Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-05-12

Ing yearo on the 3OtR OF May a beautiful tribute
has been paid 20 the dead As flowers have been
placed on the graves, the deeds OF the fallen
soldiers OF the Union have been celebrated in
poetry and In eloquent periods. Wherever a
soldier lies buried there his comrades gather. In
this city and Its vicinity the remains OF thousands
OF soldiers are Inferred. Their comrades stin
living are here in great numbers, and so the cere-
monies OF Decoration Day have always been elabo-
rate. This year will be no exception 90 the rule.
The arrangements for the day are under the direc-
ton OF the Grand Army OF the Republic commit
tees from that body have been appointed and are
now engaged In arranging the details
COMMANDER LISCOLS's ORDER.
In the general orders issued by ChaS p. Lincoln,
COMMANDER OF the Department OF the Potomac,
S-vcting the observance Of the day, he Says "This
day Is our pledge, the pledge of the people, that
hone OF these, nor any VINO have gone on with the
advance OF the ever lengthenlng column OF our
sacred dead, shall sleep In a neglected grave. Me-
mortal Day comes not only TO remind US of our duty
10 the departed Dut gives us grateful occasion 10
express the unfaiing love which Is ever present In
our hearts, Commander Lincoln suggests that
the Clergy during the services In their various
churches ON sunday, May %, make special refer
ence 10 Memorial Day, and, wherever practicable,
posts are requested 10 attend such services In a
body, wearing tue G. A. X. uniform. The assist
ance OF teachers and pupils OF the schools and
others In supplying flowers, In the past, Is CRATE
fully acknOw lodged, and It's continuance earnestly
requested
THE COMMITTEES
Committees have been appointed as follows:
Executive eommittee-Chas. p. Lincoln, depart
nent commander, chairman: John Cameron,
assistant adjutant general secretary; Nathan b.
Prentice, assistant quartermaster general, treas
urer; Frank H. sprague; Benz. r. hawkes., A. IL
e. Richardson, Geo. l. Corson, ID. s. Alexander,
B9T1Jt Sew1on M BROOKS yeiorSe B1ISe
Newton Ferree, A. c. Paul, c. g. Bolinger, Fred.
Braekett, A. Hart. Thos. II Turnbul, Jas. L.
NcCaDe Frank Ii. Evans, John +. yinal Geo ii.
Boston, Jas II. Dudley, III. w. Herbert, Samuel
Baxter, VIM. NJ Potter, w. w. Eidridge, John p.
CHURCH, solomon Z Faunce. ThOsL Galloway, Chas.
l. Patten, Geo. j. p. Wood, JAS. III. Bradford,
Andrew j. Huntoon, Samuel A. Lewis, Henry y.
j. Goodman, HOratio n. Howard, Ii. Ii. Brewer,
"A. b. DinsrnOre.
ReeepIlon Committee-Department commander,
the Official stan, post commanders, and past de-
IaTtment commanders.
Finance cOmnittee-A. Hart, chairman; A. j.
HunIoon, A +. Dinsmore, A. c. Paul, Fred. Brack-
ett J. \. vinal, b. y. Hawkes. A. H. G. Richardson,
j IL Bradford, VIM Gibson, t. X Turnbull, j. r.
Cheech.
Decorations and grounds-NewtOn Ferree, G. ii.
Boston I. W. West, 4. X Turnbull. w. W.
Eldredge.
TranspOrtation-N. Brooks, chairman; s. A.
In charge OF exercises at the Soldiers Home-
II. y. Howard. AT Congressional cennetery-A. j.
HuntoOn- AT battle-ground cemetery-N b. Prem
tlce- AT Oak Hill eemetery-D. W. Houghton- AT
FL s s Sreek cemetery; Including Eoan 5G0
and H. y. Gassaway. Harmony eemetery-G. d.
Boston
THE GENERAL PROGRAM.
special feature OF the observance this year
Will be the effort to decorate the grave OF every
soldier or sailor In this vicinity, and to enable the
comrades TO do this the friends and relatives are
requested to give information TO the location OF
graves thai are perhaps unmarked and, therefore,
unknown. In all cases OF this kind brought To the
attention or the Department suitable monuments
Will be erected TO marx the graves.
AS usual the main services will be at Arlington.
The ceremonies at the soldiers Home and Congress
sional cemetery will be held In the morning, so as
70 give an opportunity Tor all TO reach Arlington
In time.
The Grand Army posts forming the procession
that will 90 TO Arlington Will be escorted as far as
the free bridge by the District militia their sery-
ices being rendered for this duty by Gen. Ordway.
The Marine Band will furnish the music, and the
Old Guard. Capt. Edgar commanding, viii be the
special escort for the veterans.
Col NJ. Emmett Urell has been appointed oficer
viii be guarded by Capt. Edgar's company. The
ID artillery band will be at the soldiers Home.
THE FiKsr MEMORIAL DAY EXERCISES.
Twenty years ago Cen John A. Logan, at that
time commander-in-ehief OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic, issued general order setting apart the
Both OF May as memorial day. The first services
were held In that year, and the observance thus
Inaugurated has been continued down TO the pres
ent time. In this order Gen. Logan said: 1.-THE
:,OIh day OF May, 1865, Is Designated for the pur-
pose OF strewng with flowers or otherwise decorate
Ing the graves OF comrades who died In defense OF
their country during the late rebellion, and whose
bodies now lie In almost every city, village and
hamlet church yard In the land In this observ-
ance no form OF ceremony Is prescribed, but posts
and comrades will In their own way arrange such
hitting services and testimonials Of respect cir
eumstanees may permit We are organized COM
among othsr things OF preserving and strengthen
Ing those kind and fraternal feelings which have
bound together the soldiers, sailors and marines
who united 10 suppress the late rebellion What
can aid more 10 assure this result than cherishing
tenderiy the memory OF our heroic dead, who made
their hearts barricade between our country and
Us foes7"
THE ORIGIN OF THE GRAND ARMY.
The custom thus inausurated by the Grand
Army in Its infancy has grown with It's growth
until memorial day or Decoration Day as t Is gen.
orally called. has become a recognized public holt
day, throughout the North at least. only two
years before TINS order was issued the first steps
were taken that led 70 the organization known as
the Grand Army or the Republic In March, 1866
number or ex-soldlers met with the late Dr. Ben
1smin y. stephenson In Springfield, Ill, where
Conferences previously In regard 10 the test fOIn
or organization 10 perpetuate the sentiment OF
while engaged In defense OF their country AT this
time, however, permanent organization was not
Perfected An obligation, however. was admins
Tered and the manuscript Of a ritual was read
DIR. stephenson had also been In correspondence
with soldiers in Decatur. and on April o, 1885, In
he went 70 Decatur and formally mus
tered IN ~Dunham Post" the nrst regular
members OF the order, but not formally oryanized
Into post, then completed the organization OF
Stephenson Post, No. 2. A month or two later a
meeting known as a departmental convention. now
Called an encanpment, was held at Springfield
Mal-Ceu- John NJ Palmer, then OF Carlinville
Ill, was elected department commander and Dr.
T. y. stephenson was recognized by resolution
and otherwise as founder OF the order and proyi-
siOnal ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Noerort had yet been
made, except by correspondence, 10 extend the
order 20 the Eastern soliiery and with the excep-
ton Of Wisconsin the new organization was mainly
confined 20 the state OF Illinois, It's Dirth-piace
II Is said that the movement was regarded with
suspicion In some quarters, ana IL was thought 20
D. an EFFORT 10 form an organization somewhat
similar 70 the Society OF the Cincinnati The same
charge was made, as In the OF the earl err So
ciety, that the tendency was 10 establish "a mill
tary aristocracy which some day might become
powerful enough 70 oyerturn the Constitution.
However, In spite OF Misrepresentation on the
part OF enemies and lack OF zeal on the part Of
friends the organization gradually gained ground
In september, 1855, the National SOldiers' and
Sailors convention met at Pittsburg Pa, and the
Grand Army was talked up among the delegates.
The RESULT was most favorable 10 the infant Or
ganZation. Prominent eastern soldiers were obi
gated, and the organization OF posts In Phil adel-
Hlla, Pittsourg and this city followed.
THE ORDER THIS CITY.
Post No. was organized IN this city October IL
1so6 The charter, which Is written and signed
by Dr. stephenson Is stil preserved, and Is care
f0ly framed and hung on the wall OF the post
room The names mentioned In the charter are as
follows; W. L. bramhall ii. A Hail. ID. - Curtis
wilson Miller, JAS 4. Smith, J. b. Royce, w. A
Porter, J. Id Doughty, T.. Twin Dudley ana Will
a short The order seemed 20 meet with favor In
this city, and when the rrst national encampmenI
was held AZ Indianapolis November 70 lst8 dele
gates nom this city were present, and there were
also representatives from ten states The humber