The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-05-31
PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP.

PERMANENT MEMBERSHIP.
Chaplain Harper again comes TO the front to
plead his cause We largely sympathize with
his theory. The GAR can hardly get too
many comrades OF the character of the Chap
lains in its councils. We favor giving the Past
Department Chaplain q permanent membership
in the Department Encsmpments, and for the
same reasons the Past Chaplain in-Chief right
to permanent membership in the National En-
csmpment. Let the present Chaplai n-in-C Chief
take hold of this and secure such legislation.
FROM CHAPLAIN HARPER.
EDITOR CHAPLAINs' DEPARTMENT: Having
received much encouragement for and in be-
half of the position / took in my last article on
Chaplains and their rights. viz, after having
served as Department Chaplains they should be
entitled to seats perpetual in the Department
Encampment, having equal consideration with
a Past Commander, venture TO write again.
Now, why is it, or where is the Justice
The Chaplain is elected by the Department En-
campment the highest authority-save the
National Encampment-in existence. AS such
his position must be recognized as superior to a
Post Commander, inasmuch as the Commander
Is elected by and represents only local work,
while the Department Chaplain represents an
entire State.
The difference between the two offices is
as Magistrate of a village compared to the
Justice of the Supreme Court. Yet, when it
comes to Department Encampment the De-
partment Chaplain steps down and the Com
mander steps up.
Now, this ought not to be- AS a rule the most
able and influential men are chosen by the
State Encampment At least, they are Christ
ian gentlemen. They serve gratuitously for
one year, at the close of which they are eX-
Guided from the council of the Encampment.
Now, What can Chaplains do for the good
of the Grand Army?" I answer, get into the
heart of the great councils of the Order and
with the best and purest Of her noble knights
seek, by wise counsel together, the best means
to desired end. But, you reply, We cannot do
that under existing laws. Then, Chaplains,
your probable success is handicapped, and you
had better use your influence at the National
Encampment to have this changed. Get our
Chaplain in Chief to look after this matter at
the next National Encampment, held at Pitts
BURG c. HARPER, Past Department Chap
lain of Nebraska.
A VIRGINIA POST.
EDITOR CHAPLAINs' DEPARTMENT: Permit
me to send my "GOdspeed" to the Chaplains'
column and also to say that John A. Logan
Post of this place, is in fourishing condition,
and that each comrade is a member of some
branch of the Christian church. The comrades
are all great readers and lovers of the Bible.
We all find it to be means of grace in coming
into Gods Divine presence and holding COM
munion with Him. Surely no true lover of
God can consistently keep his Bible closed
book. Comrades, when we hear the Gospel
preached. do we not find something in US that
responds to what is said Is there not a strange,
irrepressible interest springing up in our hearts
in what the message of grace brings to us P
ALFRED TURNER, Chaplain, John A. Logan
Post, Sand Hill, w. Va.
We extend congratulations to Chaplain Tur-
ner for belonging to Post where all its men,
bers are members of some Christian church. We
doubt if the record can be equaled. Where is
the Post with like record?
Perhaps you have heard of the Colonel dur
ing the war who, upon hearing of a revival in
another regiment, and that 10 were to be bap-
TIED the next Sunday, not to be outdone, or
dered 16 men detailed for baptism by his Chap
lain the following Sunday.
Perhaps a wholesome rivalry among Post
Chaplains as to securing the largest number of
com rades for church membership might be well,
but not of the sort of the above Colonel.
MEMORIAL DAY SYMPOSIUM.
Here is good suggestion from the Post at
VT: "The GA. Posts here have
3 paper in circulation asking the next Legis-
ature to enact law providing that the last
halliday session before Memorial Day, in each
school in the State. be given to patriotic exer-
Uses WGICD Shall COuU6LuOTat9 the history OF
the Nation"
With the following we close this Memorial
Day Symposium. If all will carefully read it
and act upon its suggestions, a new impetus
will be given this year to these Memorial exer-
Uses. We would be glad to receive facts, Incl
Tents, etc., of special interest," observed in con-
lection with Memorial Day and Sunday, this
year.
EDITOR CHAPLAINs' DEPARTMENT.: Memo
'ial Day should be to US Grand Army men,
md to all Union soldiers, most sacred 1t is
N memory of men who went out with US to |
lefend the most sacred liberties that God ever
to mortal man. They courageously |
endured bardships and privstions in almost |
very conceivable form, and offered life itself, |
md hundreds of thousands of them surren- |
Tered life for our holy cause.
The day we commemorate is therefore a |
Memorial for our dead, and first of all should |
10 a sacred day. Then it should be a day on /
which the living should be educated to appre-
late the liberties which they enjoy, and |
specially should youth be stimulated to appre-
late this glorious fabric we call Our Country.
t should be a day of solemn Joy and holy
SEPARATION, when most fervently of all should |
% offered the prayer of the great Nazarene,
Peace on earth, goodwill toward men,"
1t is therefore day lily adapted TO worldly
nd frivolous amusements. Games of baseball,
orse-racing and the like, are entirely foreign
o the thought and spirit that should charac-
erize the day. The old boys of 61I65, who
ct answer TO the roll-call on earth, should
AXE an active part, and yet the duties of this
acred day should gradually be transferred to
ne rising generation, especially to the Sons of
Teterans and the Ladies' Aid Society; thus
repairing them to take fully in charge the
acred principles soon to be wholly committed
D them. Would it not be we'll for National
nd Department Chaplains, and Chapains of
osts and for ministers, whether ex-soldiers or
OF, and all who love their country, to discuss
mis- subject and think upon it more carefully
nan heretOfore2
Let us henceforth proceed to the commemo-
alton with thoughtful and grateful spirit.
"There are only few years left to love;
Shall we waste them in idle strife? |
Shall trample under our ruthless feet
Those beautiful blossoms rare and sweet,
By the dusky way OF life?"
No; but
"Our fathers God, 10 Thee,
Author of liberty,
To Thee sing;
Long may our land be bright
os,1,a hoIv ErI,t |,