The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1903-04-16
Hood River Glacier
THURSDAY, APRIL is, 1908.
q. A. r. and w. r. G.

y
was in the seat he has filed so satisfac-
torily for so many years. The Judge
returned from his Southern trip look
ing better than be has looked for years.
There is nothing like a change of eli
mate to brace up an old soldier. And
there is nothing like a good quarter
master to keep up the interest in a
Grand Army post. If comrades are al
lowed to become in arrears for dues
they are mighty apt to lose interest in
the post.
H. j. Byrkett resigned as officer of
the day, and A. S. Blowers was elected
to fill out the unexpired term. Com
rade Byrkett's resignation was offered
because of defective hearing.
Comrades ]. S. Bunker of Freewater,
Or, and f. A. Skinner of Chehalis,
Wash, were visitors and gave short ad-
dresses Comrade Bunker was proud
of being one of the youngest soldiers of
the Union army. He enlisted at the
age of Is and served in the 9TH YER
mont. He is a genuine Yank, an in
ventive genius, and invented the COM
plete burglar and fire alarm he exhib-
tied in our city last week. Comrade
SINNERS remarks followed, and it was
his proud boast that he voted for Old
Abe, in 1864, 23 days before he was Is
years old.
The joint committee from the post
and relief corps, to make arrangements
for Memorial day services and the me-
mortal sermon on the Sunday preced-
ing Memorial day, was instructed to
procure a church for the memorial SER
mon. All ministers and congregations
in the town and country are invited to
join in the exercises on that day. Sun
day school children especially are in
vited. The members of the post and
relief corps will meet at their hall at
1890 a. M, Sunday, May "a, and march
to the church where the sermon will
be preached.
Adjutant Cummings report on the
resolutions adopted by |. |. Stevens
post OF Woodburn, and sent to other
posts for their approval or disapproval,
was loudly cheered and adopted unan-
imously by q rising vote. The report
follows
Candy Post, No. 16, Dept. of Oregon,
G. A. r., March 28, l903.--I. |. Ste
vens Post, No. 81, Dept. of Oregon, 6.
A. R.-Comrades: At the regular meet
ing held this date the proposition con-
tained in your circular letter of recent
date, proposing changes in our consti-
tuition allowing soldiers of all other
wars membership in our order, was
freely discussed, with unanimous dis
approval of the changes recommended.
By order of the post the adjutant was
directed to prepare a paper in answer
embodying the wish of the post
In regard to the changes recommended.
| therefore have the honor to submit
the following as my remembrance of
the earnest though hasty discussion on
the subject:
|. As to the permanence eXpressedin
the preamble, we think it refers to the
work of the order, the structural organ
divine principles, Fraternity and Char
ity, under dome of Loyalty. Its OBJ
jects were, first, to strengthen the fra
ternal tie born of the march, the biv-
ouac and the battle in the war to save
the Union as priceless heritage, in
which the loss of life was appalling
sacrifice exceeded by no previous his
tory and heroism that will be an ex-
ample to all future ages. Those battle
born principles, Fraternity and Char
ity, existed prior TO the formation of
our order, but during the war they
were subordinate TO the crowning prin-
ciple, Loyalty.
ave paused not to weep for the fallen,
Who slept by each river and tree
And only in our hearts could we
"twine them the wreath of the laurel.
Other duties aud other opportunities
pressed us onward, but that fraternity
forged in the fire of battle slumbered
not, slept not, and the service of other
soldiers in other wars, no matter how
honorable or meritori0us, can not thrill
US with the fraternity that warns US
to our comrades of those thousands of
battle fields from Fort Sumpter to APP
pOmattox.
2. ITO care for him who bore the
battle and for his widow and orphan u
The same undercurfent of comradeship
mas been always ready with the open
hand of charity, and with the power
full influence of our order has led in
having liberal pension laws enacted
and in having those comfortable homes
established where those of our conf
rades who have been unfortunate can
live in ease the few remaining years of
their lives; besides, in Oregon and in
many other states we have had law
enacted raising special fund for the
relief of destitute, needy soldiers. We
not only have reverent care for the
living, we remember In loving tender
ness our dead, and one post service is
given each year in their memory, and
once each year we march to the last
camping ground and greet our depart
ed with tribute Of flag and flowers,
and in silence, with uncovered head,
salute our sacred dead.
3. To deepen love for our country in
all hearts, so that disunion or separa-
ton would be forever impossible. How
successfully our order has labored for
this desired effect let the present aud
promise of the future speak. The army
In which we served conquered the re-
belliou, but the Grand Army of the
Republic has conquered the rebels, and
today the &. A. r. is welcomed by
every Confederate camp. Our love for
them was first inspired by respect for
their splendid courage and endurance,
and as soon as they had laid down their
arms we were ready to receive them
into the Union with heart and with
hand, until they are now our brothers
aud next our comrades in our hearts.
We believed in them, and our belief
has been verified by seeing them and
their sons battling again for the Stars
aud Stripes, to make men free. We
have yet large field to recruit from,
rs there are many soldiers of the civil
war who have not joined our ranks
while they are, or many of them are
reaping the benefits of our order fol
their betterment. We are glad to be ot
service to them, aud though they may
not feel it duty TO join Us, we can moi
withhold our feelings in fraternity
from them, aud would not If we could
but are always ready to give them q
soldiers greeting. They do not know
what they miss or they would line W
with the touch of elbows as of old
But whether We increase, or decrease
as We must at no distant future day