Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-04-08
EYWORETHE BLUE
Cpsnirg Of the @. A. r. Celsbgar
tioa at Decatur, III.
COMRADES GREET ONE ANOTHER.
OLD Veterans From the Foar Ooints of
the Com pass tsks Part In the
ExsEeisss--obsery aaes MANY
Other Cittes.

DEcArCR. N. April :. - Powers
opera house, one Of ths hsnssorlest IN
the state outside OF Chicago, was filed
Monday night by the citizens of Decatur
20 witness the opening of the twenty
9TH anniversary OF the organization of
the first post g. A. 4. in the country. The
opera house has seating capacity of
1000. and every chair was occupied
Durham post. which is the outgrowth
of original Pos, No. l. occupied seats
On the stage. the Woman's Relief
Corps being given the center tier of
the parquestc. There were SIS members
present
Al $50 p. IN Mayor Kanan, COM
mander of the post. one of the charter
members Of Post No. l, called the post
to parade-rest and explained to the
assemblage the occasion. The an
nouncernent was followed by a Sc
lection of national airs by Wood
mans orchestra As the old IA
miliar war airs were rendered the
post broke out in its old-time fervcr.
especially when Marching Through
Georgia" and Tramp. Tramp. the Boys
Are Marching were given Rev. J. A.
+. King invoked Divine guidance and
gave thanks In an appropriate
prayer. Ex-Gov. Oglesby came upon
the stage at the conclusion of
prayer and as he took his scat among
the boys was greeted with cheers by
the post, the audience prolonging the
welcome. The reading of general or
der No. Is. issued by Commander
Vcazey, announcing the Simultaneous
observance of this occasion, was read
by Rev. Mr.. King. supplemented by the
address of the commander, which was
also read by Mr.. King, the entire audi
ence remaining upon its feet.
Miss Belle Steele, daughter of Mai.
Steele, Of Decatur, sang the Red.
White and Blue, Durham post coming
in on the chorus. Two volumes OF
personal war sketches were pre-
sented to the post by David s.
Shellaberger, who. in his presenta-
ton remarks. stated that he was
not q soldier in the dark days, but he
was q patriotic citizen. These volumes
are so bulky that they could not be
brought on the stage. Commander
Kanan called upon Comradc aud State
Senator Johns to respond to the
gift. The response was gracefully
made. Ex-Gov. Oglesby responded
o a unanimous call for q
speech. He made an eloquent appeal
for the completion of the national
memorial hall and said that Decatur
was the place for it. Commander in
Chief of the Order Veazey in
his address said he felt that this
was the most memorable meeting
which the order would ever have.
He was sure that the fact
that Decatur is the birthplace of
the Grand Army of the Republic was
enough to make the town famous for
evermore in the history of civilization.
Messages were received and read from
many posts in the country contributing
sums from $40 upward for the compile
ton Of the national memorial hall in
Decatur.
Dispatches announce the appropriate
observance, with. war songs and al
dress, of the twenty-fifth anniversary
of the organization of the Grand Army
of the Republic at the following places:
Chicago. New York. Brooklyn. Washington.
New Orleans, Burlington, Ia; Lafayette, Ind.
and In the following towns in Illinois: Joliet,
Aurora. Casey. Kankakee, Rock Island Month
cello. Jacksonville, Wautegan, Sumner, Van
dalia and Bloomington.