Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1891-04-07
THE VETERANS.
The Quarters Century G. A. r. Ami
versary
SERVICES IN FIRST NJ. E. CHURCH.
Buford Post and o her Mili AIRY Or.
CARNATIONS JON in he gere-
monies-.--Col. Brackets
Address.


| founding of that organization Al the FRS,
| M. E. church last night in very fitting
| manner. The church was handsomely
| decorated with flags and flowers. the stars
and stripes being predominant everywhere
which appealed strongly to the patriotism
OF those present. At s O'Clock Buford
post arrived in body followed by John
Morris camp. Sons of Veterans, and de,
tachment of the Rodman Rifles and took
| seats Immediately ia front of the altar.
| The bugler of the Rodman Rifles then
| sounded the reveille after which the choir
led by Prof. Housell, sang My Country
It's OF Thee" Rev. T. W. Grafton pro
bounced the invocation folio we'd by sing
ing by the male choir. Then came the
reading of orders by Msj h. q. Con-
nelly, during which all members of the
post remained standing. Msj. Connolly
was the first commander OF the post and
read circular letter which was ss fol
lows:
4
RUTLAND, VT, March 4, 1891.
| CIRCULAR LETTER No. 3 COMRADES:
Assembled as we are at this moment in
one simultaneous post meeting, 10 COM
memorste the founding of this our be-
| loved order, twenty-five years ago. there
| are few salient points of our history
which deem it fitting TO call to your re-
| membrance at this time
Or. b. r. Stephenson. surgeon of the
18th Illinois infantry, and Chaplain ". J.
Rutledge, OF the sama regiment, talked.
as ttey marched under Sherman in Mssis>
sippi in ga, of the capacity for good in
an organization of veterans, and agreed,
if spared. to work out some plan 10 that
cpd. In March, 1865. they with others
met at Springfield. Illinois, and on the
9th day of April 1866. the first post was
organized at Decatur. Illinois; Comrade
Stephenson mastering in the members,
and granting them a charter, an exact
fac smile of which | send you herewith.
The first department encampment was
held at Springfield, Illinois, July 10, '66,
and the first national encampnent at In
dienapolis, Indians. November 20 of the
same year. Comrade S A. Hurl5ut was
the first elected commander in-chief. Com
rade Stephenson having Professionally acted
as such heretofore and having called to.
gether the first national encampment.
The violence Of political strife at that
time involved the Eew order more or less
and substantially destroyed Its vitality,
especially in the section of the country
where it had its origin. some of the de
partments being left VITA nothing more
than mere nominal existence, with
scarcely post in active operation. This
was the situation al the lime OF the Sec
ond national encampment, held at Pnia,
delphis Jan. Is. 1868, aud continued TIL
after the death of it's founder, Aug. 30,
1871. His dream of gu order erandly
carrying out his noble conception seemed
only p dream never to be realized.
Al this point that peerless volunteer
soldier Logan, took command. slcceeded
in turn by Burnside, Devens and Hart.
rant The nine years OF service as com.
mander in chief rendered by these faith
full and devoted comrades, now all
mustered out forever, and the work of
the able staff officers Of their administra-
lions, laid deep and broad the founda
lions now SO widely bui 1t upon. and
could Comrade Stephenson have lived till
now TO share with US the fruits of his
years of toll, dependency and disappoint,
ment, he would hardly recognize this our
giant ORDER which when be died was ap,
parently SO near its END. Wisely guided
and carefully fostered, it has gathered
strength each year, and today occupies a
position of character, oenefcence and
influence second to no organization of
| Our time. The same conservative course
can keep it growing few years more
despite our increasing death rate; but
those comrades who celebrate the semis
centennial anniversary, twenty five years
hence. will be few in number. 1t is there's
fore for US who now turn with thankful-
/ ness to the founder and to the preservers
OF our order, to so conduct its affairs, to
so guard 1t from dissention, and TO so
keep II true to its immortal principles,
that its influence will be felt long after
the organization has ceased to exist In
this each comrade has his share, each
post its measure of effort, each depart.
ment it's burden, TO be Loyalty accepted,
performed and borne, with a deep sense
of the privilege as well as obligation that
is ours. Forward then, my comrades,
into the next quarter-century, with the
one purpose animating US all. to still
farther extend our lines and to light on,
camp fires yet more widely, not alone for
our sakes, but as an inspiration to the
new generation. Shipmste, under the
Union Jack; soldier, of whatever rank
or arm; marines, gallant as any; all
pressing On in this the work of our de-
clining days. elbow to elbow. stirrup tc
stirrup. yard arm to yard-arm. heart Il
heart. all one in the Grand Army of ths
Republic.
Your Comrade in F., G. and L.,
W. G.. VEAzEy, Com'dr in Chief.
OFFICIAL:
]. H. GoULDING, Adj't General.
This was followed by prayer by Rev
j. Fl. Kerr, after which Mrs. W. B. Bar
ker sang the Star Spangled Banner il
charming manner, and was followed b!
an address of welcome by E. D. Sweeney
on behalf of the M. E. church. He vel