The National tribune., 1895-05-02

| 2nu the tnapfaln was encouraged In MS Work
| and final result he was reelected to con
tinue the good work.
| Commander T. G. Lawler arrived and wa
met at the train and escorted to the hall ant
received with the greatest of enthusiasm. Hi:
address was full of sound sense, good advice ant
encouragement to the Department, and wa
listened to with very great pleasure and profit
At the close Of the address the Department Com
mander surprised the COMMANDMENTS Chief, a.
well as the entire Encampment, by saying thai
the Chaplain-in-Chie desired to give the Com.
| mander-in-Chief lecture, for some reason that
he could not explain. The Chaplain then ad.
| vanced and opened out on the COMMANDMENT.
Chief by telling him not to be alarmed from
| anything the Commander had said for he had
no desire to disturb his feelings though the De.
partment had authorized him to cane" him.
Advancing nearer he presented him cane,
| gold headed, made of hickory wood. cut from
the battle-ground of Wilson's Creek, where Gen.
| Lyon fell. He presented the cane to the Com
mander, with the best wishes of the Depart
| ment Of Missouri, with the hope that he might
| live long to enjoy the liberties growing out of
the heroic deeds Of his comrades upon the
bloody battlefield of Wilson'S Creek.
The Commander n-Chief, though usually
verC calm. gave evidence of deep emotion as he
| took in his hand the beautiful gift and thought
| of the terrible battle represented by ii. Yet.
rising above the deep emotions of the heart, he
| pronounced very beautiful speech Of gratitude
to the Chaplain and Department, and said he
would keep the precious treasure to the latest
day, and hand it down to his sons after him.
Gems. Prentiss and Noble were both present,
and added much to the pleasure Of the occa-
sion. The Ransom Howlers. of Ransom Post
ST. Louis as well as quartet of Kansas City.
covered themselves with glory with their war
songs and other airs. Capt. Benika was elected
Commander, and with full roster of officers
the Department starts out or another year of
prosperity. The W.RC. was fortunate in their
work and attendance. The National President,
Mrs. Wallace, of Chicago, and her mother, were
both present. much to the delight and profit
OF the Corps. The Corps was remarkably for.
tunate in the gift of 50 acres of land and q
threestory house as gift for Soldiers Home,
where old veterans and their wives could go
and spend the evening of life. This remark
able gift was from the citizens of ST. James, q
city some 80 miles west of st. Louis. 1t is ex-
pected this gift will be turned over to associa
ton. to use it for the purposes mentioned a
very fortunate thing for the old soldiers of the
Department in need of a home in the evening
of life.
NEW YORK.
The annual Encampment of the Department
will be held at Saratoga Springs, May IA and
Is. The Executive Committee is as follows:
r. S. Remington, Chairman; Z. P. Pendrick,
James Mingay, James r. Gibbs. K. f. Knapp,
G. w. Biodget, o. p. Clarke; e. ID. Thurber,
Secretary and Treasurer.
The Committee on Reception, of which DR..
w. III. Hall, Past Medical Director of the De-
partment, is Chairman, will give reception at
the Hotel Columbia on the evening of May 3.
All are invited-comrades women of the Re-
lief Corps, Ladies of the GAR, Sons Of Vet
erans
Department Chaplain George B. Fairhead,
Brasie Corners, in letter addressed to the De-
partment Commander, says: "As it is not for
the Chaplain to command, i do entreat you to
give your official Amen to my exhortation. The
reports of last Memorial Day, and which exceed
by m ore than hundred the count on reports
OF any previous year, was exceedingly graft
fed at the extensive and glowing fervor of the
services. But two facts made me recall the sad
line: Hark from the tomb dolefnl sound
These facts are that 30 veterans are report
ed as buried in potter's-feld, and 1722 are un-
marked by headstones, resulting from the cir
cumstances of years long past. The State has
made ample provisions for a remedy. In many
towns all past errors have been remedied and
can be in every town. Now my exhortaton is
that every Chaplain be specially empowered to
make particular search for these graves without
headstones and in potter's- field, and employ
all powers Of the Post piety. patriotism and the
people, to remove this great insult to these
oiccpiuh Dc OOUe AT once,
that at next Memorial Day our Fraternity
Charity and Loyalty shall have full demon
stration In honorable work. and not be exhaust
ed in the flowing rhetoric of fervid oratory:
Words are wind, but deeds are gold
If / was Chaplain in any Post where this
error existed, / should not dare to insult the
Supreme Commander with prayer for his
blessing until the Post had repen ted and entered
upon real plan to cure this evil. So, honored
Comm ander, please add your emphatic Amen,
and senI this to the Cha plains"
1t is with pride" says Commander Shots,
in General Orders IA, that can speak of the
interest manifested in the work of the Order in
every part of the State. There were $50 Posts
in good standing Jan. /, 1896, against 657 Jan.
j, 1894. The net loss in mbershp for the year
was zoo. not equal to the death loss of $50,
showing how small effort required to
make a net gain. Many Posts have done good
work in recruiting; Watrous, 30, of Bingham
ton. stands at the head, with a net gain of a.
Posts /. Rochester; a. Naples 1914, Canisteo,
200. Lowville; PIG. Danville; 222. 0lean 266,
Middletown; 300, Plattsburg, and 33l, Roches-
ter, have also made notable gains. There has
been expended in charity over S104. 900, and in
this sum is included but small amount of the
moneys disburscd by the Posts, from town.
county and city poor funds.
The idea of Military instruction in the
Public Schools has moved forward with rapid
strloes. LAWS lor the better protection of the
veteran have been placed upon the Statute
books Of the State. Chapter 220, introduced and
carried through the Legislature by Comrade
Joseph G. Wolff Senator 18th District, of Post
IA, New York City, To enable veterans to
participate in the exercises of Memorial Day.
was signed by the Governor on April g. 1895;
Chapter 344 introduced by Comrade George W.
Brush. Assembyma from the Seventh District
of Kings County and member of Post 327,
Brooklyn. formulated to comply with the pro-
visions of the Revised Constitution, and far
reaching in the benefits it confers upon veter-
ans in every part OF the State was signed by
Gov. Morton, April Is. 1895. Other legislation
in minor matters is in progress. but not yet
completed. The browning law for the veter.
ans is Chapter 34l. giving honorably -dscharg-
ed soldiers and sailors Of the late war prefer.
ence for officers of the State where the pay does
not exceed "a per day. The veterans are under
great obligations TO Comrade Brush for his in
defatigable labors TO perfect and carry through
this measure to SUCCESS. Comrade George w.
Robertson, in the Senate, and C0mrade Henry
i. Sanford OF the Department Law Committee
assisted Comrade Brush in some degree and
many other comrades made suggestions to all
OF whom our thanks are due; and rs well, we
should give word of comm en- dationl TO Gov.
Levi p. Morton for afixing his signature TO
the law the moment it came to his hand. AL
together we can feel highly pleased with the
work OF the organization.
OHIO
Gen. Mutt, Commander of the Department of
Ohio, was the special guest of George d. Harter
..pl he nj her Hay mad lI,, bo