The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-05-29
A Legion OF Brave Men-The story OF tho
Grand Army Of the Republic.

The Grand Army Of tho Republic Is some-
| thing more than u mere charitable orEaniza-
| ton. something more than u society organized
| to perpetuatc n sentiment: II is really band
OF brothers They may differ in many points
| OF political and religious belief. but they are
bound by tho ties Of friendship wrought out OF
tho experience OF danger and sorrow through
which they have passed
Before the Grand Army Of the Republic was
organized officially there were doubtless
bands OF Union soldiers who. before thor
terms of service expired. had been hold to.
gcther through the fraternul feelings and
memories that had grown out Of the war.
There were secret societies among tho Union
prisoners for mutual protection. and for aid in
escape. They had their passwords ard n
peculiar secret ritual. which is said to havo
been the germ of the original muster-in service
peculiar To the early days OF tho Grand Army.
father Of this gigantic organization was Dr.
BenIImin lrank!i ", Stelhenson. surgeon Of
scstcd the ea Of @ rsahlrx ne
Veterans OF the mon army. and nj the outsct
hS M VA "hsIsis in 1t h fha e s H%a
ledge. in III. spring Of 1886 the two mon met
at Springfield. ILL.,. and con ,uItei as TO tIS
ime"n time IT.. Stsphens"n had rnIsIvdrad to
interest ~ tlo scheM" ms t.. MOI .s12iAtns
hMd ,roeull copies Of til" Iiima Of other mili;
by tho mernst accident in the worl. the first
post. instead OF being organized in Springfield.
Decatur H. Tic new ritual u W" :" til" o ORD
which was to b" secret. was Sont 10 tho Ir'tnn"
ollir" in tho latter city to DO pI iutcd. 'or tho
rcasol that the printers thel. were, veteran, Of
Tho MON army; and the work could be, NOR"
ganiaaiion was SO attractive 10 tho printers
that u dozen Of them. On trr'l Il. 1886. organ
iZri q post at Decatur. called lost l.. District
Of Macon. Department rl Illinois. Grand Army
slight AMI lcrmsHlyc il"t;"n. arpc!r9 on Tho
official records rs tomnanl"r' Chief of tho
department, pr. Srplrnson. who was born
IL Illinois in ISL scrved ~ Surgeon Of tho
,,SSr,t".nt i!inpis I,gmrn, ir%m Arril I.
G. lh. Nng 30. lS7l.,
iwo ynHr. ago, at the national cncampmert
of tho Grand Army of tho Republic. II was re-.
tlvcL to rsta Llish at the city ~ Decatur. in
recognition, q it, being the nirthrlicH%, Of the
which it is proposed to store and preserve the
official iururts Of tho cncampmcnts. depart
mcnts. and posts. and TIC trnphi"ss Of Tho war
which l,cong to org tniZntions and indiylduais.
erection and crGowmant Of this, structure
should he raised iy increasing tho annual
dues OF the monitors twenty-five coats irrr an.
mum for three years: but u commi,tenaIpOini-
scheme, and suggested voluntary sui SCRIP
tiuns Tor the erection Of he hi'iaiug.
In tho cary days of oar ofgunIHat ION IL Iai
not only posts. nat nal aEG STAT" departments.
hut district aud county organ ,Hhions. VIII.
separate Ollie, RS for each division. The ritAal
members LcinE called. and standing on tho
simple footing OF comrades" military titles
were preserved Generals. Colonels nc. Later
on the district and county divisions were drop