The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-02-28

Why, have heard frequently that there are as
many soldiers who are eligible to membership liv-
ing in Pennsylvania who not members of the
Grand Army there are members. / do not be-
eve that there 49, GOO soldiers in this State who
are not members, but it may be true, and as can
not prove otherwise at this writing, will not press
the point. But surprising that there are one-half
OF that number? just think for moment of 20
600 men living in our midst who do not join hands
with us now. Aside from this the Department of
Pennsylvania needs all the recruits it can get to
remain Tor another year the Banner Depart.
ment" OF the GA. 4. Ohio and Kansas want that
honor, want 1t badly, and unless the comrades of
this State realize the fact, and turn in and Sc
cure these 2OpoO recruits that are floating around,
they Will get 1T. The plan suggested by the now
Department Commander Stewart is given in his
own language:
" This is a subject of deep concern to the Grand
Army of the Republic. We cannot hope to have
every soldier in ranks, yet no good reason can
be given by them for not enjoying membership.
Many who are eligible to membership are so en-
crossed In business in the everyday affairs OF
life that they seldom think of the Grand Army;
yet, If some eomrade would call upon them and
their attention be called to it, their membership
could be secured. The officers OF Post, even
when anxious to do their full duty cannot do all
the work; every conrade should help, but how
much more Is the assistance of comrades neees-
sary where Post officers are careless. Many
recommendations have been made on this sub
ject, and ] renew / made two years ago.
Let each Post Commander appoint Recruiting
Committee, consisting of three comrades or up
wards, according to the size of the Post Have
every comrade OF the Post, knowing OF any person
eligible to membership, and not n member, hand
the name to the Recruiting Committee, let the COM
mlttee call upon the person in question, or II any
other comrade Of the Post would be more likely
to secure his application let that cOmrade be given
the name Let the committee be composed OF the
best and at the same time the active members OF
the Post-comrades who will attend every meet
ing. II the Grand Army would continue its good
work for the soldier its charities and its help 10
the unfortunate, and continue to reflect honor on
its membership it must be active, influential and
strong. In a few years 10 will decline rapidly.
Whatever of benefs or of gnnd is to eoras rom its
effort must be the result of work done now.h
g. e. Parker, Philipsburg: We have one of the
liveliest little Posts in the Department, and in
nection Circle, known as Phil Sheridan Circle,
No 10, Ladies of the G.. 4. r., who remind me in
spirit of the gallant little man whose name they
bear. They are always on deck when they can do
anything TO benefit the Post On last Thursday
night they secured the services of that bright little
star, Miss Lillian Burl<haTt of Pitsburg, known in
the Department of Pennsylvania as Comrade Phil,
and raised money enough TO send their Delegates
to the Encampment at Erie on the 18th and 18th
inst.
RHODE ISLAND
The 22d annual Encampment of this Department
was held at Providence Feb. 9. Among the dis
tingushed comrades present were Past Department
Commander John D. Billings of the Department
of Massachusetts, and Past National de-Camp
o. q. Hampton, of Detroit Department of Mieh1-
gan, who were received with proper honors at
Headquarters and by the delegates. Department
Commander Spencers address was an excellent
one, and was heartily applauded by the comrades
A letter was read by Acting Asst Adi'tGen. Philip
S. Chase, dated at Washington, d. c., Feb. T. 1885,
from Commander-in-C Chief Warner stating that
illness would prevent him from meeting his com
rades OF Rhode Island, as he had anticipated, but
that he hoped to meet with them in the near future
The report of Asst AdIt-Gen. E. Henry jerks
who was at brownsville, Ga. having gone South
Tor his health, showed that the number OF comrades
IN good standing Dec. 81, 1887, was 2,6ll. Gain
during the year by muster, 1885, by transfer, 81; by
reinstatement 40; total gain. $50. Loss during the
year by death, AZ; by transfer ~; by honorable
discharge, I6; by suspension l60; by dishonorable
discharge. 2; total loss. 267. Number in good
standing Dec. 81, 1888 2726 Net loss first quarter
ending March 81 IS. Net gain second quarter,
ending june so, 100 Net gain third quarter, end
ing Sept. 80, H. Net gain fourthiquarter, ending
Dec 81, 1888, 49, Loss S. gain, 100; net gain, 115.
The Assistant QuartermasteT-G Generals report
showed q balance on hand of S32l45 EXpendi-
lures, S4l9.9l. fetal receipts s7l436. According
to the report of the Department Inspector there
was expended for charity during the year, s. 1913
amount in relief fund, S2250.59; amount in Post
fund, SIS l76l5; amount of property belonging to
Is Posts, SS,007 II-six Posts not reporting. The
following resolutions were adopted
Resolved, That it is the consensus of this De-
partment, in convention assembled, that the time
has come when the State of Rhode Island should
take more decided and liberal steps for the of
the soldiers and sailors of the late war; and render
justice to those who left their peaceful vacations
to 1mperl their lives to save the country from dis
solution and prevent the elimination of single
star from the glorious emblem of liberty, the
American flag
Resolred, That a committee Of Eve, of which COM
mittee the Department Commander for the ensuing
year shall be Chairman, be appointed by the De-
p3rtment commander to influence Legislation by
all honorable means, and by all the Influence of
this Department with full authority TO act for the
Department in the matter and to bring to sue
cessful issue more liberal care of all soldiers and
sailors, with all widows and orphans of soldiers
and sailors who fought in the rebellion of lS6-1S65,
residents of this State. and if possible. to establish
q Soldiers Home within the boundaries of the
State for the especial care of those who have no
homes of their own.
RESOLVED, That said committee shall have power
to draw on the Department treasury for much
funds as will be necessary to tabulate material and
for printing the same to present in proper form to
the Joint Special Committee appointed by the Leg
islature for a hearing In this matter
The following officers were then elected: Com
mander, Alonzo Williams; Senior Vice Depart
ment Commander, Benjamin F. Davis; Junior Vice
Department Commander. i. Henry jerks; Medi-
cal Director, Charles o. Ballou; Chap. Rev. +. o.
Bartlett Council of Administration, George Ed
ward Allen, Post 10; Charles Cornell Post IA: Ben
II. Child, Post L Rev. B. II. Lane, Post s; William
| Hamilton, Post 5. Delegates, Patrick Eagan (ai
large Post l; II. p. Williams Post 8 A. d. Nick
| erson, Post IL; William A. Phillips Post TO- Alter.
nates J. Alonzo 3abcock lat large), Post 49, David
s. Ray, Post 90; Henry 8. Oiney, Post 10; Freder-
icEl a. Gay, Post l. The Department Commander
| appointed the following-named comrades his
staff: For Assistant Adjutant- General, George NJ
| Turner Post 10; Assistant Quartermaster-Ge General
David s. Ray, Post 20; Inspector, Carlos A. Hart
| Post 10; Judge Advocated General William A
Phillips, Post 10; Chief Mastering Officer, Alonzo
| e. Pierce Post II. The sum of S25 was voted To
| the retiring Commander to be appropriated for a
suitable testimonial to him, slight token of the
! appreciation of the members of the Encampmeni
for his untiring energy to promote the interest Of
| the Department during his term of office. In the
| evening the Department Commander, accompanied
by the Department officers, attended the reception
| of the WomRn's Relief Corps.
General Orders No. q issued at Providence Feb
! Is, by command of AlonZo Williams, Department
! COMMUNICATIONS M. Turner, Assistant Adu.
! nt-General, contain the following: At the De-
! partment Encampment held Feb. g. 1889 the fol
/ lowing-named officers elected Department
| Commander, Alonzo Williams Post No TO- 8. V
| c., Benjamin t. Davis, Post II; j. V c. e
! Henry jerks Post /; Medical Director Chas
| o. Balou, Post / Chap, e. o. Bartlett Pos
| /. Council of Observation-Disclosures Edward
Allen, Post 10; Charles Cornell, Post IA Benjamin
| H. Child, Post l. B. III. Lane Post s; William
| Hamilton, Post 5. The following staff appoint
ments are hereby announced, and they will ht
obeyed and respected accordingly: Assistant Adiu
tant- General, George NJ. Turner Post 10; Assistant
/ Quartermaster- General, David S. Ray, Post 20
| Inspector Carlos A. Hart, Post 10; Judge Advo
cate, William a. Phillips, Post 10; Chief MASTERING
Officer, AlonZo y. Pierce, Post II; Senior Abide
Camp, Theodore A. Perry, Postl. The following
named comrades were elected delegates and alter
mates to the 23d National Encampment: Delegate
lat large1, Patrick Egau, Postl; Henry p Williams
Post 9; Ansel ID. NieSerson, Post II: William A
Phillips Post TO- Alternates, ]. Aionzo Babcoek
Post Is; David S. Ray, Post20; Henry 5. Olney, Pos
Adjutant-G General Will be open for business from
to p m daily, with the exceptions of Wednesda,
and Saturday afternoons, these two days being Sc
apart for the meetings of the State Aid Commits
sioner. The address of the Assistant Adiutant
General is F. o. Box 67S, Providence, r. 1.
WISCONSIN,
The 23d annual Encampment of this Department
was held at Milwaukee, Feb 20 and 81 nearly SO
veterans being in attendance. Asst AditGen Z