The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-07-05


Chaplains Are Waking Up-others Must Be
Aroused Out of Sleep-A Good Suggestion
in Regard to Memorial Service.
FROM RHODE ISLAND.
ana In favor of the movement and promise
with the Lords help to do what / can in tia
support. / Joined our noble Order in 1863. in
small country Post in Massachusetts,. I
served as chaplain several years thers. re-
moved to Providence, r. l.; Joined Slocum
Post, 10; was called to the Chaplain's chair 70
I'll vacancy OF three months was then elect
ed as chaplain, and am at present serving nv
sixth term as Chaplain of sloeum = ost.
In our GAR. Service Book is Memorial
Service IN honor of comrades who have dad
during the year. This service is usually held
ID the Festivals. But felt that it might
Dc MADE much more impressive by taking it
20 some church. l realized that 3 new gem
Grafton mas come upon the stage Of action, Who
know but little of our organization Then.
again, IN the churches there would be more
10 see tne service than in the Post rooms
Wnere only few would be present
brought it before the Post. and al.bouzh
there was some objection it was decided to try
1t. The entire service was taken TO one Of
our churches, the Post Chaplain and other
orncers performing their parts, and the cougre-
CATION joining with the comrades in the re-
sponsive service. 1t was a complete success.
the Post performing the entire service except
the singing and sermon. Our Post has held
TWO OF these services, and the public az large
have had the chance to know what the Fra.
ternlty of the GAR is. / am very confident
tnat the movement is a good one and good
has been done
am proud of the Post represent, and con-
slder myself highly honored in being worthy
OF the sacred office / occupy. We have be-
tween Tour and i've hundred members at
present.
Comrades. let Us move forward. trusting in
the Great Captain of our salvation, to make our
Association means of great goOd.-IsAAc
CRocKER, Providence, r. I.
HEADQUARTERS CIRCULAR.
Chaplain-in- Chief A. " Kend rick has issued
the following circular letter to the GAR.
Chaplsins. 1t is worthy the attention of all.
The Executive Committee of the National
Council of Administration having adopted .
uniform blank for Post Chaplains' reports, with
the nope OF securing uniformity in reports Of
Memorial Day exercises, send this appeal 10
Department and Post Chaplains to put faith
and diligence In gathering the several items
going to make up your reports.
The office OF Chaplain has not been magni-
fed as it should be; not because it is of no i'm
portance, nor that the comrades look upon il as
such, but because the comrades occupying the
incumbent upon them. The fact that no other
office OF the Grand Army of the Republic fur
nishes some of the items called for in the ae.
companying blank for Chaplain's reports, and
that they are of general interest to the COM
rades, especially those showing attendance
upon Memorial Day exercises, and those show
ing number of comrades buried in Potter's
Field or in graves unmarked by proper head
stones, make il imperative that these reports
De made out with great care as soon after Men,
orial Day as possible and forwarded to Depart
ment Chsplsins and by them consolidated and
forwarded to this office. appeal TO the nearly
5000 Chaplans of the Grand Army of the Re-
public to magnify your office.
THAT your comrades have put Won into tbfs
sacred office is mark of confidence they place
in you, and should stir you to diIigent per.
formance of duty. As age comes on apace the
old boys are looking more and more to the
camping ground beyond and this makes the
office of Chaplain one of peculiar responsibility,
While our demeanOr before the Post should be
in keeping with our sacred office, yet it should
be free from cant or over-seriousness; but on
the contrary the Chaplain should scatter sun
shine by his CHEEKY, happy way, in the path
way of the comrades
cit is with pleasure call attention to the
organization of 'Chaplains of the Grand Army
of the Republic effected at Indianapolis last
Fall, of which Past Chaplain-in-Chie d. r
Lowell is President, and George K. Hoover.
Department Chaplain of Department of Iowa,
Secretary and Treasurer The objects of this
are to draw the Chaplains closer
to each other and to increase their efficiency.
1.-THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE has granted to
this new organization a column to be known as
GAR Chaplains Column and earnestly
solicits short pointed communications"
MORE GOOD ACCOMPLISHED.
Memorial Day, according to all reports was
this year better and more universally observed
than ever before. Our Memorial Day symposium
has stirred somewhat of an increased interest.
The following letter will illustrate how the
good leaven is working:
I'm reading what the Chaplains in some Of
the Western States have to say and recommend
in regard to Memorial Sunday and Memorial
Day as published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE
for several months past have become very
much interested, and believe that greater good
can be accomplished if those recommendations
are adopted. Gilman G. Parker Post, 153, Of
this city, has tried this plan this year, and has
beyond our expectations. On Me-
mortal Sunday the members of the Post, in full
uniform, assembled at the church with the Re-
lief Corps and Sons of Veterans. We were
seated in the cenrsl portion of the house and
citizens filed all the remaining seats.-G. s. A.
BRYANT, Chaplain, Post 153, Winchendon,
Mass.