The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-09-16
WHAT THE G. A. R.
STANDS FOR

90 not lulty hppioSiobO 'HO N'6"'N'
memb bership in our order or the worth
of that order in promoting the prln'
cinles for which we are banded to-
petber. | feel that it is presupmtious
in me to thrust my veiws upon you
when there are so many who are bet
tel qualified for this duty, but know
ing the lack of interest In Post meet
ings and the apathy displayed during
the routine work OF our meetlngs'
venture with the hope that l may
say something to stir up others to
titingly portray the magnitude OF the
work of the Grand Army of the Re-
public.
In the first place, think We lack
drill in our rltualistic work. Nearly
all of us when discharged from the
service wanted to sit down and forget
all about drill, but we knew that the
drill was necessary and without 1t we
could not have.had success. What
mean by drill In our work is this; We
have beautiful ritual; there is
much expressed in few words, and 1t
requires no stretch of imagination
to comprehend The lelghth, breadth OF
depth of their meaning Take the
opening words OF the Commander,
"We meet In Fraternity, Charity and
LOYALTY. Is that declaration trueY
Yes, we meet in fraternity that Is
truer than race or creed. 1t Is tut
natural that feeling of fraternity
should exist in all community inter
ests. 1t manifests itself in families,
churches, lodges, localities and all
organized movements for whatever
purpose men are banded together.
The fraternity that unites us was born
OF service In the army to save the
Union and was cemented by the dan
gers and hardships endured Ia that
war, 1t has been strengthened by as
ISOLATION during that time OF trial
and is kept green by memories of
camps, marches, battles, hospitals
and prison pens. Yes, we do meet In
fraternity that is exalted into the
highest charity forsall our Comrades
whether they are In distress or need
because we know the service they
rendered. Our memories TEEN with
incidents that cause us to think
of them with feelings of much more
than respect, foI We know that the
bravest are the kindest, and as we
meet occasionally one with whom we
served there 10 an inexpressable holy
JOY in tho meeting that none but
comrades can know. We may tell of
marches aud battles but the real
history, the heart touch of elbows
will never be written or told. "The
charity we accord to the needy and
distressed" is only the safety valve to
the charity we feel. Yes, we do meet
in fraternity and charity, no matter
how carelessIy or thoughtlessly these
words are spoken. DO we meet in
LoyaltyP This is the foundation
stone of our structure and the world !
unquestionally will give us an
affirmative answer, and yet it is the
rock over which more trouble has
been felt than the stone in our arch. |
Loyalty means much to US. We must
be loyal to ourselves, to each other,
to our Post, our department, our
National authority, to our flag and
the government for which it stands.
10 our whole country, every foot of
it. We may we'll say the world is
our country, for no matter in what
part of 1t we are that flag is our hope
aud protection. Our order is com
posed of individuals of many different
beliefs and with human prejudice.
Strong feelings of bitterness were
engendeied by the war and 1t has
been hard task for many to throw
aside those feelings; but true loyalty
requires 1t, and | am glad that our
order from its inception has led in
the feeling OF good will to those who
we're such valiant foes. Our comman-
der at Appomattox reversed the
former treatment OF national foes
and made a practical example of the
principles of the divine teacher, and
the q. A. X. has been the color guard |
of the nation in making the way easy
to patIiotio service. OF course the
Spanish American War was considered
Il factor In fostering loyalty, but the
way was opened for them by the q.
A. K. True, there we're mistakes
by some of our members and by Posts
and possibly departments, but the
National organization was ever true
to broad charity, for those who
were once foes. The feeling of 10y
atty is now 30 thoroughly inoorporat-
ed in all our people thai the erection
OF monument to Wirtz is not com-
mended but tolerated RS weakness
that will only be shame to those re-
sponsible tor it, LoyaIy ia too deeply
seated to be effected by local demon.
straton of gifts to u S, battle ship
of silverware with JEFF Davis coat of
arms or even by statue of Il. II. Lee
in Statuary Hail, ID. G. Yes, we do
meet in fraternity, charity and 10y.
atty, and we would be royalty WELDON
ed In any city OF our country. The
annual meetings of the Depai tments
and National enoampments are great
teachers of loyalty, and the parade
attracts thousands to gaze on this
as an object lesson and to the com
rades it is a h9art and hand clasp as
they step once more. on the march.