The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-09-07
IN FORMAL SESSION.
Report Of Comma mander- in chief Weissert and
Other officers.

Report Of Comma ander- in chief weissert and
Other Officers.
Comnander-in-chief Weissert then
opened the encampment in due form. Chap
lain-In-chief Lowell making q touching
pray er. to which the 200 delegates listened
at parade rest" responding at it's close
with a general ''amen."
The call of officers showed that all were
present except the urgeon-general. The
commander-in-chief announced committees
on the various reports of the officers. and
after some informal matter a recess was
taken.
1t was after o'clock p. NJ. when the
sharp report OF the commander in chiefs
gevel brought silence. Calling Senior
Vice eCommander-in-chief Wsrtield to the
chair, the commander-in-ch ief read his re-
port as follows:
Comrades and shipmates-FOr the third time
we assemble in the patriotic metropolis OF In
diana. where nearly generation ago. the
national organization OF the Grand Army OF the
Republic had its birth. Time has dealt gently
with us. since then nearly million OF our
comrades have left the shores of time and
pitched their tents ON eternity's camping
ground.
Our organization. then crude and consisting
OF but few comrades. without sfundamenta law
for its government and preservation, has de-
to-day OF nearly half q million veteran soldiers,
and commanding the res pect, not only OF ours
but of all civilized nations.
As individuals We are hysically not so strong;
the form Is not SO erect, neither Is the step 90
quick or steady, nor the eye bright, but the
same old-time devotion TO our country and its
defenders remains, yea. IL is intensified by the
lapse OF years, and to-day you are here In Gods
own sunlight, with representatives from nearly
every battle Held or at mighty civil contest, 10
be counted for liberty and nationality as you
were in the heroic days when history was being
written by the saber and hayonet.
We have assembled for the transaction OF the
necessary business devOlvlng upon the National
management or the affairs of the organization
for the ensuing year The membership OF
this encampment IL the largest since ITS or
ganlzatiOn. one thousand one hundred and
eIghty-seven comrades are entitled To seats in
this body, and they are the legitimate represent
attves OF the more than two million soldiers
who. from 1861 10 1865. inspired 10y love of
country and melted by "Storied sumter's Can
armies of rebellion surrendered 10 the victorious
legions OF the Union. who bore alOft the unsul-
lied fagof our Nation. then, for the first time,
floating "Oer the land o. the free"
During the year we have been called upon to
mourn the loss oftwo CT our ilus:rious COM
races. who have been Caaed by death from our
ranks: Rutherford B. Hayes. of Ohio. ex-Presi-
dent OF TIE United states, who served through
the entire war. and Benjamin +. Butler. OF
Massachusetts. who was the first major general
of volunteers commissioned by President
Lincoln.
These distinguished comrades were loyal TO
the order from its inception to the time OF their
death. Both were " ith Us at the last National
Encampment. Their presence AT our annual
gatherings VIII be greatly missed. Let us at all
times emulate their virtues.
While our leaders are fast passing away. there
has been On unusually large death loss amongst