The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-08-31
THE A. L, M, II, A,
A Proposition tn Use Ford's Theater for Most
WORTHY Objects


The Abraham LINCOLN Memorial Hall Asso-
citation was Incorporated June 80. 1890, under
the laws of the District of Columbia. It's OBJ
iects are: First. TO secure and maintain in
whatever methods shall be deemed most feas-
ible hall bearing the name of this organization
for the use and benefit OF the members of the
Grand Army of tho Republic Department of the
Potomac, and other soldiers. sailors, and marines
of the United States inthe late war of the rebel
lion in the District of Columbia and elsewhere;
second, the adoption and promotion of plans and
actions in accordance with the purposes of the
Grand Army of the Republic, for the relief,
comfort, support, aud welfare of the needy
members thereof, their wives, widows and or
phans; third, the cultivation and diffusion OF
the principles of the highest and best States
manship.
This Association now memoraizes Congress
to lease to the Association old Ford's Theater"
for the purposes set forth, at rent not over
800 year This plan has been twice Endorsed
by the National Eucampment, GAR at Bos-
ton and at Detroit. and will be introduced at
the coming Encampment at indianapolis.
The memorial and bill will be at once intro
duced in both Houses of Congress. The subject
will be presented to each Department Com
mander of the Grand Army of the Republic
and through them the comrades all over the
country will be urged to cooperate in this
purpose OF dedicating and maintaining that
The following is the memorial:
The war of 186I-65 left The people of the United
States the heritage of two sacred memories.
The memory of Abraham Lincoln, patriot and
President who gave his life for his counry's good;
and those patriotic defenders who gave their lives
that the Union and the Republic might live. These
memories center about the Nations Capital, where
the survivors of the aud their descendants
will gather as about holy shrine.
The spot most sacred of all is where Lincoln fell.
1t is eminently fit that the survivors OF the war
should be made the cnstodans Of that ballowed
place and the meE'entoes gathered there. The
Grand Army of the Republic Tepresents in the full
est and highest that great body OF survivors.
Therefore in order to pcrpetuate these principles,
the (undersignedJ members OF The Grand Army OF
tine Republic, con mt'ee representing the fncor-
porators in articles of incorporation OF the Abra-
ham Lincoln Memorial Hall Association, filed in
the office of The Recorder of Deeds of the District
of Columbia Oh the % day of July, 1890, copy OF
which ia hereto attached, earnestly petitions the
Congress of the United States that the building in
Washn aton IN which President Lincoln received
his death wound, said building being the premises
described in the act of Congress, approved April
7, 1866, to wit: The property in Washington City
known Ford's Theaier, located en- Tenth street,
n. W.. by purchase the property of the United
States" BIO given into the custody and control OF
the aforementioned Associations, said buldiRg 10
be known md maintained as the abraham Lin
coin Memorial Hail." wherein shall be kept pub
lie library and museum, in which shall be col
ected and preser we'd historical uscripts. books,
records, and relics relating 10 the war, and shall
he used for the purposes OF the Department OF the
Potomac. Grand Army of the Republic, and be
devoted in all other ways to the patriotic purpose
of keeping green in the hearts of Americans the
lessons of yaor, of self-sacrifce, aud of patriot
ism taught in the war aud transmitted to poserity
by the soldiers and sailors who saved the Union
and preserved its Republican institutions.