Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1888-09-09
THE ORDER AND ITS WORK.


The predictions OF those who have insisted
that the Grand Army OF toe Republic was
simply passing craze, or a. best mani
festation Of party activity and hence les
tined 10 a short Life, have not been verified
Notwithstanding some unpleasant occur
rences Of late years, whereby the reputation
OF the society has suffered, the order grows
stronger daily, tho u1embers grow more do
voted, and the soldiers who until now have
remained outside are leaning toward tho
camps ia friendly way on every opportu-
nifty. and new recruits are coming in by
thousands in every Department each year.
Tho order numbered at last encamp-
ment over $4,000 comrades 1t viii
muster nsarly 10000 now, and there ara
about twice that number Of veterans who
are eligible but are not nov on the rolla
OutsiderS-taat -, men who did not serve
arsfound wondering what the old soldiers
non have m common TO bind them together.
When tie answer is fraternity, charity. loy-
atty. tho mystery Is still unsolved The fra
tgrnal feeliag among veterans Is stronger
than among brethren bound by any other
tie, aud the reason Of II, rs explained by
comrades who sre also Masonic brethren Is
very natarsl At a great Grand Army gather
TIA EayStie haliing and recognition signs and
stated in the presence OF several comrades
who wero not Mssons that tho bond of com
radaship was the stronger Of tho two, even
among Iasons Of long standing As one ex-
pressed II, We love our Masonic brethren
for what they aro today. but NO love our
brethren Of tho Grand Army for what they
we're when It took very good man to be Q
cOmrada"
Tst the order IA not q meaningless frater-
nifty IN practical sense While Sentiment
enters largely Into the motives inpellinz Q
veteran 20 sex CUT his old courndes. be finds
after time that such association y helpful
There u . work that Old sokfisrs can do bee-
Ter than other members a the community
Tbs Dsstsr q political Intriguing % often
charged upon the orasr 10 90 that vouh not
is tolerated by We very natars u the asso-
ciation The rsaaoo Why tbs ehEgs Is made
10 that oonraxas. IN polittr. - n al Other
Affairs, at M concert, bat In tbeir fsyorS
they knsv no party ADD simply support the
soldier sisrseuf. The principle n that, oil
other things being equal, the soldier Shan
have prefsrsrscs 60 a cornradessupport This
support extsnds % social, political and busi-
ness affairs, and il no more subversivs Of
honest. independents ClbiLe1Sllp tCA3u ne sup
port given by members Of any secret fra
tsrnity or religious denomination 10 ons
another.
The personnel q the order improves eon-
stsntly. and the men who now conS.it1ts tbs
actual majority belong 70 the best elements
of society. A Cen sherman declared at a
reception given ~ a Grand Army po-f tn
New York city, "One feels Ike asking Grand
Army men - produce certificate that thsJ
sver wore the blue
Yet nous but true Union veterans can foin
the Grand Army. THIS latter statement.
While not official. il founded on Ehs fact IN
TIRE casa In crier - becovne = member q
candidate must provo an actual servics> and
81 strict has this rule been observed that
surae men uh0 foughs az Gettysburg
shcrt ssrvsc~ u1eul have been kept oszt. The
onvrisseu law q toe order has bean stronger
than ne -ristsn o0e. but in this respect ths
feeling grows u,crs libersl ss time goes o.
4, r,-<t sss.es any soldier bearing al bonor~