The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-06-22
TIE GRAND ARMY,
What is Being Done by the Veterans
for the Order.
DEPARTMENT NEWS.
ALABAMA

number of applications for membership to be
acted upon splendid collation. was given to
the newly-elected Department Commander, J.
Clyde Millar. who was present, and who alter, IN
q public installation Of the officers in the Opera
House. spoke for over an hour to the large audi
dience in attendance. At the close the comrades
reassembled in their Post room. where the De-
partnent Commander instructed them in the
unwritten work and giving them many words
of advice and encouragement This Post is
rather unique in its makeup; its Adjutant,
strict dsciplinariau, and tireless worker, never
utters a word. as he is voiceless, and has been
so for years, but, rs the Department Commander
said, be is like Knaps battery-always unlim-
bered and ready for business. The majority of
Its members are men who refugeed from their
mountain homes into the Union army around
Nashville. Most of them are Southern born,
but their homes were destroyed and their fam
lilies scattered during their absence. Their
LOYALTY to country and flag has always been,
and now is, of the most intense kind. They
are the stauchest of the Grand Army men,
many of them coming 20 to 80 miles to attend
Post meeting.
ARIZONA
Negley Post. l. Tucson, had well selected
and crowded audience at the Reid Opera House
on Memorial Day attending theiI Memorial
service. An excellent program was rendered.
CALIFORNIA
T. c. Masteller. Assistant Adjutant-Genersl,
writing from San Francisco says: Under the
head California in The NATIONAL TRIB-
UNE of May 20 I find the following: For
some unknown reason the custom of Observing
Memorial Day has not prevailed in this city
Memorial Day has been properly observed for %
years without break. Twenty-Five years ago
o monument was dedicated to the Union dead
in the Grand Army plot in Odd Fellows Gene
terry, and yearly since that time the comrades
OF the Order have wended their way TO this
place on Memorial Day aud strewed flowers
and held suitable exercises in memory Of the
dead. Until this year all the Posts in the city
have united in these services. This year five
Posts united at the old place and one went to
the cemetery ia the PTesidio, where it has its
own burial plat Graves in outlying cemeteries
have always been properly marked and deco
rated. Not all graves in the Preside have
heretofore been decorated by the Grand Army,
because of the 1000 there but a small part are
those Of men who served in the civil war, many
being Of those who were born, enlisted in the
Regular Army, and died since the war closed
The graves Of these and such as these have not
heretofore had flags placed over them or been
strewn with flowers by the Grand Army, be-
cause il was not considered the proper thing to
do that day being created so far as the Order is
concerned, you are aware for pay ing tribute TO
navy of the Union during the years covered by
the struggle to put down rebellion, and many
Of Us now think it was not the proper thing for
@ Post 10 do to place flags on all graves indis-
criminately without regard to date of service.
Those graves holding the remains of men who
served during the rebellion have heretofore
been marked with flags. The comrades of this
city have always been, and are now. in line
with other portions of this coast and with those
aae+o NJ fl.aE "A ohrao et yuifb
in all that pertains to the proper observance of
Memorial Day and to Grand Army matters in
general"
MASSACHUSETTS,-
At recent meeting of A. ". Bartlett Post,
&C. NewbUryport, the thanks of the Post were
voted to Ralph c. Goodwin and the Board of
Management Of the Y. IL. c. A. of the city for
the kind consideration and observance Of Me-
mortal Day, in refusing TO countenance any
athletic sports or games under the authority or
management of said association.
MISSOURI
Gen. George r. Smith Post, sedalia, is trying
20 make arrangements by means of which all
the Posts in the County will have an Encamp-
ment some time during the coming Fall. 1t is
proposed to hold the meeting in Sedalia. and
the idea seems TO be pleasing the comrades in
the County.
NEW YORK.
At recent meeting Of the former members
OF Noah /. Fsrnhsm Post, it was decided to
appeal to the National Encsmpment from the
decision Of Department Commander Cleary
annalling their charter as Grand Army Post.
OHIO
The officers of the Department held meet.
ing at Columbus. and among those present
were Department Commander /. II. Williams,
nf fNla
son, of Medina; Junior Vice Commander Thos
Crofts. OF Toledo; Department Chaplain J. A.
Thrapp, Of Toronto, o.; Medical Director o. w.
Weeks, of Marion; Department Inspector J.
CORY Winans, of Troy; Judge-Adyocate II. L.
NOrey, Of Hamilton; Assistant Quartermaster-
General Albert White, Of Ripley; and the
Council Of Administration, David King, Of
Springfield; ]. c. Roland, Of Cleveland; ID. 3.
Austin, Of Toledo; J. B. Sampson, of Cincin-
nati, and Carl n. Bancroft, Of Columbus. The
object Of the meeting was to transact some
routine business and consult in regard to the
policy Of the Department for the ensuing year
Plans Of attending the National Convention at
Indianapolis were also discussed. There are
prospects Of an unusually large attendance.
TENNESSEE
E. o. c. Ord Post, 100, held Memorial serv-
ices at the American Cemetery in Mexico City,
Mexico. May 30. There was full attendance
VI the memUerb OF the FoSt VINO were In the
city, az we'll as many visiting comrades, to-
gether with 6 large number Of citizens. The
music furnished by the Sappers and Miners
Band, most gr2ciOusly and kindly offered by
the Mexican authorities. was fne. America"
Hail Columbia" and other patriotic Aineri-
can airs were beautifully rendered, and the
horai decorations were Of the most elegant
variety, and were strewn in great prOfusion.
Comrade Alexander, Chaplain Of the Post. de-
hYered an address, which touched the hearts of
all present, the tears trickling down the faces
OF the old veterans, and made all feel the in
tensty Of comradeship which exists among
them, and all those who truly love the old flag.
Consul-General Thomas L. Crittenden made
short address,
Commander c. ~ Bush sends us this letter:
=. :. Minister Isaac p. Gray, although cor
daily invited by the Commander to be present
ind deliver an address, not only declined, but
preferred 70 spend the entire morning at the
opposite side of the city, at Pinon baths en-
goying himself with friends Was it expecting
roo much that an ex-soldier and the representa-
tlve OF our great country in q foreign land
should honor his country that keeps him, by
not being too busy TO keep its legal National
holidays holiday commemorative Of deeds
that made it possible that there be place for
such Minister TO occupy? Is it to be under
STOOD oy the Mexican people and Mexican
government by the President of this Repub-
lie, who has always treated the Memorial
Day and services with such uniform respect
and consideration. that by the absence of the
Minister on Memorial Day, although made by
law OF Congress National day. is Of no con-
sequencef This is certainly the inevitable
rlrCin f<x s,I, -,