The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1918-05-11
LEE CAMP MEMBERSHIP
HOLDS TO LAST TAPS
Ancient and Honorable Comrade is
Denied Right to Withdraw From
Dwtndling Ranks.
OLD RULE Is BINDING
When Decision Was Reached Old
Soldier Stood at Attention and
Smiled With Supreme Joy--Attend
Oakvood Exercises.

Once a mem Der OF Lee Camp, al
Of the career OF the men who passed
through the days that tried mems
souls have been scrutinized by the
eagle eyes Of the members OF the in
vestjgating committee. and the men
are once mustered into the fold, there
is no getting away from it,
Not until last taps is sounded and
the last roll call recorded. can a
mem Der of Lee Camp get away from
the fact that he is a member Of that
organization of the tried and true,
and that his mem hership is for life
This fact was emphasized at the
meeting OF the camp last night at Lee
Camp hall An ancient and honor
able comrade, carrying his three
score and ten and then some, but as
stra light as an arrow. wanted to pay
up his dues for an indefinite period.
and withdraw from membership. He
gave as his reasons that he lived in
the suburbs and found II most diff
ficult to attend the meetings. and in
addition he had grown very deaf and
could not intelligently engage in de-
bate or enjoy the discourse OF others.
Has Clear Record.
MY record is as clear as any man 8
in the United States" he said. as he
deposited package. containing his
credentials on the desk OF the ad-
jutant. But I am getting along in
years and ! live a long ways away,
and cant get here and participate in
the meetings. II there is any one
with a better record, I would like to
see him"
The adtutant explained that the
elderly comrade had expressed a de-
sire 10 retire and wanted to pay up
all his past dues II there were any.
He stated that he had looked into
his record and had found ii O. X.
1T is lust about as o X. as any
thing can be" commented the adj
jutant.
Some little discussion was INDUCED
in concerning the case the consensus
being that II was an unusual request,
and that it should not be granted.
Opposes Withdrawal.
IT do not believe we should per
init members of this camp to with
draw" said Comrade Freeman. I'VE
are brotherhood unto ourselves. and
no one man here is better than an
other. II comrade has not the
where withal to pay his dues. this
camp stands ready to remit them,
and 10 reta in the comrade on the roll
of honor Many times have I seen
| our old comrades some of them, with
little of this worlds goods left rake
! the bottom of their pockets to pay
the little sum of the dues. and many
times has my heart hled for them.
| We cannot let our comrade with
draw"
Comrades Archer and Brown
! agreed
| whereupon Comrade seay moved
that the dues of the comrade he re-
mitted and that he be retained on
! the honor roll of the camp.
| II offer this motion to cut off de-
/ bate" said Comrade Seay. we have
a rule which prevents the withdrawn
! of any one from the membership OF
! this camp, even though he may owe
dues for ten years. This is adamant.
| II cannot be changed Even IL II
could he. I would vote against the
change. for I do not think we should
| permit our comrades to drop out OF
the ranks. An this debate Is out of
order"
Comrade Freeman agreed that
| there was such a rule.
| IT offered that resolution myself
some years ago." he said. And this
question should never have reached
! the noor, and the incident should not
/ be entered upon the records"
Happy Old Soldier.
| The old soldier, who had sought "a
withdraw. gathered up his records
Strengthened UP to his full height. and
with gun of 10Y and a diamond
tear trickling down the wrinkle In hi,
| face. lust smiled. and grasped the
hand Of the man nearest him.
/ The attendance last night was not
! large. This fact was remarked upor
by an officer. who said he hoped the
camp would agree to change tht
= u