The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-07-16
SONS OF VETERANS.
News from Various DiviSiOns---Elec-
ton of Officers, etc.
THE 6. OF ". RITUAL
A Letter from Maj. A. Z. Davis, the Founder
of the Order.

many cases. The letter has been so favorably
commented on that am advised and prompted
to send you a copy.
Knowing your long-continued appreciation
Of our Order and your interest in it, beg to
ask that you will examine the letter and Will
consider and comment upon it.
The past experience of the GAR. in SINH
lar direction 10 that being followed by the Sons
Of Veterans at the present time regarding their
ritualisic work is well worthy of considera-
ton by the younger organization, which Is
not making the progress it is entitled to, the
cause of which l fully believe to mainly be that
which have stated.
Trusting and believing that you will give
the matter some attention, remain, very
truly yours in F., c. and LA. z. DAVIS.
PTrTsBURG PA, june 4, 1896.
Commander-in. Chief w. II. RUSSELL of Sons
of Veterans, U. s. A., Lacrosse. Kan.
My DEAR FRIEND AND BROTHER: You have
for long time been aware that have taken
little or no part in shaping the legislation Of
the Order | have not taken tn is course, in any
degree, because my interest has grown less for
| still have, and will continue TO have while
my life lasts, the same deep interest in the
Sons of Veterans, U. s. A., that / did during
its earlier and weaker days. When the
Order reached point in membership and
felt that | could WELL in a measure, drop out
and leave to others the work that they were
better fitted both mentally and physically, to
perform than myself.
From time to time a matter Of importance
has been presented to me, and now feel it my
duty to write you on the subject. 1t is regard
ing our Ritual, and through you / greatly de-
sire to gain the attention OF the committee on
the same, accompanied by your own views on
the important question. My attention was
again called to the matter on Memorial Day.
This morning brother workin at my house,
who bids fair to his Camp go under, ex-
planned to me the trouble, and | at once de-
cded to write you, and to reach the Commit
tee, whose names and addresses are not known
to me. You will recall that some years ago
demand arose Tor more elaborate work and
more extended ritual, and that legislation
was had on the subject After some delay,
a three-degree ritual was presented and adopt
ed. and the one-degree ritual IN use at the
time was abandoned. This was all right and
well enough, if the existing conditions for the
adoption Of three-degree work were favorable
If Camp had the necessary membership and
attendance to properly handle and carry out
tho prescribed work of a three-degree ritual,
it has heen all well and good; but to the many,
many well-meaniDg and earnest Camps OF the
country who by circumstances have limited
membership and still more limited attend
ance, the amplified work meant loss of interest,
discou ragemeDt, and in due time and in far
too many cases, death. / have personal knowl-
edge of more than one Camp that has been
forced to give up altogether or unite with some
other Camp, az they we're wholly unable 10
handle tho extended work. This is too bad,
and is greatly to be regretted. 1t is deplorabie
TO have large number of our Camps wholly
unable TO handle the amplified work, and, as
a consequence to see their membership drop
nH foil of hp atatp
vestigation will develop to you all that | sSy
the subject. and the matter is far too i'm
portant to be covered up or lightly passed over.
Again, we can well profit by the past sad ex-
perience of the Grand Army Of the Republic
in solving this important question. In It's
early days, this organization started out on
simple and practical one-degree basis. In 1868
a demand sprang up for more elaborate and
extended work; and at the third annual En-
campment, held at Cincinnati in May, 1869, an
entire change was made In Rules aud Reguls-
lions and Ritual, providing for what was called
the grade or three-degree system. The change
proved very unfortunate one. 1t is stated
by the GAR. Official Historian, Comrade
Beath of Philadelphia, Pa, that when the
three degree system was adopted, it was esti-
mated that the Grand Army OF the Republic
had some 240 600 rolled members. After two
years trial, the system was entirely abolished.
Comrade Beath states that when the abolish
ment of the three-degree system was made,
less than $4,000 members remained. Since
then, the GAR. has used the one-degree sys-
TEN and no other. The change back from
three. degrees to one resulted in restoring har-
mony. in restoring confidence, and in an early
aud steady increase in membership.
We well heed the experience OF our
parent association, and can also well profit by
it. 1t is Of vital Importance that we have
Ritual or Rituals that are suited to the location,
condition and circumstances that surround
each Camp. You will now probably desire to
know what l have to offer and what | aim to
propose. | do not feel like proposing anything
further than / would earnestly suggest and
urge that the Order take such course at its
next annual Eucampment as will enable it to
better hold its Camps and membership, and, at |
the same time. furnish no grounds for Opposi- |
ton or complaint from any locality or from
any source.
To this end I would sustain and plead for |
the adoption of course as follows:
First. | would suggest that for the present, |
at least, we retain and keep in use the present |
three-degree work in its present shape. or as it |
may from time to time be changed. No doubt |
the committee now at work will present some |
very desirable and acceptable changes that |
will be duly adopted. TO attempt to abandon |
the three degree work and Ritual would be in
expedicnt. IL would cause dissatisfaction and |
develop opposition.
Second. | would also earnestly suggest that
one-degree Ritual be provided aud adopted at
The next annual Encampment and that it be
left optional with the Camps to use either of
the two systems, as their circumstances and
conditions may approve and demand. The
original Ritual of Oct. 49, 1882 that in use
in lSS3-'S4, printed by Commander in Chief
Merrill will. l believe, be acceptable. or will
form an easy basis to work from. and the ar
rangement of the work be done at little
loss Of time or labor. The two systems could
be printed aud bound together in the same
book, and the increased cost would be small
and inimportaut.
plan like the foregoing will enable the
Order to far better hold its Camps in line, es-
and will also enable the Camps to hold and in
crease their membership. As now go on,
one after another of our old Camps drop out;
we organize new ones, they go on for a period,
and then an unfortunate and largo proportion
of them dwindle and die.
My dear brother, beg of you to take this
into serious consideration and to study
it carefully and well. To my mind the subject
(outside OF system of life insurance, which |
have always favored) is one of the utmost i'm
portance.
Our Order is not prospecting rs it should and
II my Judgment is OF any value, il seems to me
that the foregoing views properly carried out
offer n remedy anu source of relief.
will incIose to you some duplicate copies of
this communication, which i trust you will
lay before your Committee on Ritual and
others, your judgment may dictate.
Yours, most truly, in f., c. and L.,