Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1894-09-13
VANISHING HOSTS.
Decreasing Membership of
the Grand Army.
COMMANDERS ADDRESS
i, Say, ~ ,s Point q
Growth F, ~. ached.
SOMETHING AB0C i PENSIONS.
SOMETHING ADO. / PENSIONS.
The Commander Extoi~ the Sons Of
Veterans and woman's Relief
corps-Patriodc Closing Words.
REPORTS of omccrs-veterans In
Hawnii-MrS. Clusters Loan.

Plttsburg. Pa, Sept. l2.-The dele
gates to the national encampment OF
the Grand Army of the Republic got
down to n solid buiness busis today.
While 100000 persons have left the city
since the last old soldier passed in re-
view yesterday, there are still 100000
strangers Ia town, the majority OF
whom viii stay until Saturday and
Sunday, while some viii stay even
longer, The national encampment or
ened this morning in the new Grand
opera house. The ctmmander-in-chief
and delegates were welcomed on be-
half of the citizens executive hoard by
Chairman Daniel c. Ripley and also
mittee on invitations and receptions.
Governor Pattlson welcomed them on
behalf OF the state Of Pennsylvania,
while Mayor McKenna OF Pittsburgh
and Mayor Kennedy Of Allegheny per-
formed the same duty on behalf Of
their espeutive cities, The serious bus
mess Of the encampment proper then
began.
Major A, p. l'urchheld then advanced
to the front of the stage and presented
the oommhnder-in-ohief with gavel
emblemauh and of great historic
interest. It 10 made Of wood from Fort
Sumter Appomntox, Gettysburg and
Libby prison and is bound with metal
from the historic cannon. 1t is thus
symbolic OF the opening and the clos
ing OF the war. The wood from Get
tysburg was taken from near the spot
where the commander-in-ohief was
wounded. and, as he was a prisoner in
Libby, has also reminiscent assocla-
tions. The gavel is Inscribed as fol-
lows; presented by the citizens OF
Pittsburgh aud Allegheny to Captain
j. G. b. Adlms. commander-in-ohieto OF
the Grand Army Of the Republic, at
the encampment held in Pittsburgh,
1884"
Commnnder-in-Chle Adams called
the delegates to order after the speak
ers had withdrawn. The credentials
of the delegates having been exam
lned the annual reports OF the national
officers We're taken up and read.
Commander Adams opened his q ldress
by congratulating Pittsburgh on its
loyalty now az well 40 during the days
OF the war. citing its liherallty in car
ing for the soldiers from The West on
! their way 10 the trent as Philadelphia
had done for those from the t.astern
| states lie then referred o. the fac'
that four months confinement In q
hospital had prevented him from fully
attending to his duty. but having re-
celved the order in such excellent con
dlton from his predecessor and being
50 ably assisted by his comrades, the
order had not suffered by reason OF
his disability. The membership OF the
order he said. Is as follows;
zone year ago there were In goo'
standing aq7, 223 There haze beel
raIned during the year by muster IN
ig 7bs. bv transfer 1854: BY re-instate
nent Ii. 03s: by Reinstatement from
delinquent reports, 25le Total gain
q. 6G1. Aggregate. 4s6.sSi. There hay
been lost by death. 72Ss; by honoraDl
discharge. 1876. by transfer, 7l32; b.
suspension, s4sO5i BY dlshonoraole o ~,
charge. 1854; . delinquent rerC ts, ID.
az. Total loss. 67,S0l. NanSfr re
maining in good standing June g
lSg4 is 963ogs These figures shoy
mai the Grand Army OF the Repubii
mas reached the beginning OF the en-
and each succeeding year VIII shoN
n gradual decrease in our member
shin. The long continued depression i
business has caused many suspei
sions and these we nope 70 esa
when prosperity returns, but II WI
be impossible for us 10 recruit on
ranks as fast as our members ar
, mustered out by death.
.sDuring the year the Grand Arm
has moi forgotten the great work {
eharitv and has expended S4O37bp
1 Tor relief While II has lost IN men
hership. the Interest in the order ha
not abated but has grown stronger
I M ~, ,lt,ia brgnzs button was nevs
,-arn with more pride than 1t is Il
= day and the enthusiasm OF comrad'
In Grand Army WORK is everywhel
i app ter referring to the celebration {
,-,sriai DAY and other holiday
a ,vbIeh serve to keep Up spirit
u ,',,,ietisn among the people he =
i Serre9 10 the Wonans hshei So'l
:; as follows; ss,,t,Istratio
d ~ canr,ander Of the department (
s,ass.chusetts. have seen the
d. M's .,s rom 4 little band OF earnest W
Il sis~ meeting at the headquarters
ie M department TO- more than ivy
,e ,ncsted wherever a Grand Army y
1t could be found or Worug ~, :.
It ~ his family required assis.a1 ,
n. ne, W enubiic. returned thanks 70 2
,e q tns -, ~ re assistance Il has render
CORPS - .aidisrs and the Work done J.
the CID sol. n ~ the nation by intr
the .,0 en'' Ia salute 70 TIE nag into ~ 4
a neins schools Referring . me ~