Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-07

the fourteenth encampment the late Presi-
dent Mckinley became a member. At this
encamDment the eligibility clause of the
order was changed so as to admit all male
descendants of honorably discharged
solder. sailor marine, instead of con-
fning the membership to the oldest son and
his lincal descendants.
AS the numerical strength Of the order
Increased separate divisions were estab
lished in each of the states. each state d.
vision being under the jurisdiction of one
of the grand divisions. 1t became apparent,
however. that the usefulness of the grand
divisions. as jurisdictonal factors, had
ceased and that their existence greatly in
creased the volume of work necessary to
the running of the organization. They were
abolished at the fourth annual encamp-
merit and their subdivisions, state or
CARNATIONS put into direct communication
with the Commander-in chief.
A Consolidation.
Gen William Warner. when commander
in-chief of the Grand Army, appointed a
committee from among the membership of
the G.. A. r.. which committee should act
tribunal for judging and settling the
controversy existing between the two or
ganizations the commander-in-chiefo of the
post system and the commander-in-chief Of
the Sons of Veterans, U. 8. A, having pre-
viously agreed to abide by the decision rem
dered by the committee of the G. A. r.
The committee appointed by Gen. Warner
consisted of A. l.. Conger, T. w. Bennett,
G. NJ. Devlin. James Tanner and J. w.
Burst, and met in Cincinnati, and at Chi
cago, If 1889, and after most careful con-
sideration of the arguments Of the con-
testants the committee decided that there
should be a consolidation of the two orders
under the name of the Sons of Veterans. L.
S. A. Details of consolidation and transfer
were speedily arranged and put into eXecu
ton before the eighth annual encampment
of the Sons of Veterans, q. S. A. AT this
encampment. held at Paterson, n. J., the
commandments, DR.. George B. Abbott,
reported the fact of the consolidation of the
two orders, which, after a stormy discus
sion extending over several days was final
ly ratified. The ratification of the acts of
Cen Abbott brought to a close a warfare
between two orders, having the same prin-
ciples and objects, as fierce as was ever
waged between Christian and Turk, and re-
moved the last obstacle to the growth of
the order and brought under one head all
the separate societies of sons of veterans.
Under an order issued by George w.
Marks, commander-in-chief of the Post
System Sons of Veterans" this order was
transferred to and mustered into the order
of the Sons of Veterans, u S. A, in Au
gust, 1889.
Memorial College.
At the sixteenth annual encampment of
the COMMUNICATIVE Chief a resolution was
adopted authorizing the appointment of a
committee to look into and report upon
the feasibility of establishing a National
Memorial College to be dedicated to the
members of the Grand Army of the Re
public. By virtue of this resolution Com
mander- in-Chief Charles X. Darling APP
pointed the following committee: A. L..
Sorter of Iowa Manly Wren of Missouri,
Herbert o. Bixby of Vermont and George
L. Cox of Connecticut This committee,
after an exhaustive investigation or the
subject, reported to the eighteenth annual
encampment that it not only found that
it would be feasible to establish and main
| tain such an institution as the memorial
college but that it had also found that
| it was very much desired by members of
the order and by membeXs of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
At the nineteenth annual encampmcnt,
held at Syracuse, N. Y, in September, 1900,
there were two localities bidding for the
college, Washington, d. c., and Mason
City Iowa. The proposition offered by
Mason City was of such character, and
SO much more advantageous than That Of
fered by Washington, that the former place
was chosen.
With true western hustle the people of
Mason City Immediately set to work to
erect the necessary buildings, which were
dedicated in June last and the National
Memorial College is now open for the entry
of students, having full corps of able in
structors. The board of regents OF the
college are: A L. Sorter, chairman: VIM.
T. Church, w A Morris. w. ]. Reinl1e,
| Geo. E. Cox, II. E. Cowdin. Edward Il.
| Campbell. Fred E. Bolton, Z. F. Buck ard
| j. f. E. Marklcy. In addition to the board
| of regents here Is an advisory board
! chosen from among the members of the
| Grand Army of the Republic. The present
members of this advisory board are: Ger.
| Ell Terrence and j. o. Pierce of Min
neapolis, Mimi; Col l.. B. Raymond
| Hampton, Iowa; Rev. 7. d. Wallace, Gov.
! S. r. Vansant and VIM. H. Armstrong
of Indianapolis, Ind.
The Medal.
Owing to the great number of members of
the order who enlisted in the army and navy
during the Spanish war, the Commandery-
in-Chief, at it's seventeenth encamp-
ment, created war service medal" to be
presented to each member of the order who
should have an honorable service in the
army or navy of the United States in time
of war. Desiring a captured spanish can
non from which to make these medals, a
resolution was presented to Congress d.
recting the Secretary of the Navy to give
to the order Of the Sons OF Veterans for
this purpose a captured Spanish cannon,
which resolution, through the courtesy OF
Judge Jesse Overstreet and Senator Bev-
eridge, both of Indiana and both members
of the order, was passed, and was the last
bill signed by President Mckinley at the
close OF the longe session Of 1860. Thou
sands of these medals were struck and are
now worn by members in all parts of the
world. These medals were all numbered.
certificate of service accompanying each
one. Medal No. 1 was conferred ON Charles
X. Darling Of Boston, at the meeting of
the nineteenth encampment held at SYRIA
cuse, N. Y, in September, 1900. MIR. OAR
| ling served as colonel Of Massachusetts,
regiment composed Of Sons of Veterans
during the Spanish war, and was at the
same time comwander-in-chief Of tina