The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-09
From the Philadelphia Ledger.

From the Philadelphia Ledger.
The idea of organizing every ele-
ment of the army which had united
to save the union into one grand or
Eanization, with the officers and men
on equal footing. all governed by the
same rules and regulations is credited
TO Chaplain w. ]. Rutledge, of the
Fourteenth Illinois infantry. The hon
or of its practical development be-
longs to Major b. +. Stephenson, of the
same regiment. Stephenson and Rut-
ledge were soldier "partners"-that is,
tent mates and Cronies in the war.
1t was during the Meridian expedition,
under Sherman, at the beginning of
1864, that the conception of Cementing
the friendship of the old soldiers after
the war was over by organizing a
grand society occurred to the mind of
Chaplain Rutledge. It was natural
that the idea should be discussed with
his bosom companion, Major Stephen
son. Both were soon confident of it's
feasibility, and both were earnestly in
favor of setting the project on foot as
soon as the favorable moment arrived.
After the war was over and the final
parting came, Stephenson and Rut-
ledge, residents of different quarters of
Illinois and somewhat remote from
each other, never losing sight of their
idea, correspOnded together on the sub
ject Meanwhile DR.. Stephenson had
already opened up the question and
submitted rough notes of proposed
ritual for such an organization to sew
eral interested persons in Springfield,
ILL.,, where the late Chaplain Rutledge
met him in the month of March, 1866.
1t was during this conference between
the two, and others who had been con-
suited and become interested, that the
germ of the Grand Army of the Re-
public as we see it today sprang into
consistent form. This preliminary
work at Springfield was participated
in by hardly more than a dozen men.
Besides the original projectors, Rut-
ledge and Stephenson. they We're aid
ed by Colonels Martin Flood. Daniel
Grass, Edward Prince, John NJ Snyder
Majors r. NJ. Woods and Robert Allen
Captains John S. Phelps, b. F. Smith,
DR.. James Hamilton and two or three
others
POST NO. /.
The ritual for the organization was
Captain Phelps. The latter had risen
from the ranks in the Thirty second
Illinois infantry. Some secrecy was
preserved. and the printing of the ritu-
al was placed in the hands of Phelps
who took it to another town-to the
office of the Decatur Gll) Tribune,
whose pronrietors and all their en-
plOyeS were soldiers. While de-
duty Captain Phelps began proselytinS
for the, new society. and succeeded in
arousing among the old soldiers a great
enthusiasm for the scheme. SO sue
cessful was Phelps that the Spring
field people We're OutStripped in the
good work. and the Decatur veterans
organized the first post of the Grand
Army of the Republic. which was mus
tered in on April g. 1866, by DR.. Steph-
ensOn. who was accompanied to Do
catur by number Of interested
Springfield friends to take part in the
ceremonies. 1t was called Post No !.
and was, in fact, the birth of the Grand
Army of the Republic. But previously
the promoters of the project had gone
through the form of organizing the
Department of Illinois" of the Grand
Army. though in fact it had no mem
bershp except the bakers dozen of To-
cal soldiers engaged in the preliminary
steps of the movement. The Decatur
pest was the first formal, actual step.
PRINCIPLES OF THE ORDER.
First. The preservation of those kind
and fraternal feelings which have
bound together with the strong cords
of love and affection the comrades in
arms 0f many hIttles, sieges and
marches.
Second To make these ties available
In works and results of kindness, of
favor and material aid to those in need
of assistance.
Third. To make provision where it
Is not already done, for the support,
care and education of soldiers orphans,
and for the maintenance Of widows Of
deceased soldiers
Fourth, For the protection and assist
ance Of disabled soldiers whether dis
ablod by wounds, sickness, old age or
misfortune.
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