The National tribune., 1904-06-02

It Should Be Observation-Disclosures to Mem
bership-Post Records-The Mortuary Rec
ord-Atds Appointed.

Headquarters Grand Army of the Re-
public.
Memorial Hall,
Chicago, May Is, 1904.
General Orders No. 81
FLAG DAY.
I. The custom of observing Flag Day"
is commenda BILE, and the Commander-in-
Comrade Allan G.. Blackwell, Chief Aid in
charge of Military Instruction and Patri-
otto Education in Schools, that on Tues
day, June II, 1904-the anniversary of the
birth of our Flag--all patriotic citizens
display within ard upon their homes and
places Of business the Stars and Stripes,
the emblem Of our Country
1t is further recommended that school
authorities and public officials be reminded
of this anniversary, and that through the
public press and in other ways the date
be called to the attention Of all our people.
Department Commanders are requested
to give this movement their hearty SYM
pathy and cooperation, and add their infu-
ence in making the day memorable by
reason OF the reverence manifested by our
fellow citizens for the Flag we love SO well.
RESTORATION TO MEMBERSHIP.
III. The Commander-in-Chi is gratified
to note the earnest efforts making in many
Departments for bringing into the Grand
heretofore cared to join the Order. or W,
for various reasons have allowed t. !.
membership to lapse. COmrade Luc.nS
Field. Commander of the Department of
Massa ch'lsettS, reports having received two
appIlca tons for charters for new Posts.
one bearing the names of more than 100
ex -soldiers and sailors: also the recruiting
of a considerable number Of new members
for Posts already organized. The Depart
ne ,1,,s III,
more than 1900 comrades during the Sec
ond Term of 1903. 1t is very doubtful if
the heavy loss because of ncreasng NOR
tally can be wholly overcome. but it may
be in part offset if Post and Departm
officials will do their full measure of duty
in the matter of soliciting new members.
or making proper effort to secure the re-
turn of those who are now upon the sus-
pended list.
COMPLETE RECORDS.
III. Comrades are earnestly requested
to complete. as far as they can, the records
of their Posts. bearing particularly upon
the rights of possible widows. The Com
mander-in Chief is assured that great and
embarrassing delay occurs in the adjust
ment of pension claims of widows owing
to fine failure to readily furnish proof
which might be made at his Post and left
with his comrades by member of the
Post. AS suggested by Comrade J. B.
Ennis i'll a communicated to the Com
mander-inC Chief dated March ~. 1904:
"All this evidence could be obtained by
the soldier during his lifetime with but
little trouble and little expense. If the
widow has this evidence in hand and flies
it with her application her claim can be
promptly adjudicated. and, besides. the
Bureau saved a vast deal of correspon-
dence."
Such evidence and such information
should cover:
First. the names and addresses of the
comrades early associates.
Second. record evidence Of marriage or
the affidavits of witnesses, if no record
was made.
Third. affidavits as to former ma rriages,
and the end of those marriages; the death
or divorce of former wife. if one existed
proved best by record.
Fourth, public or church record of bap-
tiSm of children, with the dates of their
birth.
MORTUARY RECORD.
V. Comrade David Mackay, Past Sur
geon-l General of the Grand Army of the
Republic. died at his home in Dallas,
Texas. March 25. 1904. a native OF Scot
land, he served in the Crimean War, and
during the Great War he served as Sur
vi. Comrade John A. Lancey, Aid to
the Commander in Chief, and only brother
of Past Department Commander s. Her
bert Lancey of Florida. died in Boston.
Mass, April 8. 1904. Clad in his Grand
Army uniform he was just emerging from
the hall in which Grand Army banquet
had been held when stricken, death re-
snlting almost instantaneously. His mill
tary service was in the ID Me. Inf in
1861, and as First Lieutenant in the LIST
Me. II. A. later. He was a sufferer from
wounds received at Petersburg, in 1864.
VII. Comrade Edward Schwartz. Past
Commander of the Department of Arizona.
died at Phoenix. AriZ., March ], 1904
During the Great War he served i'm the
Sth and 9th y. Y. Cav. and when mus
tered out in 1865 was Major of the latter
regiment. He served as Commander of
the Department Of Arizona in 1891 and
1892, and for 30 years was a resident of
New Mexico and Arizona.
VIII. Comrade Thomas Cogswell, Past
Commander of the Department of New
Hampshire, died at his home i'm Gilman
ton, N. H., Feb. Is, 1904. Leaving Dart
mouth College at the end of his Junior
year, he enlisted in the 10Th n H., at
tanning the rank of Captain. He attained
prominence in his native State holding
many positions of public trust, but none
III when lie TOOK greater PRIDE than III that
of Commander of his Department in 1890.
TX. Edgar ID. Swain, Past Com
mander Of the Department of Illinois, died
at his home in Batavia, ILL.,, April %, 1904.
Entering the service as a Captain in the
42d ILL.,, he speedily arose to its command,
participating i'll many battles and being
severely wounded in the Atlanta Cam
paigli. He was twice Commander of Gen.
Geo II. Thomas Post, located at Chicago,
twice Commander Of the Department of
Illinois, and once Senior Vice Commander
in-Chief.
X. Joseph E. Vantine, Past Com
mander of the Department of Delaware,
died May 5, 1904, at the age of three
score years and ten. His service was in
the Navy Of the United States, and began
May 10, 1887, upon the Frigate Mime
sofa. During the Great War he was a
first-class fireman on the Richmond He
was credited with having suggested the
covering of the sides of battleships with
chain cables. and was widely known i'm the
Navy as "Chain-Armor joe" Long an
active member of the Grand Army of the
Republic in 1894 he was honored by the
position of Commander of his Depart
ment
XI. Comrade Marion T. Anderson, in
1895 Commander Of the Department of
the Potomac, has answered the last roll
call and passed to the Camping Ground
Il IA L.