The National tribune., 1907-08-08
RECRUIT THE G. A. II.
Vigorous Work neiAE Dtne by n Co
rnis, - SeSrs Old

IIG IN
Vigorous Work nci.E I1tne by Com.
raie as eeirs Old.
The following circuiat has been sen
out by our good and indefatigable com.
rade. T. L. Potter. Eansing. Mich:
Reasons for Joining the Grand Army oi
the Republic.
Every honorably discharged old sol
dier should join the Grand Army oi
| the Republic for the following goot
and sufficient reasons: 1d
]. 1t is his duty tD'TIid his forme!
comrades in the great work in which
| the Order is engaged. ~ This. work i.
wholly for the good of all old soldiers
and their families. socially, morally and
pecuniarily, especially in sickness
death and burial H
9 In this way it shows to every one
the proud fact that he was a soldier
did his duty ihonorably and means tc
stand thru life by them who stood b.
him in the terrible days of struggle
danger and suffering.
s. He should do it for the sake OF
his own history and memory. These
are maintained and kent alive by the
Grand Army of the Renublic in a way
not done by any other means or per-
sons The military record of the service
is kept by the Post for the living and
the dead. Every year their graves are
visited and decorated. If a soldier dies
too poor to own a burial place tha
Grand Army provides one, and prevents
his body being buried in the potter's
field. If poor and sick, they see him
provided for and kept out of the poor
house.
4. Every old soldier drawing a pen
sion is largely indebted to the Grand
Army for its constant efforts and sue
cess in having pensions given and in
creased to the disabled. wouded ami
aged comrade; especially the recent
service and age-limit pension law.
5. The Grand Army of the Republic
is such a grand and honorable organ
ization as to be respected and honored
by our entire country and people for its
highest character. noble spirit. pure pa
triotism and charity. To be worthy
members of it is a badge of honor. The
right to join is a privilege for whic:.
many men would give large sum. To
this right the old soldier became en-
the altar of his country and by manv
years of hard service, sufferings and
wounds.
6. Our old comrades should be mem
bers of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie as a duty to their children and
friends as well as to themselves. A
comrade who dies outside of it rObs his
an honor and record and satisfaction
they will always regret, and on each
successive year they will regret it more
and more as time passes and adds to
the esteemed and historical greatness
and fragrance it will continue to at
tain.
To do its mightiest and best it needs
every true and honorable veteran with
in its ranks, and every one of them
needs to be there for the reasons here
given. No one should stand aloOf now
any more than he did in 1876 to
rally around the flag. keep step with
his comrades and march along to vic
tory.
Comrades, in 1890, seven years ago.
you elected me Commander of Charles
T. Foster Post. and BY persistent effort
the membership was'increased over 100
during that year. ThiS year the Ma
tional Commander m general orders
ha sasked to have me membership of
the Order doubled during 1907. In
1906 the Department of Michigan re-
ported that only one-third of the eligi-
BILE old soldiers of sthe tcivil war still
living We're members Of the G.. A. r.,
showing an abundance of material from
which to more than double our present!
I'd
/ am only a private I'M the ranks, 4.
years old, and have always insisted that
the duty of every member of this great
organization was the same to
help build it UP and perpetuate its good
work i4f .l0s
Comrades, will YOU join with me in
an effort to double nthe present mem
of'this Post this yedr? / have
decided to open a g. A. K. recruiting
office, which Office for the present will
be on the streets of Lansing and in the
wherever / can find civil war
soldier that does not belong to a G. A
Il. Post. 1femy health permits | ex-
pect within This year to see every old
soldier within five miles Of Lansing and
invite him to become a member Of the
Grand Army of the Republic. BY do
.ng so l believe this Post Will become
the largest in the Department of Mich
gan by Jan. l. 1908.
In closing this notice / want to most
fully and distinctly assure my comrades
that / have no personal. selfish object
or end in view whatever. near or. re-
mote. Ny only aim and reward will be
the satisfaction to myself and tn build
irg UP of the grand old Order on its
splendid principles and spirit of frater-
mtg, charity and loyalty.-T. +. Pot
ter, Lansing, Mich.