The National tribune., 1902-10-09

largely due to his persistent and welldi-
rected efforts.
| MEMORIAL DAY.
This day has become the Nations Eas-
ter, when the people gather at the
patriots tomb. not with power to stir the
encampment of the dead. but to resurrect
the virtues which adorned their lives
May oO last was day of flags and flow
ers, and tender services. and was observ-
ed in patriotic and appropriate manner
IN every section of the country, and also
by our countrymen in foreign lands
1t was my privilege and pleasure to be
at Arlington on that day, and with the
President of the United States to take
part in the impressive services there con-
Quoted. Our comrades in the South de-
serve our deepest gratitude for annually
seeking out and decorating on that day
the graves of every Union soldier. 1t is
no easy task, but the labor is one of Lore
and is performed in most praseworthy
manner and in Il spirit that others might
we'll emulate.
| BENJAMIN +. STEPHENSON MEMORIAL
Congress by joint resolution at its last
session granted permission to the Grand
Army of the Republic to erect statue in
the city of Washington to the memory
and in honor of Comrade Benjamin +.
stephenson. the founder of our Order;
provided the statue and pedestal should
cost not less than $4,000. and be present.
ed to the people of the United States by
the Grand Army of the Republic By au-
thorlty of resolution of the 34th Nation
al Encampment, | appointed n committee
to select suitable site for the statue, to
determine its design and character and to
take the proper steps to procure necessary
funds for its erection in accordance with
the requirements of said joint resolution.
| The Committee consists of Comrades
Charles A. Partridge, Thomas S. Hop
kins, James Tanner, Louis Wagner, and
John McElroy.
Until instructed by the Encampment
TINS committee has no authority to enter
into any contract for the erection of said
statue, or to contract any Indebtedness
relative thereto, until the necessary funds
have been secured to meet the conditions
imposed by Congress.
1t may be deemed best to increase the
membership of this committee and to re-
commend some plan or course of proceed
lre by which the necessary funds may be
speedily raised and the statue erected
wOMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
Under the wise and able administration
of Mrs. Calista Robinson Jones, National
President. this year has been one of mark
v,
the Woman's Relief Corps, and no small
measure of our own prosperity is justly
due to the loyal support and efficient CO.
operation of this body of patriotic women.
The Woman's Relief Corps long ago
became an indispensable auxiliary to our
Order, and if my successor in office should
be deprived of the aid and encourage
ment of these co-labOrers of ours, l fear
his report to the next Encampment would
81 lnSr in, l.,
far in excess of any that has occurred
during any prior year in the history of
our organization. During the year just
| closed we sustained loss of Posts of less
than l per cent. Is it extravagant to say
that this loss would. have been multiplied
many fold if it had not been for the
constant watchfulness, timely assistance,
and gracious help of these devoted wo-
men?
The harmonizing of the Flag Salute is
a step forward in the right direction, and
the generous contributions made for the
Southern Memorial Fund call for CRATE
| full acknowledgment on the part of the
Encampment. FOur-ffths of the entire
sum contributed for the fund was the gift
of the Woman's Relief Corps.
| LADIES OF THE GRAND ARMY OF THE
REPUBLIC.
If the American soldier is distinguish
ed for one trait above another it is for the
respect in which he holds womanhood.
His first lesson in patriotism is learned at
the family hearthstone and the sacred
influences of home follow him to the tent
ed field and often preserve him from evils
greater than those inflicted by shot and
saber. l would fail, therefore. to do
credit to the sentiments of my heart, or
to meet your just expectations, if l did
not cheerfully accord due praise to all
patriotic women who in any manner seek
to promote the interests of the Grand
Army of the Republic.
With regard to the Ladies Of the Grand
Army of the Republic. their aims and
purposes are in entire harmony with the
principles of our Order, and that Organi-
zation must sustain n close relationship
to the Grand Army of the Republic, al
though not auxiliary to it.
Some six years ago we rendered our
good offices to bring about a union of the
Woman's Relief Corps and the Ladies of
the Grand Army of the Republic, but
without success.
The effort, however, was not without
good results, for it made clear the unity
of the work in which we are all engaged
and the necessity of exercising a spirit
of kindness and forbearance in our rela-
tions to each other.
| SONS OF VETERANS.
We are slow to appreciate the real
worth of our sons as cola borers in pa
triotic work. 70 some of us they always
remain children, and we are reluctant to
recognize their fitness to be intrusted with
the ark of the covenant we have SO long
and zealously guarded. Posterity for
which we fought has not only arrived,
but will soon become the exclusive Gus
todians of our country's destiny, and who
more worthily than our sons can take up
and carry forward the unfinished work of
the Grand Army of the Republic.
As an organization they have struggled
earnestly to win place of usefulness.
They have been modest, patient and
hopeful under many disc0uragements.
They have always manifested a deep in
terest in our welfare, an intelligent appre-
ciation of our sacrifices, an honorable
pride in our achievements and a sincere
desire to honor and perpetuate our men,
Ory. For these reasons, and many others
that might be given, l most heartily ap-
prove of the action mutually taken to es-
tablish closer relations between the Grand
Army of the Republic and the Sons of
Veterans. Upon our invitation, and for
the first time, the COmmandery-in-Ch Chief
of the Sons of Veterans holds its sessions
at the time and place appointed for our
own Encampment, and it gave me great
pleasure to accept as an escort to the
Grand Army of the Republic in the pa
rade yesterday Col. Reeds 1st Regiment,
Pennsylvania Division. S. of ", U. S. A,