The National tribune., 1897-09-09
HEADQUARTERS CoMMANDERY-IN-CH CHIEF,
Sons OF VETERANS, U. S. A.,

|
! BROTHERS: We are again permitted to meet
to review the events of the past year and legis-
late for the future. Let hope that our de-
alterations may bring increased prosperity to
our beloved Order. In accounting to you Tor
the administration of your affairs during the
term rapidly drawing to close. and
mindful of the fact that much of that which
may have been desired remains undone, 1t is
| with a sense of consciousness of having en-
deavored with fidelity and impartiality to full
fill the honorable position to which you elected
me at Louisville last year that now return 10
you this precious charge.
HEADQUARTERS were established in Rooms 81
80, Second National Bank Building, Reading,
Pa, on Sept. 10 1896, although the furniture
and many of the official records did not reach
us until nearly month thereafter, through
having encountered a railroad wreck en- rOute.
My bond was duly executed, submitted TO
and accepted by the Council-in-Chief. The
Adjutant- Generals bond was promptly exc
cuted and accepted by me. The system OF rec
ords contemplated by the c., r. and T., and 80
ably maintained by my illustrIons predecessors,
has been continued. new Commission Rec
ord has been provided, ms well standard
blank covering the financial transactions be-
tween the COMMUNICATIVE Chief and the
| QuartermaSter- General.
The Order as at present constituted seems to
be amply and well governed by the existing e.,
r. and L. without making any changes, there
| by causing that confusion and dissatisfaction
which constantly harassed Camp, Division and
| Commandery-in- Chief officers during the carrier
| years of our organization.
| | would suggest, however, that condensed
| historical sketch of the Order be prepared and
added to the next edition of the G., X. and X.
1t should be brief and cover those points which
are invariably inquired for aud of necessity
require explanation by circular correspond
|
| THE BLUE BOOK.
| 1t is not only desirable but imperative that
we should have we'll indeed codifcation OF
| the decisions which have been rendered and ac-
| cepted by this body, but in view OF the cost
connected with the work If published III the
| form of the now obsolete Blue Book this pub
| lication could doubtless be kept within our
financial limits and serve all purposes If pre-
pared and issued as appendix to and part OF
the present edition of the c., K. and r., where
by an electrotyped plate or plates covering any
| subsequent changes additions could be pre-
pared at omparatively small cost. / am under
the impression that a committee was appointed
| by the 18th annual Encampment to codify and
! index the decisions for a new Blue Book, aud
/ it is possible that the results of their labors at
but slight additional expense, might be made
available for this purpose.
| RITUAL.
There is a difference Of opinion as to the de.
STABILITY and effectiveness Of the present three
degree ritual and whilst there is quite de-
| cided expression i'll favor of return to a
| single degree work, / am strongly convinced
! that we will never satisfactorily overcome the
objections to our ritualistc forms until we
! adopt the suggestion, so strongly advanced at
our last sessions, to entrust the task OF prcpar-
ing our ritual to some competent author
specially versed and gifted in the production
! of work of this character. We must recognize,
without in the least undertaking the literary
ability of the author of the present work, that
the production of successful ritual embody-
ing at once dramatic action with an attractive
motive, effective, yet brief and easy of execu-
ton, calls for peculiar ability, which We can
scarcely expect to find if we entrust the work
to a committee selected at random from the
members of this body.
CoURTs-MAR rIAL.
Only three courts-martial proceedings were
! submitted to me for review and approval during
| the past year, q truly remarkable and gratify-
! ing record, clearly demonstrating that serious
| in fractions Of our laws are the exception. The
proceedings were in each case referred TO the
Judge Advocate General, and upon his recon-
mendation approved
BONDS OF DIVISION COMMANDERS.
! The form for bonds Of Division Commanders,
prepared under the supervision of my prede-
cessor has now been in use sufficiently long to
demonstrate its value. 1t has, up.to this time
met all of the requ irements but to increase its
efficiency. and acting in accord with Decision
| % of Past Commander n- Chief Russell, /
have had prepared by the Judge Advocate Cen
eraI blank form for the release of such bonds.
The bonds of the recently elected Di vision
| Commanders have been approved and filed
! with the Quarternaste ter General for all of the
| Divisions Oregon alone excepted. This bond
was returned for correction and will doubtless
l.
| few days.
Our Divisions generally are in satisfactory
condition, well otfcered by enthusiastic
| brothers who strive for excellence. One ser-
Gus fault, however, Is common to most all
sowness in making quarterly returns-to
which the Adjutant-GeHeral makes mora ex-
tended reference in his report. The fault, of
course, is primarily with the Camps. and the
delinquency from this source simply keeps on
magnifying itself until it reaches the Com
mandery-in- Chief Headquarters, resulting in
| the necessity for extended correspondence con-
Stunning time and attention that should be more
proftably given to matters for the general good
of the organization at large. A reference to
| General Orders issued during the year will
show plainly to what extent members Of the
Order have suffered through being compelled
to wait fer months for the promu CATION of re-
| ports containing information which they
rightly may expect within reasonable time
after the close of the quarter.
The Oregon Division has not been in a
| bealthyNor pros porous condition, due to the in
| difference and neglect Of the recent Com
mauder who, in addition to allowing the rou-
tine work of his office to take care of itself
| deliberately removed from the Division with
out proper leave The Washington Division
suffered similarly, although the trouble in this
case was due to reported illness in the family of
the then Commander. There is little excuse,
however, to be offered by q Division officer for
the failure to at least ack now ledge official COM
munications Both of these Divisions | am
pleased to say. have elected Commanders who
seem to be interested in their work, and to
possess the ability and energy necessary to re-
store confidence, and bring these Divisions to a
prosperous condition.
The c., r. and Il. provides no penalty or
form of discipline for derelictions the part
of Division officers, other than loss of repre-
sentation in the annual Encampments, the
revocation of charter after failure for three
quarters to make returns; penalties which. in
my Judgment, are inadequate. in that the D
| vision, through neglect the part OF its Off
GERS, may be hopelessly wrecked before the
fail to attach penalty for neglect, SO long viii
we have to endure the evils complained Of.
COMMITTEES.
| At the last sessions of the COMMANDMENT
| Chief the spirit of economy asserted itself Il
| such mark ed extent that one would be led Il
suppose that our treasury had been rredeemably
bankrupted, that this body made up o
a class recruited from the milionaires of oul