Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1889-01-19
COMMANDER GREER's INAUGURAL

COMRADES OF LINCOLN PosT No. 1, G.
A. R.-Standing within the shadows of
the old year, and with the bright. and let
Us hope, joyous and prosperous New
Year Just dawning upon us,-I rise to
address you few words of admonition.
encouragement and friendship. One
year ago you honored me with electing
me to the position of Commander of this
Post, and in my humble way tried to
discharge its duties with fdeli y and i'm
partiality. Within the compass of the
past year, much has been done. Some
things also have been neglected. Hastily
CHANGING over the records of the year.
recall numerous points of interest in
some of which | deem it my duty to al
Jude to in the beginning of my remarks.
Our relief fund has proved blessing in
no small degree, bringing aid when most
needed, and alternating many small, but
pressing wants. We have paid out
through this channel $105.75. In every
instance this has been judiciously APP
piled. The steady increase in our mem
bership has been cause for mutual con-
CALCULATIONS. Our reports to the Depart
ment have been made out promptly, and
our tax has also been regularly paid, so
that no debt encumbers us at the begin
ming of the New Year. Headstones have
been ordered and the names of all known
Union dead in this county, are on file in
@. M.Genl's office at Washington. D. G.
Information has reached the Adjutant
from the aforesaid @. NJ. Genl that as
soon as the appropriation is made by
Congress, the headstones will be forth
coming. So the slumbering comrades of
our soldier days shall have their identity
made known to the affection and love of
the American citizen and his soldier
brothers,
Let me urge upon you the duty and
concern of again organizing our camp of
Sons of Veterans. These young veterans
are to keep in hallowed memory this or
ganization. to continue and perpetuate its
work and noble purposes. To neglect the
Reorganization of the camp would be to
reflect discredit upon ourselves During
the past year we have had many oppor-
tunities to revive old scenes and memo
ries, to renew old friendships and form
new acquaintances amongst other Posts.
Who will soon forget the incidents and
recitals of the Chambersburg Reunion,
with its camp fires, exchanging of we'll
wishes. its tears and renewed devotion to
the grand old $ Stars and Stripes" AT
as never before, the make up and power
of our membership. Governors, Sena-
tors and Congressman, once Boys in
Blue " IN action, mingled together, reviv-
ed old memories of service and grew
happy in the presence of SO many of the
old comrades and friends. We now have
deeper insight into the organization,
the cords of sy mpathy are entwined more
tightly around our hearts, We realize
that though the bloody trail of war has
been obliterated and in its place grows
the sweeter flowers of peace and prosper
ity. yet the cause for which we fought
and won the victory was just and no.
BILE one. We feel strengthened. for in
these Reunions we found strength and
patriotism. Comrades. am reminded,
that during the year, that death has in
vaded our ranks, and the we'll known
forms of Comrades Robt. Woods and
Col p. Egan, are missed from our Coun-
ellis and assemblies. Death looked them
in the face on many CORY battlefield,
but they quailed not, and when he came
in the quiet of home and peace. f" they
drew their drapery of their couches
around them, and laid down to peaceful
slumbers." Gone from our midst, but
ever remembered in our hearts; gone
from Post No. j, but registered in the
post eternal. We miss their happy dis
positions. bright faces and warm affec-
tions. Soft be their sleep,
ION fame's eternal camping ground,
Their silent tents are spread.
And glory guards with solemn tread,
The bivouac of the dead.
We must learn in life that Joy and sor-
row go hand in hand, that vile sun
beams dance DER smiling landscape
somewhere and some time. the shadows
OF storm and tempest, blot out their gol-
den radiance.
Who will be called next, some of us
may spread our tents, ere the year has
been told, on that Eternal camping
ground - and sleep the sleep that knows
no waking. Peace to the memory OF our
dead comrades. Their voices are silent
in our council halls forever. May they
rest in peace until the final roll call. Let
me not forget to allude to the services of
" Memorial Day, it was duly observed,
the Post turning out in good numbers
and conducting the exercises with due
reverence and solemn recital. We placed
the glorious flag they loved SO well, over
the forms of our sleeping dead. We
spread the choicest offerings of spring
on their graves and watered them with
our tears. We have every reason to feel
proud of the years record. Our attend
ance has been good and nothing of an
unpleasant nature has transpired to
awaken petty strife or to engender I'M
kind feeling. But in this great world of
ours, Joy and sorrow are twin attendants.
One moment we laugh, and the world
laughs with us, the next we weep, and
weep alone. Tonight we remember che
slumberipg comrades, sleeping through
the night watches. We fain would for
get the dark hours of the Nation s peril,
but memory clutches the great pendu-
leum of time, and stays its ruthless vibra-
tons. Again we hear the call of the
bugle, the roll of the drum, the clash of
the contending forces. Bright faces peep
at us from the dim past, Death thinned
our ranks as we swept across many a
battle field, and tonight the great cur
tain is drawn away and the miseries oil
the Sixties re-appears. The midnight
death-like stiffness of the Camp. the
neighing of the horses, the pacing senti-
nels, the groans of the wounded and dy-
ing. the long lines of silent dead. Com
rades. these grim monsters of the past
come TRIPPING through the halls of mem
ory. saddening the heart and moistening
the eye. Thank God, those days will
never come again. Thank God, we con
! quered. though an hundred swords grew
crimson with the life blood of America /
noblest sons. Our thaukfulness contains
neither resentment Ior animosity, but il
full of patriotism aud brotherly love
Z The lesson we were taught as nation
by the great civil war was. that justice
to all men " is the cardinal principle of
our free government and wonderful in
situations. We know to-day that human
slavery never was meant for this country
and that supreme power in the Nation
al Government must ever be paramount
to the wishes and constitutions of indivi
dual states. There is sadder picture
yet to be drawn. The quaint wolf Of
poverty bowls around the homes OIL