The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-08-08
THEGRANDARMYIN INDIANA
The Rise and Fall Of the Order and Its
Recent Wonderful Growth.
Dver Two Million Dollars Disbursed by the
Organization in Relieving the Distress
Of Soldiers and Their Families.

The department of Indiana, G. A. r., was
originally organized on Nov. q, 1866. Unfortu-
nateiy for the perpetuity of the order, its man
agement in its infancy was in the hands OF certain
individuals who, having failed to hoist them
selves into position by Juggling at their own boot
straps conceived the brilliant idea OF inserting
The leverage OF this organization into the loops
TO accomplish that In which they had so signally
failed. 1t was even beyond the power Of the Grand
Army to accomplish, and the organization went
to pieces. leaving so little fctsam and jetsam,
from the wreck that in less than two years from
the original chartering there was probably not
most left of the hundreds which had been in ex
hstence all over the State, save, perhaps, that
Inow known as No. 8, at South Bend. which
never quite gave up the ghost, but operated
rather as local association than as body sub
ordinate to any grand jurisdiction. The cause
Iof the Departments death-attempting to use 1t
}as machine in the interests Of partisan poll
ltics-inured to the disadvantage of its immediate
rapid growth after its reorganization, Aug.
Ill, 1879, as those interested in its revival
could not assert that the attempt had not been
made at its inception to the organization in
the interest of individuals seeking political pre-
ferment, although the founders of the same had
never contemplated such use Of it's machinery.
This prejudice has been, however, so generally
overcome that all weli-informed comrades of the
date war; whether members of the G. A. r.
not, know that in no sense is it political parti
san organization, and that, in fact the discus
sion of political questions is absolutely prohib
fted in post rooms, and that, as an organization
1t cannot be used In the furtherance of any polit
Zeal scheme or personal interest That General
Slocum and General Logan, or General Manson
and General Foster are members, needs only to
be cited to conclusvely prove its non-partisan
character. 1t is. in fact, purely social and char
4table in its aims and objects, as set forth in
ARTICLE of the governing rules and regulations.
1. To preserve and strengthen those kind and fra
terna feelings which bind together the soldiers sail
ors and arnes who united to suppress the late rebel
on and to perpetuate the memory and history of the
2. To assist such former rades in need
help ard protection and to extend needfu aid to the
widows and orphans of those who have fallen.
8. To maintain true allegiance to the United States
OF America based upon param cunt respect for and
fidelity to its Constitution and laws to dscounenance
whatever tends to weaken loyalty incies to insurrec
Non, treason rebellion or In any manner impairs
the efficiency and permanency of free Institutions
and to encourage the spread of universal liberty equal
rights and justice to all men.
Eligibility to memberships defined as follows:
SOLDIERS and sailors of the United States army,
navy marine corps, who served in the sup
preston OF the Rebellion, and those having been
n0nOraply ulScnaFS6u JHefeIr0m dILor sucn SerV-
Ice, shall be eligible to membership in the Grand
Army of the Republic; and no person shall be
eligible to membership who has at any time
borne arms against the United States" It will
be seen, therefore. that certificate of member
ship in the G. A. X. ought, at least, to be guar
antee Of good citizenship In any event man
cannot be good member of the order and bad
citizen.
Before the reorganization of the order in 1879
as a department. several posts had been char
tered working under the jurisdiction of the De-
partment of Illinois. John B. Hager was
elected as the first department commander.
Owing to the prejudices above referred to, the
growth during his administration. and that fol-
lowing, of 8. e. Armstrong, was slow, showing
but twentyfour posts at the expiration of the
issters term & service It Was h0woysr
part of these officers. Commander Armstrong
was succeeded by the election of w. W. Dudley,
during whose term the organization more than
doubled, and was placed on firm financial
foundation, since when its growth has been al
most phenomenal the department now number
ing over four hundred and seventy posts. Dud-
ley was succeeded by James r. Carnahan,
who was reelected, holding the Office
of department. commander for two
terms, being succeeded by Edwin
Moor, during whose administration fully one
hundred subordinate organizations added
10 the State department. Moor was succeeded
by D. N. Foster, and he by the present
incumbent, 7, w. Bennett, since whose installa-
tion the growth of the organization has nearly
eQualed that OF any similar length of time since
Hager led it out of the valley of Jehosaphat,
into which it had been inveiged by penny poll
tieians; and the department. stands to day the
peer OF any in the grand jurisdiction, perhaps
being the best provided for as to finances With
che exception Of last year, the executive head
quarters have been at indianapolis, in the hands
Of Assistant Adjutant general Ben d. House
All department encampmcnts have been held
here since the election of w. w. Dudley, man
ifestly wise and fair arrangement for the mem
bership at large, owing to the central location of
the State capital
More fortunate than many departments there
has been no misunderstanding in money matters
from the foundation of the order to the present
xnony Of work. The growth of the order has
aot been attributable to any one man, bat to its
own impetus, the efforts of those in Office being
only apparent to marked degree. by the con-
servation of the work by the private comrade,
each individual acting as recruiting officer and
each post as missionary station in the good
work
That the Grand Army of the Republic is more
than rehabilitation of old memories is apparent
TO non-members. from the fact that since its or
ganzation over 50, 600 900 have been disbursed in
charity, or In aid of needy comrades and their
families. 1t is not by any means a close cor
poration in the matter of relieving distress and
no worthy soldier seeks aid in vain whether
member of the order not In the nature OF
things 1t is doomed to a short existence owing
60 the restriction of class in regard to member
ship, but when it has had its day, and its last
member is mustered out, it will not, from the
showing made above have existed in vain
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A STRANGE BEGGAR.