Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-10-12
Approaching National Encampment
Of Union Veteran Legion.
OBJECTS OF TIE POPULAR ORDER
A Large Attendance Expected at
the important Gathering.
PREPARING THE PROGRAM

per and Capt. David Lowery. These gen.
tlemen were imbued with the idea that an
organization should be formed composed OF
none but real soldiers who had seen active
service for long period, and who had
served their country from none other than
patriotic motives, and where all who en-
tered should oe and had been comrades not
only in name, but in fact, as well. At the
outset the rules required that a comrade to
be eligible for membership must have
served at least two years in the army, I'M
less discharged for wounds or disabilities.
In a short time, however, this rule was SO
amended that an applicant to be eligible
for membership must have volunteered
prior to the order for the first draft, and
have served two continuous years, unless
discharged for wounds received in line of
duty, thus rendering ineligible those dis
charged for disability unless they had
served the requisite period. Capt. Lowery,
who was one OF the organizers of the le-
gion, and who was enthusiastic in his de-
yotion to its cause had served within two
months of the required two years, and had
been discharged for disability, from which
ne still suffered, but he himself advocated
the amendment and resigned his member
ship, declaring that under the first rule
the legion would be open to many of the
Veriest towards who had escaped from the
service under the plea of disability when
their real disease was cowardice.
Early Critfcfsms.
When the order was first organized many
claimed that it was antagonistic to other
soldier organizations, and the motives Of
the organizers and those who Joined the le-
gion were frequently called into question.
1t was claimed particularly that the or
ganization was called into being by opposi-
ton to the G. A. r., but the fact was that
all the founders were active workers in the
Grand Army. One had been the first men,
Der in Pennsylvania mustered into the G.
A r.. and two Of them were past com
mGnders Of the Department of Pennsyiva-
MA. The criticism to which the legion was
subjected, however, did not last for any
length of time because as soon as the real
intentions of the organization became gen
orally known they were highly approved
by all patriotic people. The rules for adj
mission to membership were made more
and more rigid, and the original idea to
nave and maintain an organization where
patriotism, service and bravery shall be
distinctive features was steadily adhered
to- The first encampment which was
formed in Pittsburg was duly chartered by
the court of common pleas No. ] of Allie
gheny county two of the judges of which
ana Its officers were constituted the ma
ticnal officers of the order until the forma-
ton OF the national encampment at Pitts
burg. November ID, 1855. at which time
the states of Pennsylvania Ohio, Massa-
chusetts and Iowa Today there are las
encampments, with a membership of al
most 2O,V9.
Objects Of the Organization.
The objects of the Union Veteran Legion
are: First, the cultivation of true devotion
to American government and institutions:
| second, the neral, social and Intellectual
Improvement otsits members, and the re-
lief Of the Widows and orphans in sickness
and distress: third, the preservation of
friendly relations among those who Fought
FOR the maintenance of the Union; fourth
TO perpetuate by the personal example and
influence Of its members the three great
principles of fraternity, charity and pa
trlotlsn: fifth, all things being equal. TO
give preference to its members in all BUS
mess relations and to assist il as far as
possible il all honorable ways. The Quail
LEGATIONS for membership are that the ap-
plloaTt must have been officer, soldier
sailor or marine OF the Union army rayy
or marine corps during the war Of the
| rebellion, who volunteered prior TO July J.
1863, for period of three years and was
honordbiy discharged for any Cause after
g term of service of at least two con
tlnuouS years, or was at any time dis
| charged by reason Of wounds received in
J line of duty. Also, those who volunteered
for term of two years prior to July D.
| 1851, and served their full term of enlist.
| ment without discharge for wounds le-
oeived in line of duty. But two black ball.
| are necessary TO reject an applicant, il he
| ing obligatory upon any comrade 20 black
| ball any applicant whose character as a
| soldier is not above suspicion, and " hose
| record as citizen is not clear. No per.
| son who was drafted or served as a sub.
| stitute for some one else during The va,
| or who has ever borne arms again Tho
| United States is eligible for membership
The Union Veteran Legion consists of 8
| national organization Known as the Ma
i n m l.ane nf hn ~af,
| Legion, and minor organizations known a:
| encampments.
Those Who Are Coming.
| The eleventh national encampment of tn,
/ Union Veteran Legion will be held IL
| Washington this week, and business O
! much Importance will be transacted TIL
| business meetings will be held at the Build
| ers' Exchange Hall, on 18th street between
| G and Fl streets, and an interesting pro
| gram will be arranged for the en-
| tertainment of the visitors during thei
| soJourn in Washington. The national Off
| GERS of the legion are follows: Nationa
| commander, Geo. c. James, Cincinnati
| Ohio; senior vice national comma nder W
S. Norcross, Lewiston, Me-; Junior vice ma
| tional commander ThoS. j. McGinly, Phila
delphia, Pa; adjutant general, Edmund ID
Spooner, Cincinnati, Ohio: Quartermaste
general, w Potter Kremer. New Yorl
city; judge advocate general, Jacob +
! Slagle, Pittsburg. Pa: surgeon general
| Clarence T. Smith, Philadelphia Pa: in
spector general, Daniel Caldwell, Philadel
phia, Pa: chief mastering officer, Chas. A
| Foster, Wilmington, Del.
Encnmpments and Their Officers.
The encampments which will take part Il
the national gathering and their chief Off
GERS are as follows:
| No. l, Pittsburg, Pa.-Colonel, Archibald
Rlakeley; adjutant. Geo. b. Chalmers; 4
d. c. national staff. Col. c. F. McKenna
No. 9, Philadelphia, Pa.-Colonel, Pierso
Jones; adjutant. L. N. Kieffer; A. d. C. ma
| tional staff. Col Joseph i. Cornet.
No. 3, Youngstown, Ohio-Colonel, JOS s
Seifert; adjutant, J. w. Jewhurst.
No. 4, Beaver Falls, Pa.--Colonel, VIM
Merriman; adjutant. G. w. Cleis.
No. 10. New Bedford, Mass. Colone
Francis P Washburn, Aceeshuet, Mass
adjutant, John w. Footman.
No. 30. Mt Vernon, Ohio-Colonel, Mar
cena NJ. Murphy: adjutant, Alexander Cas-
sill; A. d. c. national staff. Col. John I
! Whitworth.
No &c. Tyrone. Pa.-Colonel. c. G. Cook
adjutant, Martin Burnley; A. ID. c. nationa
staff, Aaron Vanscoyoc.
No. 49, Allentown, Pa.--Colonel, Thoma
Williams: adjutant, Ed. Maggie; A. d. {
national staff, Col. Levi Huber.
No. 81, Newark, Ohio-Colonel H. o. Dol