The National tribune., 1897-08-26


BY delinquent Reinstatement ....... 6S07
TOTAL satn.............- 32.gZ9
Aggregate. 353 639
BY death. ..................... 75l5
BY honorable discharge. .....--....... l.257
BY transfer ... ...... .................... J,6i2
by suspension ............... 30.T1l
BY dishonorabie discharge al
BY delinquent reports .................. 1881
BY surrender of charter ........-........ COG
Total loss o. iS3
In good standing June so. 3l9 456
Remaining suspended 1850
Total membership ........... ....... 362. sl6
The beginning of the end is in sight the day
OF smaller things is upon US. We are far past
the meridian individually. and as an Order the
stream is running rapidly down the hill Age
and poverty are making great inroad5 into the
ranks Suspensions are numerous, charters
are being surrendered. The hearts are in the
right place, but the inevitable is before US
What shall we do? Stand shoulder TO shoulder
until the last file is closed. Recruit the ranks
until every honorable discharge is recorded in
the descriptive book, and every suspended CON-
rade is again touching elbows with his fellows
Establish Picket Posts along the whole line as
provided in the Rules and Regulations, cheer
up the weakening, encourage the thoughtless.
Stand by your comrades though all the world
assail.
FINANCES.
The Quartermaster- General has been a most
Invaluable officer, always faithful. attentive;
and ready. His report should have careful at
tention. Owing to the steady decrease in the
membership and the very small burden i'm
posed by tbs National per capita OF two and
one-haif cents, 1 believe that the best interests
OF one half cent in the per capita, making il
tDrp4 tnataad 0f and half
annum.
SOLDIERS HOMES.
To the macy and arduous duties Of my faith.
full and hard working Inspector General, Com
rade Charles A. Suydam, / added an investiga-
ton into and report upon Soldiers Homes, that
We might form an idea OF the muBifcencs OF
cur Government in this direction, and the
magnificent manner in which many Of the
States have fulfilled their obligations to the
veteran. The reports upon this subject while
very incomplete, afford much satisfaction at
the thought that the last days of very many
thousands Of the old veterans have BEEN are
being. and will continue to be made comfort.
able and comparatively happy, and free from
the trials aud struggles Of the outside world,
with which they are by ags and infrmity IN.
able TO contend 1888 veterans were cared
for in National Homes during 1896, besides
many more in State Homes. The good thus
accomplished by magnanimous people is be-
yond compare.
The whole report is most interesting and
commend his recommendations to your
thoughtful consideration.
MEMORIAL DAY.
The report OF our most sincere and earnest
Comrade, Mark b. Taylor, the Chaplain.in.
Chief, shows fully the greatly increased interest
manifested everywhere in the observance of this
sacred day. 1t should be read by everybody
intpreStpd Vhpre a dean meaning N Mo-
mortal Day. 1t means not only tribute and
an honor to the dead but means a strong and
lasting lesson in patriotism to the living. The
assembling OF the children upon these occasions
and their participation in the solemn exercises
of the day make impressions upon their young
minds that time cannot effsce; and az result
of such participation, and of the lessons of pat
riotism taught in the public schools, which
the Woman's Relief Corps and the comrades
have so greatly encouraged, and the part they
take in the demonstrations at our Department
Encampments, our children are growing up so
strengthened and imbued with love of country
and tue flag, and reverence for the veteran who
imperled his life for them, that as they grow
up they will be to our Nation a great rock of
defense, against which the waves of trouble
may beat without avail.
Every request for flags with which to decorate
the graves of our comrades in the National
cemeteries, and in many instances for funds to
defray the necessary attendant expenses, we
were. through the generosity of Posts and Wo-
mans Relief Corps able to comply with, and
We know of no neglected graves of known or
unknown. In many Of the Southern eeme-
teries We were aided and our duties lightened
by the cooperation of the Confederate vet
Grams, and We thank them, and would help
them in their sacred work.
1u q number of cases, too the ceremonies
were made more elaborate and impressive by
the presence of Regular troops, directed by Com
rade Russell A. Alger. the Secretary of War, to
participate. The attendance of Posts at Sun
day Memorial services at the churches was IN
usually large, and this beautiful custom should
grow
In more than ever of the Departments the
presence of one or more comrades at each of the
public schools on the Friday before Memorial
Day, to talk to the children on the objects aud
lessons of Memorial Day and why they are
asked to bring flowers, was observed, and as q
result in many places moro flowers were con-
tributed than could be conveniently used.
This is q lasting and valuable work, and should
be sacredly attended to in every Department..
an not one of those who believe that day
est blished 80 years ago by our beloved Com
Chief Logan, and since made holy
day. and a holiday by legal enactment in a
majority of the States, should be changed
simply because lot of hoodlums, or thoughtless
men ana women deSecrate IL by games aud
races. A large majority of our people are OBJ
servers of the Sabbath day, and they do not
consider parades and public demonstrations
seemly upon that day, and their wishes should
be respected, for we look to them rather
than to the thOughtless for the moral support
we need. If games and races cannot be sup
pressed on such sacred day by moral suason aud
the effect of the participation in its sacred work
by vast numbers of our best citizens, then no
change of that day could effect such result.
JUDICIAL WORK.
The work OF the Judicial Department for
the year has been quite important aud onerous,
and | commend TO your careful consideration
the report of the Judge-Advoeate-G General.
Comrade Albert Clarke, who has given the
duties of the office great care and Judgment.
strongly indOrse. with careful restrictions, the
made by him.
THE STAFF.
/ have been sngularly fortunate in the selec-
ton of my Chief-of-StaH and Aids in the sew
cral Departments. The position of Abide
Camp on tho National staff has long been looked
upon as a simple honor without carrying with it
any duty. This was not the case in the army,
where the staff were at all times called upon
for the most delicate and dangerous duty, and
ii efficient were q necessity to the commanding
officer.
l have tried to impress upon my staff. and
have been strongly supported therein by my
Chief that they might be of great service to
both myself and the Order, by forming associa-
w. EACH OLD On FREE