The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1916-04-13

cess. But faith and untiring energy
on the part of the four projectors
finally overcame all obstacles. But
for the reasons given it was of slow
growth at first. In 1879, after 10
years, the membership was only A.
752. From this year it increased more
rapidly until 1891 the climax was
reached, being 407,781 members. The
death rate at this date begun to make
visible lnroads in the membership and
decrease marked each year until
1914 when it was only 171,335. The
deaths that year numbered 11,187,
which shows how rapidly the G. A. R.
IS passing away. The reports for 1915
have not yet reached our Department
headquarters.
FROM its organization the cardinal
principles of fraternity, charity and
loyalty have been kept constantly in
view. The spirit of fraternity has been
manifest in all the intercourse with
each other. At post meetings, reun-
ions, camp fires and encampments the
dominant feature has been conrad
snip IN the truest sense. The rehear-
sails OF experiences on marches and
oattlefields have drawn the fraternal
feelings tighter and tighter. We have
come to feel that there is nothing like
1t. The earthly tie, outside the fam
Ivy circle, compares to the one which
Dlnds the old soldiers to each other.
This fraternity has been shown in
many beneficial laws which have been
enacted by state and national legisla-
lures. Nearly all of them, as well as
the pension law has been obtain
ed through the persistent efforts of
the members of the G. A. R. So every
old soldier, whether a member or not,
owes much to the organization. We
have found that In Union There is
Strength
"Few people outside the different
orders know of the charity which has
blessed the needy members and the
families of the deceased comrades.
The wolf has been kept from the door
of many home by the generosity of
the survivors and in many ways has
assistance been given. The W. R. C.
Ladies of the G. A. R. and daughters
and sons of veterans have nobly aid
ed in this work.
GAS members of the organization
we can look back with pride over the
benefits which have accrued to our
country through it's teachings and ex-
amples. Loyalty has been taught by
day and by night. Many a young
man has had the fires of patriotism
rekindled in his breast as he has lis
tened to the camp fire talks and the
recitals of the 'old boys of their
many army experiences. The noble
and prompt enlistments of the young
men in the Civil war was no doubt
largely the fruit of their teachings.
One of the efforts of the posts was to
establish the beautiful and impressive
ceremonies of decorating the graves
of the departed comrades. On May 5,
1865, Commander in Chief John A.
Logan issued General Order No. II
designating May 30th as the day when
flowers should be strewn upon the
graves of the nations defenders, and
it has grown to be one of the most
generally observed days in the land.
The movement to have odd Glory
float over every school house in the
state originated with the Grand Ar
my, but in many places it has been
made possible only by the efforts of
the womens' organization. In many
other lines have the benefcient teach
ings of the order aided in the promo
ton of patriotism and love of country.
"Our ranks are rapidly diminishing
and not many years hence our labors
will have ended, but in the short re-