate the memory and history of the dead.
?. To assist such former comrades in arms
as need help and protection and to extend
necdful aid to the widows and orphans of
those who have fallen.
3. To maintain true allegiance to the United
States of America based upon a paramount
respect for and fidelity to the National Con-
stItution and laws, to discountenance what
ever tends to weaken loyalty, incites to in
surrectiOn, treason or rebellion, or in any
manner impairs the efficiency and perma-
age the spread of universal liberty, equal
rights and justice to all men.
Charity is its foundation cornerstone.
Its funds from dues, entertainments, and
from all other sources are religiously
used for the benefit of deserving and
disabled soldiers, whether members of
the order or not, and for the relief of
widows and orphans of soldiers. 1t has
no magnificence about its meeting
rooms, because it would draw from this
sacred fund to procure expensive trap
pings, regalias, insignia and furniture.
1t is as simple in its lodge-rooms as in
camp, procuring only what is necessary
for the work of the order and for other
necessities. If grand memorial halls
are built, it is done by grateful public
in honor of the services renderedathe
country by the soldier and sailor. 1t is
secret society only so far as secrecy is
necessary to prevent imposition and to
impart system and order to the work it
has to do. Its ritual is simple, earnest