The National tribune., 1909-07-08

mander and Robert NJ Woods Ad.u-
tant-General. This organization of the
Department of Illinois was completed
April 1, 1896.
The First Post.
April 6, 1866, the first Post of the
Grand Army of the Republic was or
ganized at Decatur, Ill. This Post is
one of the large Posts of Illinois to-day.
Only two members who signed the char
ter are now living, Capt. Chris. Rieb-
same and Capt. Snyder.
The Department of Illinois as organ
ized by Maj. Stephenson was only PRO
visional." Mai. Stephenson was its
provisional Commander"
The first Department Encampment
was called by Maj. Stephenson to meet
in Springfield, ILL.,, June 26, 1866. Maj.
Stephenson called the meeting to order
and appointed Committee on Organ
ization.
Maj.-Gen. Stephen A. Hurlbut. who
was to be the first Commander-in-Chief
was Chairman of the Committee on
Resolutions.
The convention proceeded to elect
Gen. John NJ. Palmer Commander of
the fully organized Department of Illi-
nois, instead of DIR. Stephenson, as he
had hoped they would do. The con-
vention adopted resolutions of eulogy to
| Maj. Stephenson, in which they recog-
HlZtO Nun DIS tiES ltdQ duQ liOil VI inc
| organization.
Altho bitterly hurt that he was not
elected Commander. Maj. Stephenson
then turned his attention to a National
organization. of which he styled HIM
self "Commander-in-C Chief" and issued
| General orders No. 13. dated Oct. 81,
| 1866, in which he called a National
Republic to meet in indianapolis, Nov.
| 20, 1866. Again Maj. Stephenson was
| turned down, and Gen. Hurlbut, OF 1lli-
nois, but a native OF South Carolina,
was elected first Chief.
In 1888, while Gen. Robert 3. Beath
was Commander-in-Chief. the order
made its greatest gain. over $4,000 in
that one year. Nothing like it was
known before, and nothing since.
The Grand Army of the Republic
gained rapidly until 1890. when it
reached highwater mark. 409,489
Since then tie numbers have increased
rapidly. unl.' the membership at this
time is 225.f57.
| The Monument.
The three-faced monument bears four
bronze tablets. The front has the tab
let Fraternity" soldier and sailor
under the fiag. Charity" is represented
as a woman giving cup of cold water
to a child, who is under her protecting
cloak. Loyalty" is represented by q
woman of noble proportions, who holds
a sword in one hand and the great seal
of the United States upon a shield in
the other.
The three words represent the motto
of the Grand Army of the Republic and
of the Woman's Relief Corps, the aux
iliary of the G. A. r. 1t is also the
motto of the Ladies of the G. A. r.
Just below the bronze tablet Fra
ternity" is fine bas-relief of Maj
Stephenson in his uniform, the onl,
picture of him known to exist
The exercises opened promptly a
2:30 o'clock on the arrival of Presiden
Taft, who came upon the platform with
Col. Cosby. Superintendent of Publ,
Buildings and Grounds When his pres
ence was made known he was greeted
by prolonged applause.
Chairman Partridge.
Col. Chas. A. Partridge, Chairman o.
the Memorial Committee. stepped to thu
, front of the platform and commanded
"attention." He then presented Pas
Commander-in-Chief Warner, United
States Senator from Missouri who pre-
sided over the meeting. Senator War
ner briefly but forcefully eulogized DIR
B. i. Stephenson for the great work h,
, did in organizing the Grand Army o.
the Republic, and paid splendid tribute
to the veterans over whom he was Com
mander-in-Chief in its younger and
more prosperous days.
DIR. Fletcher Spence, Chaplain-in
/ Chief OF the Grand Army Of the Re.