New-York tribune., 1890-04-16
LOYAL LEGION REUNION.
THE TWENTY-FIVE ANNIVERSARY A NOT
ABLE ONE.
PHILADELPHIA DOES HONOR TO HER GUESTS
INSPIRING CEREMONIES At THE
A.
rRy rEIEGnArm TO TIE TRIBUNE

Philadelphia, April l5.-1mposng scenes and
impressive ceremonies were witnessed at the
twcnty-iifth anniversary of the organization of
the Loyal Legion in this city to-day. Pniladcl-
Phla dearly loves a patriotic rcvel, and joins in
such celebration as this with great enthusiasm.
IL has an especial interest in the Loyal Legion.
for the order had its origin here and and its gov
erning body the Commandcry -in-Chicf, has al
ways made Philadelphia its headquarters. Never
has there been so large a reunion OF veteran Off
GERS since the war; and the occasion is therefore
OF unusual interest. The Order of the Loyal
Legion is not unlike that of the Cincinnati. II
was formed the day after Lncolns assassna-
ton. to which event. indeed, its institution Is
ascrbed. Those who can recall that dreadful
moment will readily bring TO mind the universal
feeling of alarm which was added 70 the National
grief Everybody wondered how far the assas
sins shot and knife were 10 co. and visions Of
something like anarchy haunted the imagnatons
Of loyal people. Some Pennsylvania officers
then in this city conceived the notion of n soci-
ETY. made mp OF those who held commissions In
tie Union armies 10 be got together
as quickly possible ready for action
in any emergency Within three months
the society Lad been pretty we'll organized
in Pennsylvania. The vaguely dreaded emergency
did not arrive and soon the fear of it died away
but those who had moved in organizing the society
felt that it still had motive FOR existing in scrv-
ing the ends Of companlonship and in chcrlShng
principles for which they had suffered SO much
Communicates were formed in one State after
another until eighteen were in existence. federated
in one Chief Commandcry. at whose head from
then until now some representative general officer
las stood. FIRST of these was Maor-Gcncral
, 1,ler. t.orcrtl Hancock
third was cx-Prcsdcnt Hayes; fourth WAS General
Sheridan. and upon his death Mr.. Hayes, As Senior
Vicc-C commander. succeeded 10 the supreme dis
.iuction. 70 effort has hitherto been made =
brlnr together any very considerable body Of the
Legion. but upon this. its silver anniversary. the
sentiment in favor Of a national reunion was uni
,crsal and powerful enough 10 attract to Phila-
Gelphia 10 less than 1000 Of the le,O0O oficcys
who compose the order Every commandcry in
the country is represented. and among those IN al
tendance are many men OF reputation in civil as
Well as IN military history.
They began TO arrive Monday afternoon and
each incoming train since then has brought host
Hotels are ovcrnowing and the streets Of the city
have not been so gay or dcnscly crowded since
the celebration Of the Constitutional Centenary in
I-e7 Committees Of The Pennsylvania Com
manGcty have met each DELEGATION with long
string, ~ carriages. IN which each ho, been cS-
cpr,cd 10 IFS hotel and entertained thereafter with
graceful cOIrfcsics innnmcrahlc. EA-Prcs!dent
Hayes and General Miles were each received by a
vast company Of their veteran comparions, and
later ~ the Union League Club they became cen
tres OF lnr2c groups. among whom stories Of daring
and danger flew about for several hours. General
rairchih. Of WISCONSIN; cN-''oyctnor Rice, Of
Massachusetts: N-Attorncy-GcncrM Charles
Dc,cns. Secretary Tracy. ncnrsal Wager S~ayrr.
Admiral Amy, General Alexander :. Wchb tie
Rev Dr. OTIS II. Tiffany. General o. VI. Poe.
Chief Engine McElWcll. General Nchohcid, ten.
cral Howard. Governor lra,cr. Senator quay.
General Horace Porter and General Socnr are
among the more prominent members who "ei'
present at last nights cclchration PhiAdripma
dressed herself - she Always does on sl'h inter
csi.uu occasions III her .lyrsi colOis. thousands
81 flags and banners sportcd IN AR ana
fronts Of countless buildings, especially aIon-
IIoad-st and Chcstnutst, were hung Wl'h Duul
lue and with miniature Stars and stripes All
the clubs were thrown open 10 Those VINO wore
tnc little tll-cOlorcd badge oi tie order. ana
many spent the whole day sitting puicllN IN Inc
club plIlors recalling OH Times. lNr hi"i
Ic.yuc club, with its uufaillug hospitality, ic-
cane tie chief rendezvous. \ picntiihl c".''"n
and Sou,is Marine Band equally "Nnld 10 d'-
tam those who stIaNcd In. meeting al 'H'
ComnAnacry-ln-C Chief was held at 10 orl'rN,
bui its proceedings were short and not "i cSi''i''
notice. ,
The ceremonies Of tie evening at the Academy
oi Music were rhOsc 10 winch tnc interest "l l'
public If not OF tie Legion chiefly attlcn'"' l',
audience which filed every seat IN the hou,'' ana
all the asics - we'll honofcd ih" occasion. 'oN'I'
nA.. shields. eagles and stars orndWrii'h 'r
fr,ui of each gallery prOiuScly. bui with an chr't
highly artistic. while the STAGE hi>'cd "i'h inc
savage instruments Of war. : number OF 'cn'' IL,
and there. and stacks Of arms p'ih'-
ing upward suggested the cmp-Nccr"
and in Ne lcar navy oi SrnhohS ana iion,"l' '.
WAS exhibited General David VI. Ir'eS pre-
sidrd Sitting with him on the stage were
eronp OF those whom action had distinguished.
Among them, in addition To these dlIc'uN ni,n,
smith, Admiral Russell General john e., i'Hrkc
General George = Greene General Charles +.
Nandcrson, James f.. Murdock. eN-n"Nerhor
Andrew &. Curtin. Senator lawlcy, oi 'o'''''i
cut. and General J. B. Sanborn. ..
General Grcsg's opening address was slioI,
and fclicitous statement OF the LeS.1n "'ra' r,,
and purpose. When he sp2kcc OF ,nr"cI rnD f. H.,
compauions who had died, and then turuc" 10 INV
prav heads behind him. wondering how many or
how few would respond 10 the next ron ,, '"l', "c
touched a chord Of sentiment whrh "m""'"'" I
silent and solemn Response all Over 90, 'o"a. -;
General Gregg concluded his brci speech nI III
,i i '0 ,oocn,;on Tho audience chccrcd HIM
for several minutes. lie spoke WIN , ''"9'"7
voice and most effectively. saying Ill P"'~
or America to-day T., drawing near 10 th" I'luH "'
tho roads, palllcd almost to blindness by
y the unriyallod swiftncss and spl"ndor q" h'r "'
prestirc 70 power and 10 riches. our '"""', ~
tarnuted 10 reject. may neglect. the nr-"'-' VI
Ifu,oln That message often .r'p'Atn Nv "'"' ~
words, and always exhibited by him In h'' ''' '''"
earliest, to hl. latest days earth. IL can n '' ~
,n,uiv given ia a single sentence. ll' Nh'' '''. ~ '
hiring seemed 10 .ay his cogntryn,n: S'' l" " '''
sun and daughter Of Republic. 80 far ~ ","'" "
and human conduct avail shall have an cHu'' '"'', w
fair start IN the of lie. Reject or n'''''' '
and our 90, crnmcnt 10 be republican 'N''P' "
name aud that doom which the N""'s""
appointed for all shams Is not lit '"
The Marine Band. which had been Continues
from WASHINGTON did much 10 raise th, ih'I,'ni i
and patriotc spirit OF the audience, ana lneN WIZ wiz
well prepared for the stirring address WIN Wniou Wni
the orator Of the evening, General DcNch' l9No'I'
them IL was not merely reminiscent sp''un,
il was more than gorlcation OF thc Nr''>"'
armles Thoushful eloquent and int"hsrN ~ va.
,ionol il was also Generous IN its sentiment "'"'f
the south. and gladly hopeful in the 'o'e !, 'p"n o
with regard 10 the controversies whi'h n"'I "''
yct died away Among other things ne sac"
Conpanon, We meet not merely Tor ''" "o.', "
social cnjoyment nor alone to renew our "'''"'.