New-York tribune., 1904-09-04

BENJAMIN Franklin Stephenson, the recognized
FOUNDER OF the order, was during the war closely
odlst preacher In the course Of the campaign
10 aor 1'ease & Is SAC 70 d h@gs os sed
in fewg a s4n 1 %6d so %be S9s aasesrsd tered
out, desire some form Of association preserve
the friendships and memories Of their common
agreed that il spared. they would work ou. to-
gether some plan Of alliance to meet the needs.
accordingly, year after the grand muster out,
JJr 81 pHslsoh 3Id Iap4a FSattes9 le' ,r ~!
the new national order Fourteen charter members
April { 1853. 10 form the historic pioneer Grand
Army OF the Republic post at Decatur. III;
ii 15ss Ss ~ s the new W. %,-gsarizaton Il
was introduced by this Impressive para graph THE
soldiers OF the Volunteer army OF ths United states
during The rebellion or lel-65 acyqated 6y me IN
right combined IN tho strpng bonds ot Iellowsl2
and unity by the dangers The tolls and the victories
i1i Eng IN 5 49,, sboS S-Ifas the sor1rest
those plans ana avs which should govern them In
which. IN some measure shall be effected the
Preservaton o. tho grand results Of the war. the
eesfcsS & ana &~3r&Iy & te ne 9' b , OF - ION to e1
being there had been a BOYS IN Blue, Soldiers
Navy Union" white Boys in Blue" ana a 'Colored
Soldiers League" which mass OF variously tinted
the Republic. In dissoIvng the troubled conditions
which followed The war the Organization was i'm
menseIy useful
The discharged soldier had had more than a SOL
the workaday work he left behind three years be-
fore. Pauotic supporters OF the army strongly be-
sderatf0ns in tbe dstribtion oF offineS ,,-er ~
local. State and national government. Places OF
Ied to the Veterans who had been SO seIfs ,rig.y
ing IN their cOLntTy's But men who had
not gone TO the front naturally much better
able 70 improve tho OPPORTUNITIES created bv the
return ~ a,a rhaU were The 5i5cto- si,t
Moreover, politicians intrenched IN office were then
they had acquired. Consequently, a strong society
Ike the Grand Army OF the Republic pledged TO
secure the rights Of these defenders OF their coun-
try by all moral. social and political means in our
control" was Of tremendous Importance Yet-and
tbs IS an important reservatlon-the association
did not then, and-has not since, made nominations
tor partisan purposes. emphasis was appropriately
placed at the very start upon Its primary objects
ing which bincs together the soldiers sailors and
marines Of the Civil War; TO perpetuate tho
lend assistance 20 the needy and to their widows
and orphans, having All the time that dis
eliminated
Rather curiously. comparatively little has been
Co.e Up 70 Jhe present 70 recognize with due hon
or the part that Major Stephenson played in the
sa1L.aiion gan or the order A physician by profession
Army or the Republic was altogether, OF course.
ly after the close OF the he resumed the prac-
uce OF his profession. locating Mt Springfield III.
he was ignored as e candidate for FIRST commander
IN chief and another elected in his place. A few
lie IS now generally recognized however as foun-
der Of the Grand Army and = monument to his
memory is about % be erected at Washingtcn
To-day the organization which he conceived IS
even more hourshIug than il was twoscore years
members together during the early eucamPuents
voted adherents.