The National tribune., 1892-05-26
GOOD OF THE ORDER.
An Eastern Brother Makes a Strong Pro.
test Against Many Things.
HEADQUARTERS CosIMANDERY- IN CHIEF,
SONS OF VETERANS. u. 8. A.,
40 BROADWAY. NEW YORK CITY.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Kindly permit me
to second the motion OF Brother Hartmann, of St
Louis, Mo-. which appeared in your paper re-
Gently. Although in different position from
Brother Hartmann, being an officer and also dele
gate TO the Division Encampmcnt of Pennsylvania
| have few suggestions to make which think
will be OF benefit 10 the Order at large. 1 am
heartily in favor of biennial Encampments and
therefore second the motion OF Brother Hartmann
If tie Encampmeuts were held bieHnialy and
less changes made in The workings Of the Order,
Ii would be of greater benefit to the Order at
large. IL seems that the annual Encampmenis
are held for the purpose of efecting changes in the
Rules etc One set hardly has time 10 be thoroughly
tried before there is q change made. which not
only considerable confusion. but lack of in
icrest in the Order, which is certainly very harm
full.
those that make the least changes 1t IL absolutely
impossible for set OF rules to be thoroughly tried
IN the short space OF year in country tho size OF
This, especially where the subordinate Camps arc
scattered so far apart. Our Camps hardly have
time to change their bylaws that they conform
with the Rules before there is new or revised set.
and they have to be changed again and there Is all
the time and money wasted.
For example: The average cost Of changing
and printing bylaws is ut the rate of $50 per 100
and the fact of making each Camp do this every
year is needless expense and waste of good
money from which they derive no benefit what.
ever. Besides the expense for bylaws there is
that OF providing new Constitutions at tie rate OF
SIS per 100.
Brothers, this is entirely too much. IF we must
nave cHaHge let us nave IL all mt once, and let
II be thorough-not "a little patch here and IN other
there every year until you have n Constitution
Rnlcs, etc, that resembles crazy patchwork
quilt and is Of practical to the Order at large
The last National Encampment revised the rilu al
by cutting IT up so much that j, is just fair skele-
ton Of itself.
Brothers, the old ritual is good enough for aI of
u.s. If we must have any changes, let add to
the old one, lengthen the muster and add new
features. Something that will create additional
interest and enthusiasm and not cut out the best
a a.,Irr I'm Tho
mere form OF words az to shorten the meetings
one half.
The titles Of officers are not at all appropriate for
various reasons. The title Of Commander is not
an appropriate one TO bestow on the officers, as
they are mostly all young men and the little should
beionR TO a person ola mature and settled age.
Another reason is that initiating the
u. A. r., which Is not right. Quite number OF
GAR. members object TO the $. of V. initiating
them a',d at this stage when we are just beginning
to tind favor in the GAR it is wrong to adopt
their titles. IL would be much better If we did not
depend too much on the GA. r. but would stand
ont and make an independent showing for our
selves IL is trnc that if it had not been for The vet
would not be in existence but it is not just
the proper thing to follow them in every move or
step we make. Give Us back our old titles and do
mot cncroach on the LAR.
The senii-mitary feature OF the g. of " is one
of lis strongest points and should not be destroyed
nor It's effect lessened in any manner It is one OF
the attractions that bring us members, and would
venture 10 say that if it had been an attraction
our Order would be about one-half the strength it
"
Der OF members attached themselves to the Order
for this one reason, and not for the principles and
objects or the benefits they derive and II this
feature Is done awny with sighted In any man.
ner there will be a loss to the Order. What the
loss wonld amount TO cond not definitely say
but nj this time i'll afford to lose one mem
Der, let alone hundreds.
The pnces of holding National Encampments
are not where they should be- For example, the
National ,Encampment this year will be held in
Helena, Mont, in August. The City Of Helena
may be capable of looking after our Encampments;
II may nave all conveniences in the way of hotel
accommodations etc, but it Is not so situated
geographically 10 be of easy access which will
be the cause oil their not being full attendance of
delegates. The location of Helena is such that a
majority OF delegates are compelled to travel
week IN order to- Ret there, and quite number
cannot spare the time go to such distant place
The strength OF tho Order is in the eastern and
central portions Of the United States, and there are
more persons enttledeto join our Order in these
sections tilhn In the western and northwestern
sections. 1t should be the purpose of the National
Encampment to enact measures to benefit the
the whole Order, and one OF the ways TO do this
Is to hold the Encampment In such place that
every member who is entitled to may attend, aud
thus pluce our Order in favorable light before the
public at large. go
Brothers. let rs stand and act together rs there
are many reforms needed now. A biennial session
would be sufficient in order to transact such bust
ness as Is absolutely necessary. Let all enter
our plea Tor biennial congress and less changes
IN Itnies, Regulations etc, and thereby make
Order more substantial therefore most heartily
second Brother Hartmann g motion, and hope that
others VIII support Us III this motion.-.John Bower
jr., Camp H. Philadelphia, Pa.
j. II. Williams Camp 16, Greeley Colo, says the
Sons oil his section have use for the institution
of the Guards. and they like the old ritual much
better than the new.
John l.. Bevier. o. A. Abbott Camp ST. Grand
Island. Neb.. is In favor Of return to the old
ritual.