The National tribune., 1895-05-16


give tender thought to their memories and
strive to make cur womanhood as true a:
theirs"
MUSTERED OUT.
One year ago Comrade James F. Mech. hon
orary member of the Department oil Massa'
chusetts, WR.C., was tho honored AdJntant
General Of the Grand Army OF the Republic
Young in appearance and years for solder Of
the Union, long life and usefulness seemed to
lie before him. Loved, trusted, and honored by
women and men, happy in home, family, com
| rades and friends, to him came pleasures vouch
| safed 10 few.
And now he has answered the last summons;
he has been mustered out of the ranks and
entered upon higher service; he has Joined
| the mighty army on the other side.
There are few, indeed, whose passing away
would have caused such universal sorrow, while
| to Massachusetts, W.RC., one and all, it is like
| the loss Of a brother. A memorial order issued
| by the Department President of Massachusetts
orders all Corps charters draped for 20 days,
and asks each Corps in preparing Memorial Day
| offerings to arrange special tribute In MS
memory. Following is from General orders:
God calls our loved ones. but we lose not wholly
What He hath given;
They live on earth. in thought and decd, as truly
\ As in His Heaven"
| With saddened heart your Department. Presi-
dent is called upon to announce to the Corps OF
| tuis DeFHrtHehs tnat our TeVelcu hoHoBaiy
member, Capt. James +. Mech, has responded
to tho call, well done, good and faithful
servant, enter thou into the home OF tho blest."
Sad hearted that no more in this life can We see
| his noble, kindly face or receive his words of
| counsel and advice; grateful that such man
has lived and his influence for good been ours
| for SO many years.
Our Department has lost its only honorary
member, and our Order grand and loyal sup
porter. To his unqualified support. his un-
swerving loyalty to our cause, added to his
| faith in woman, is the success Of our Depart
| ment in Massachusetts largely indebted for all
| that it has attained or accomplished.
With our hearts OVERLOOKING with sympathy
| for tho bereavod family, and with grief for our
| Army, who have another proof that their circle
| here is growing smaller, yet with faith We can
still look up and say, Thy will, 0, God, be
| DONE"
ABOUT GENERAL ORDERS.
I Why do not our W.RC. officers study the
usages OF the Army Of the Grand Army OF the
Republic, and other like organi cations, in issu-
| ing their official commands?
Should they do SO, they would never so fire.
| quently fall into tho very bad form of heading
their promulgatory commands General Or
| der" when it should be General Orders"
| Many good laugh veterans bad in the
| esrly days when the W.RC. began to issue
Orders. There was no uniformity in style, In
size, print. paper. or headings.
Some of the General Orders were like adver-
Using dodgers, and enc of the chisfdutiss of our
early officials was TO give instructions III This
very important branch of official usage.
why General Orders" said one Of our dear,
unsopbisticatsd officers, when informed by
grim and griZzled army Adjutant this was the
style to be observed; why General Orders,
| when this is only the frst of series"
Is there only one Order issued" was tho
| rejOinder. "Only one; why, / thought you
told me you would send out several thousand
to begin with"
Now, it does seem strange that IL years after
the formation of the National W.R.C., wholly
regardless of the style of National General Or
ders, which should DO n guide, in the face OF
the most ample instructions from regularly con-
stituted officials, there should DO such frequent
lapses upon the part of our W.RC. women.
One of the prettest Orders lying on the
Editors table refers to "a General Order" al
| though the printer has made the heading all
right, while several others are in error in the
naming. -M
Our officers should brush up on these things.
No one wants to be laughed at, and it is well
to bear in mind that there those Who believe
women are not accurate enough to give SOL
dier's attention to details.
Besides. General Orders " is mandatory now.
In the report of Elizabeth Darcy Kline. Ma
tional Counselor, Opinion 20, page 1l6, Journal
of Twelfth National Convention, reads IS fol-
lows:
Q. 20. Which is correct, General Order"
or General Ordersn2
A. General Orders" is correct Each Ma
tional and Department President issues a series
of Orders every one of which is ono of the
series Of Orders not Order and should SO appear.
This decision appears as Case 20. APP
proved" page 275, Journal OF Proceedings.
PATRIOTIC TEACHING.
Department President Emma E. Knapp of
Michigan. has appointed Past Department
President Mary A. Minds, of Stanton, the
Chairman of Department Committee on Patri-
otto Instruction. Corps Presidents are urged
to lend every assistance in this important
work.
The Relief Corps Of Mexico, N. Y, introduced
he American Patriotic Salute at New Eng
.ind supper, when the W.R.C wore the Martha
Washington cape5 and caps and the 8. of V.
Colonial queues and knee breeches- The
American Patriotic Salute was given by 25
children, after which resolutions were passed
calling upon the authorities to have it placed
in the schools.
patriot Sous of Patriot Sires" is the title of
a new song written by the venerable DIR. s. F.
Smith. author of My Country, 'Tis OF Thee"
for Young America" 1t is one OF the Beacon
Series of Vocal Selections This song is printed
W
holidays by Silver Rurdett & Co., Boston, New
York, Chicago. and Philadelphia.
All the school children of Saginaw, Mich,
from the schools which recently received the
flags from the W.R.C.. will assist the Posts and
Corps in the observances OF Memorial Day.
The spirit of patriotism is marching ON.
The best compound interest and oftenest
com pounded, is that which accrues from patri-
otto investments. as those who are placing the
flags and Introducing the salute are fast finding
out.
Let the names Of many Michigan women
swell the list of Founders of the National
Council of Women Fund.-" says Department
President Knapp in calling attention TO tho
little lcafet issued Secretary Louise Barnum
Robbins, of the Committee OH Volunteer Fund
This appeal" she adds, is made for the pur-
pose of extending the influence into wider fields
AND exalting the mission of the W.R.C. before
all womanhood."
The flag festival, arranged by Mary B. Ing
ham, 203 Franklin avenue. Cleveland, O., is
again recommended in connection with flag
ra.ings other patriotic exercises.
Friends, 90 not forget our stricken comrade,
]. G. Griggs, Beverly, o., and his fine song,
Flag of Our Unon," in ordering Campfire and
Memorial Day music. 1t has ringing chorus,
and 25 cents will buy it,
FIRST DAKOTA SCHOOL FLAG
Julia Prinsle Sanders, Mitchell, S. D., writes
that Mr.. Price. of Yankton County, is mistaken
when he says the first flag over Dakota school
house has just been raised referring to a school,