The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-17
which was listened to with interest. 1t was

which was listened TO with interest 1t was
as follows:
"Comrades-At the twelfth annual en-
campment Of the Department of Indiana,
Grand Army Of the Republic. held in this
city April and 10. 1891, an invitation was
accepted TO hold the next session in the
city Of Fort Wayne. That was the begin
ming of what has proved to be very pleas
ant change from the former custom. Since
then the sessions have been held at Fort
Wayne, Evansville, Lafayette, Muncie,
South Bend, Richmond. Columbus and
Terre Haute. AT each place no effort was
spared or labor wanting TO make the meet
tngs pleasant for everyone, and now, after
all these years, we have come back 10 hold
our twenty-first session in the capital of
our State L congratulate you upon the
large attendance of the comrades, and
also upon the excellent arrangements made
by the citizens executive committee for
our sessions and for the entertainment of
all 1t is a fitting tribute to the memory
and services Of those who. years. ago,
shared the privations and hardships of
soldiers life, that the capital of our grand
commonwealth should open wide her gates
and bid US welcome. When the session was
held here nine years ago, as a department
we reached the high tide Of our member
ship; since that time. year by year, our
ranks have been decimated. The largest
loss comes from suspensions. Many of
our comrades, either through Indifference
or negligence the infirmities of old age,
allow themselves to get in arrears with
their dues, and the result is they sus-
pended. would like to see some plan pre-
sented that would enable the posts TO re-
claim these comrades: IL would greatly in
crease the membership, and add interest
and strength 10 our organization.
1T must be apparent to every comrade
that as the years come and go, the eff
fort TO keep up the interest in the order
must be greater. The death-rate has been
larger last year than ever before. This
has taken from rolls
Membership
During the last year three posts have
been reorganized and added to the roll.
By the untiring work of your department
officers, assisted by the comrades, a num-
Der of posts have been induced to pay up
and thus prevent the surrender of their
charter. A detailed report of this branch
of the department work will be made by
the assistant adjutant general.
Throughout the department the best of
feeling prevails, and taking everything
into consideration. believe we can con-
graduate ourselves upon the good COM
radeship that exists. AS / have gone from
post to post, and TO reunions in many por-
lions of the State, L am convinced that
IL post quartermaSters would be more
prompt in the collection of dues, thus pre-
venting the comrades from getting delin-
quent, Ii would materially add to the men,
bership- l am also satisfied that greater
interest would be taken by the comrades
IL the fueIDeFS WOulu lnduSuTdte Il SyS-
tenn of visitations. 1t would certainly re-
suit in great activity and be productive of
much good. / therefore recommend that
post commanders make effort during
the coming summer TO have their member
ship visit other posts, attend reunions and
cultivate the spirit of fraternity that will
cement and bind together the ties of COM
radeship.
Memorial Day.
mo day in the three hundred and sixty
five Is SqcrQ6 the Grand ArmV of
the Republic than the 30th day of May. 1t is
recognized by all patriotic, liberty-loving
people as the day when we gather to do
honor to the memory of those who 'on land
and on sea- upheld the destinies of our Ma
ton. and who, as they sleep in their win
dowless palaces of rest by their silence
remind us of the sacrifice they made TO
maintain and preserve a government un-
furnished by treason.
1T is day sacred to the membership of
this order. because we stand by the graves
of those who stood by US in the hour of
danger / hope the time will soon come
when all sports. games and races of every
character will be laid aside. and all join In
the beautiful custom of planting flags and
strewfng flowers upon the graves of our
heroes.
During the past year many of our COM
rades who met with us one year ago have
answered to the last roll call The reaper,
Death, has thrust in his sickle and taken
from among us those whose counsel and
We learned to love and admire. Age and the
infirmities of life are fast creeping upon
those who still linger here. and ere long the
last veteran of the civil war will have
passed to the great beyond. This depart
ment, with her sister departments, mourns
the loss of our loved comrade. Commander
in-chief James A Sexton. whose noble
character and soldierly qualities had en-
deared him to every comrade Our own
department has lost one of her bravest
and most illustrious sons, Major General
Henry w. Lawton, who had achieved such
renowned success in the Philippine islands
AS mourn his death, let us learn to
initiate and cherish his many noble quail
ties of head and heart. He sleeps in that
silent city Of the dead. but his memory will
long live In the hearts of his comrades.
-Womans Relief Corps
This noble band of loyal and patriotic
women Is deserving of our highest praise
for the grand work they are doing for the
relief of worthy and distressed comrades
and their families. Long the recognized
auxiliary of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie, they have been the support and strong
right arm of many of the weaker posts.
who, but for their loyal support, would
have surrendered their charters. 1t is true
that many of the posts have no organiza-
ton of this kind, yet my years work and
experience leads me to the conclusion that
every post would be benefited strengthened
and encouraged IL there was connected with
1t good, loyal and patriotic corps.
Sons of Veterans
las the veteran retires from the active
duties of life he is content that the affairs
of State and Nation may be intrusted to
the members of this organization. Many
of them, in the past years. have demon
strated that the training they received
from soldier-fathers has not been lost sight
of. They are the natural successors to the
duties and obligations of the Grand Army
Of the Republic. Memorial day, with all its
memories. patriotic teaching in the public
schools, and governmental affairs. are
some of the legacies that will fall TO this
organization of noble and patriotic young
men. To them and their auxiliary, the La
dies Aid Society, the Woman's Relief
Corps, and all liberty-loving American cit
liens, this order confidently leaves these