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THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE: WASHINGTON, D. O., JUNE 24, 1882.
It has hitherto met in "Washington and in
leading cities of the north, and yet I know
that throughout all the reunions there has
never been a broader nor more generous
welcome extended the niembeTSOf the Order
than that which greeted them in Baltimore.
Applause. On the other hand he believed
that the last vestage of animosity that ex
isted on the part of the Grand Army men
against the men who met them on the field
worthy foes of cur Steel had
been oblerated. Cheers, "We come
among you now as the representative of an
organization, 100,000 strong, and we do not
forget Maryland's hiBtory in the wars that
preceded the late unhappy strife. The
Grand Army of the Republic is an army of
peace. "We must have peace even if we
have to fight for it, and we feel sure that if
this fair land is menaced by danger that the
men of Maryland and Massachusetts tho
men of tho North and South will bo found
standing shoulder to shoulder in the defense
of their country. Applause. In closing,
General Merrill returned his wannest thanks
for the welcome extended to the members of
the Grand Army, and as he retired, was
greeted with prolonged cheering.
General H. A. Barnum, of New York, was
the next speaker. Ho had, he said, been
profoundly impressed with the scenes aronnd
and before him.
"We believe the Southern people were as
honest in their convictions as those of the
North, but as Gen. Sherman had once re
marked there is a fundamental right and a
fundamental wrong. In this matter the
God of Destiny judged rightly and the out
come of the war of the rebellion has proven
a national blessing. In the matter of this
reception the people of Baltimore had per
formed an act that was not only creditable
to themselves, but a credit to the whole
country, and especially the South. Ap
plause. He thanked God that all were now reunited
under one Union and with one destiny.
Cheers.
Col. Jno. L. Thomas, ex-collector of the
port of Baltimore, in a brief, patriotic speech
introduced Hon. Frederick Douglass, who
spoke at considerable length, and was
warmly and frequently applauded.
Captain F. X. "Ward, an ex-confedcrato
officer, made a brief speech, and in introduc
ing his remarks addressed the veterans as
" comrades," which provoked a storm of ap
plause. General Barnum proposed three cheers for
the representative of a brave people, and
three cheers were also given for tho " Mary
land Democracy."
At a late hour the company separated.
Subsequently a private reception was tend
ered to General Merrill and other distin
guished guests, at which numorous toasts
were drunk and speeches made.
DOWN THE BAY.
Tie Delegates to tho National Encampment T&fce
a Sail.
After the parade, the delegates to the
Grand Encampment enjoyed through the
courtesy of the citzens of Baltimore a de
lightful sail down the Chesapeake Bay, on
the steamer Mason L. Weems. Many of the
delegates were accompanied by ladies. The
boat left her wharf about three o'clock
having on board about 700 persons,-some
fifty of whom were ladies. Some of tho
delegates brought their wives all the way
from Chicago and other distant points. The
boat glided slowly down the harbor, giving
ample time to view the basin's important
works bordering the river as well as the
historic grounds of Fort McHenry, tho in
complete Fort Carroll, &c., all of which
were fully explained by Baltimore comrades.
The company was remarkable for its socia
bility, and everything passed off pleasantly.
Among the distinguished persons on board
were Gen. S. D. Sturgis, United States army,
commander of the Soldiers' Home, "Washing
ton, D. C. j George Cavender, past comman
der of Missouri ; General J. B. Stedman, of
Ohio, who distinguished himself at Chicka
mauga; George B. Creamer, commander of
"Wilson Post, Maryland; Captain Frank
Brownell, United States army, of "Washing
ton, D. C, Ellsworth's avenger at Alexannria
in 18G1, now on the retired list ; Col. Joyce,
of "Washington D. C; Adjutant General J.
L. Bennett, of Illinois ; James January, of
Hlinois, one of the Andersonville prisoners,
who lost both of his feet during his impris
onment; Hon. A. D. Hazen, assistant post
master general ; General J. F. Hartranfb, of
Pennsylvania; General Henry A. Barnum,
of New York ; General George S. Merrill, of
Massachusetts; Captain George E. Lemon,
of "Washington, D. C. ; General G. C. Knif
fin,of The National Tribune; General
Charles L. Young, of Toledo, senior vice
commander-in-chief of the G. A. R. ; Gen.
N. H. Baldwin, of Cincinnati ; Captain John
L. Clemm, United States army, known as
the drummer-boy of Chickamanga ; Rev. J.
L. Lovering, chaplain-in-chief G. A. It., "Wor
cester, Mass.; General "W. T. Olin, Adjutant
General G. A. R., of Boston ; General George
B. Squires, judge advocate general, of
Brooklyn, N. Y. ; James T. Smith, of "Wash
ington, past commander department of the
Potomac; Corporal James Tanner, of Brook
lyn, department commander of New York ,
Col. J. P. Robinson, of New Jersey ; J. M.
Yanderslice, department commander of Penn
ey lvania, and others.
There was some quiet canvassing among
delegates for the new commander-in-chief in
place of General Merrill. Among the candi
dates named are Paul Vandcrvorst, of Ne
braska; Gen, C. H. Houghton, of New Jer
sey ; John S. Kountz, of Ohio ; Corporal
James Tanner, of New York ; General O. L.
Mann, of Illinois, General W. E. W. Ross,
of Maryland, and "Wm. Ward, of New Jer
sey. Tables constantly occupied the floor of the
rear upper saloon, heavily laden with
meats and confections of all kinds. Wilson
Post band gave a concert on board, and sev
eral musical parties enlivened the surround
ings with pleasant songs and choruses. The
steamer proceeded to Annapolis roads and
passed in close to the city and the practice
Ehip there stationed, from whose decks the
steamers' company received numerous
cheers. On returning to the city the passen
gers were conveyed in cars and phajtons to
Cam) Agnus, where other pleasures were iu
waiting for them.
THE ENCAMPMENT.
Opening of the Session Reports of tho Yarlous
Officers.
The session of the National Encampment
was formally opened at noon at the Academy
of Music, with Commander-in-Chief Merrill,
presiding. The roll of the Departments was
called, after which reports were presented
by the Adjutant General, Inspector General,
the proceedings of the Conncil of Adminis
tration, the Surgeon General, Judgo Advo
cate General, and Quartermaster General.
The regular committees were appointed and
the reports appropriately referred, and tho
Encampment took a recess until Thursday
morning at 9 o'clock.
THE ADJUTANT OENERAL'S REPORT.
Adjutant General "Wm. M. Olin, in his re
port, says : The table presents a comparison,
first, between our members at the close of
the calendar years 18S0 and 1881 ; and, sec
ond, between the membership at the close of
the first quarter of 1SS1 and the same quar
ter of 1SS2, the latter comparison showing
more nearly the gain during the present ad
ministration. To recapitulate :
Members in good standing Dec. 31,
18S0 60,678
Members in good standing Dec. 31,
18S1 85.856
Gain between Dec 31, 1880, and
Dec. 31, 18S1 25,178
Members in good standing March 31,
1881 63,302
Members in good standing March 31,
1SS2 . 89,934
Gain between Mar. 31, 1SS1, and
Mar. 31, 1882 29,226
Total gain since Dec. 31, 1880 . . 29,256
The average membership of the PoBts re
porting is nearly sixty; estimating the de
linquent Posts at fifty members each, and
presuming, as there is every reason to pre
sume, that the increase of the Order has con
tinued in undiminished ratio during the cur
rent quarter, I may be pardoned, he says, for
recording here tho verification of the pre
diction made by you at the beginning of your
administration, that its close would leavo
upon the rolls of tho Grand Army of the
Republic a roun d hundred thousand men.
RErORT OF TIIE INSPECTOR GENERAL.
The Inspector General, James R. Carna
han, in his annual report, says: "The year
ending December 31, 1S81, was a prosperous
year for the Grand Army of the Republic
both in the increase in the number of Posts
in the different Departments, and in tho
increase in membership in the Posts. A
greater interest has been developed in the
minds of our ex-Union soldiers towards the
Order, and from all directions inquiries come
as to the purposes, objects, and aims of tho
Grand Army of the Ropublic as now consti
tuted and governed. Especially has this
been truo of our Western States. The mem
bership, the comrades, have taken moro in
terest during the past year and are seeking
more and more ' to unite in a full "fraternity
of interest and feeling all good and true de
fenders of the Republic' The entire outlook
in each Department is brighter than ever
before."
Of the Department of Maryland he lays;
"The Department of Maryland makes a most
excellent showing of the condition up to
September 30, 1881. The Department at
that date embraced 21 Tosts, with a mem
bership ranging from 18, tho smallest Posts
to 572, the largest, a total membership of
1,861 at that date. This, both as to.the num
ber of Posts and tho membership, has been
greatly increased since that rtirae? as I know
from a personal vistation to this Department.
The ritualistic work of the Department is,
for the most part, properly done. Tho re
port shows about one-half the membership
uniformed. Total amount expended in
charity, $1,106. The future prospects of this
Department are excellent. I found in per
sonal visit that the Department was working
most harmoniously. The comrade were
energetic and determined that their Depart
ment should succeed in every respeet."
In conclusion, he said, I wish to thank
the Commander-in-Chief, the member of the
national staff, and the officers of the different
Departments, for the many kind courtesies
they have shown me, and tho aid that has
been rendered by comrades generally in the
work of the inspector's department. I trust
tho comrades in National Encampment as
sembled shall find naught bnt harmony in
their deliberations, and as one by one we
call to mind the comrades who wore wont to
meet with us, but who now rest beneath
" the low green tent whoso curtains never
outward swing," may it bring thoae of us
who yet remain closer together in that fra
ternity of thought and action and purpose
that nhall make us as one; that charity that
can see little of human errors and all of
life's virtues, and that loyalty to ono another
and to the Union for which our comrades
died, that shall be as everlasting as the Eter
nal Camp of Rest on high.
THE DELEGATES.
Rational 01Hcer Tho CokiicH of Administration.
The following is the lists of delegates, as far
as completed, to the National Encampment:
Maine A. B. Farnham, department com
mander; W. B. Bradbury, senior vice-com-mnuder;
John L. Pierce, junior vice-coniKiMid-cr;
John F. Foster, assistant aljutant-cricral.
Representatives at Large: Sam'l W. Ltwie, Hetli
O. Rogers, G. H. Matthews, W. R. Ripley. Al
ternates: A. D. Stetson, J. O. Johnson, B.J.
I till, Robert McKay. Past Department Com
manders: Ueors;o L. Btal, Chas. P. MattockK,
Daniel White, Scldon Connor, Nelson Howard,
John D. Myrick, Aug. C. Hamlin, Winsor D.
Smith, I. S. Eanps, Wm. G. Haskell ; H. F.
Blanehard, member of national council of
administration.
New Humpshirc M. A. Hayncs, depart
ment commander; Scwell D. Tilton, senior
vice-commander; II. G. Shorman, junior vics
commander; Nutt Shaekfonl, assistant adjutant-general.
Representatives : A. B. Thomp
son, M. T. Donohue, Alvin Burleigh, W. II.
Weston. Alternates: G. W. Nichols, A. J.
Farra, A. W. Raker, F. P. Cram. Past Depart
ment Commanders: M. T. Bctton, Daniel J.
Vaughn, W. R. Patten, James E. Larltfn, A. II.
Bixby, W. II. Trickey, T. W. Challis, Alvin S.
Eaton, C. J. Richards, George Bowers; J. N.
Patterson, member of national council of ad
ministration. Vennoutr A. R. Volentine, department com
mander ; L. D. Savage, senior vice-commander ;
W. H. Gilmore, junior vico-eoininander; C. C.
Kinsman, assistant adjutant-general; Geo. II.
Bielow, representative ; C. D. Gates, represen
tative; R. S. Coflfoy, alternate; B. Cannon, Jr.,
alternate. Past Department Commanders: W.
W. Henry, Stephen Thomxrf, J. II. Gouldiag,
W. G. Vcascy, T. S. Peck ; E. J. Ormsby, mem
ber of national council of administration.
MawKichnsctta Geo. H. Patch, commander;
Wm. H. Hart, senior vice-commnuder; John
D. Billings, Junior vice-commander; James F.
Mtocfe, assistant adjutaut-gGiieral; Henry B.
Pierce, representative at large; J.Frank Dal
tou, alternate. Representative: Andrew C.
Stone, Charles O. Fellows, Alvin R. Bailey,
Beuj. S. LotcII, J. P. Maxfield, John E. Kil
lian, Charles II. Tracy, Thomas J. Amen, J. B.
Lamb, Azel Ainca. Alternates: Benj. Pitman,
John D. Edgell, J. Henry Dwyer, Kat. E.
Ladd, F. W. Merriam, Chas. B. Fox. J. Parson
Bradley, E. P. Gibbs, George Gurney, John F.
Brace. Pst Department Commanders: Austin
S. Cushman, Francis A. Osborn, A. S. Under
wood, Geo. S. Morrill, John G. B. Adams, A. B.
R. Sprague, Wm. Cogswell, John W. Kimball,
Horace B. Sargent, John A. llawes, George W.
Creasey; S. A. Barton, member of national
council of administration.
Connecticut Iro E. Hicks, department com
mander; Isaac B. nyatt, senior vice-commander;
William Berry, vice-commander; Henry
E. Taintor, ass't adjVgen'l. Representatives at
Large John McCarthy, William C. Wile, Lewis
G. Logan. Alternates at Large James R. Sloan,
William G. Gallaghar, Solah G. Blakeman.
Past Department Commanders Edward Har
land, Thco. G. Ellis, Wm. H. Mallory, L. A.
Dickinson, Chas. J. Bnckbce, Wm. E. Disbrow,
Charles E. Fowler, Geo. S. Smith, Alfred B.
Beers; Henry M. Durfey, member of national
council of administration.
Rhode Island. Honry F. Jenks, department
commander; Philip S. Chase, senior -vice-commander;
David Cook, 2d junior vice-commander;
W. J. Bradford, ass't adj't-gen'l ; Bcpre
sentatives at Largo Thomas W. Manchester,
Isaac M. Potter. Alternates at Large Andrew
McMahon, Seth B. Kenny. Past Department
Commanders C. R. Bray ton, Edwin Metcalf,
Charles H. Williams, Fred A. Arnold, Charles
C. Gray, Horatio Rogers, Elisha H. Rhodes,
EtlTrin C. Pomroy, Henry J. Snooner, Henry
R. Barker, W. H. P. Steere ; R. H. I. Goddard,
member of national conncil of administration.
New York. Jm. S. Fraser, department com
mander; Robert Keith, senior vice-commander;
Edwin Goodrich, junior vice-commander;
Geo. F. Hopper, ass't adj't-gen ; J. B. Murray,
representative at large ; Geo. A. Cantinc, alter
nate. Representatives H. W. Slocum, Wm. H.
Warner, Jno. E. Slavery. Willard Bullard, E.
W. BroninghauHon, Geo. F. Tait, Donnis Sulli
van, Jos. Fordes, Edwin L. Colo, J. Stuart
Lowery, John Parks, M. H. Havens, J. M.
Foster and J. M. Farqnhar. Alternates H. J.
Swift, J. A. Brady, II. A. Glossfonl, F. M.
Clark, W. D. Jaynes, A. D. Limbergor, Wm.
DeLacey, T. C. Rowe, A. Harrington, A. B.
Pierce, John S. Boyd, William C. Bcddy, R. W.
L'Horamadie and J. II. Cummins;. Past De
partment Commanders Dan'l Sickles, John
C. Robinson, Henry A. Barnnm, S. P. Corlies,
John Palmer, James Tanner, Win. F. Rodgcre,
Jame McQuadc, L. Poe Young and Abram
Merritt; W. H. Bright, member national coun
cil of administration.
New Jorsey. Ed. L. Oampboll, department
commander; Alex. M. Way, senior vice-com-mandor;
Wm. G. White, junior vice-commander;
R. Lloyd Roberta, ass't adj't-gen'l; S.
Van C. Van Renssolear, representative at large;
John A. Rodrigo, nlternnte at large. Represen
tative Frank M. Riley; John It. Gnibb, G. P.
Robcrteon, Jos. B. Bray. Alternates J. S.
McDonalds, H. L. Hartshorn, Geo. B. Fielder,
Charles E. Morritt. Past Dapartmont Com
manders W. Ward, Rich. n. Lee, Chas. Bur
rows, Geo. W. Gile, E. W. DTis, John Mueller,
Sam'l Hufty, Chas. H. Houghton ; B. A. Pelou
bet, member of national council of administra
tion. Pennsylvania, J. M. Vanderslice, depart
ment commander; W. N. Jonos, sonior vico
eommandor. James M. Gibbs, junior vice-com-dcr:
Thos. J. Steward, n?fi'fe adj't-gen'l; Wm.
A. Stone, representative at large; S. J. Amsdcn,
alternate at large. Representatives Thomas
G. Sample, L. F. Bateman, Samuel Harper, Wm.
R. Peddle, F. n. Dyer, J. C.Aiken, W.Hays
Grier, H. B. Hackett, O. S. Mcllwaino, C. S.
Marks, Theodore Burchfiold, C. B. Denworth,
W. Kinsey, Jas. McCormic, Richard Rahn,
Honry Whiteaides, Austin Curtin, Dr. Jos. 0.
Furguson, II. G. Tillinghait, A. J. Spies, and
Frederick Metzger. Alternates J. 31. Welch,
G. S. Gallupe, Fred. Lutty, J. B. Davis, Rev.
J. B. French, E. H. Brady, R. M. J. Bml, J. F.
McLano, J. F. Osier, R. B. Mageo, Isaac St.
Clair, G. F. Harris, W. H. Sholmire, A. M. K.
Storrio, John A. Stevenson, E. G. Carpenter,
D. S. Porter, J. D. Hicks, Geo. B. Hubb, A. J.
Rorer, and J. M. Hollingsworth. Past Depart
ment OommauderB Louis Wagner, R. B.
Beath, W. W. Tyson. S. I. Givin, Georte L.
Brown, John Taylor, O. C. Bosbyshell, A. Wil
son Norris, James W. LattA, Charles T. Hull,
aud Chill W. Hazard ; Robert F. Potter, mem
ber of national council of adrniaistration.
Delaware. Jhn Wainwright, department
commander; John J. Gormloy, senior vice
commander; Raymond TrHsty, sr., junior
vice-commander; Daniel Ross, ass't adj't-gen. ;
Jas. A. Price, representative at large; J. P.
Wales, alternate at largo; Wm. S. McNair,
past department commander; W. Y. Swiggot,
mombcr of national council of administration.
Maryland. Graham Dnkehart, department
commander; Wm. A. McKellip, senior vice
comraaudor; Tho3. Hill, junior vice-commander;
John H. Suter, ass't adj't-gen; Harrison
Adreon, representative at largo; Dr. A. W.
Dodge, alternate at large; John E. Wilson,
representative; Dr. J. W. C. Cuddy, representa
tive; S. M.Sparklin, alternate; Jonn M.Smith,
alternate; Past Department Commanders
Edwin T. Daneker, E. B. Taylor, Win. E.
Griffith, Wra.E.W. Boss; Chas. H. Richardson,
member national council of administration.
Potomac. Sam'l S. Bnrdett, department
commander; Amos F. Milford, senior vice
eouunauder; Fred. Mack, junior vico-com-mandor;
John Camoion, asVt adj't-genoial;
Fred Thomson, representative; M. Emmet
Urell, representative, Thomas A. Allen, alter
nate; Wesley Howard, alternate; Past De
partment Commanders Frank II. Spraguo,
Jas. T. Smith, Beuj. F. Hawkcs, Geo E. Cor
son, A. H. C. Richardson, Harriaon Dingman,
C. C. Royce, Wm. Gibson; S. S. Burdett, mem
ber national council of administration.
Virginia. P. T. Woodfm, deportment com
mandor; John Miller, senior vice-commander;
Thos. P. Jones, junior vice-commander; W. P.
Sands, ass't adj't-ffen'l ; Past Department Com
manders W. N. Eaton, W. H. Apponxeller,
Wra. Rvder, Richard Band, S. B. Keniinv, K.
G. Staples, A. B. Hurlbut, W. Horvoy King:
II. B. Nu'holls, meaiber of national council of
administration.
Ohio Cha. T. Clark, department com
mander; J. C. McGownn, senior vice-eom-rnander
; F. M. Younjj, junior vioa-coaimander;
David Laaning, n't adj'fc gen'l; Geo. S. Can
field, representative at largo; H. P. Lloyd,
alternate at larjre. Representatives: C. C.
Goodard, D. R. Austin, A. D. Conger, A. G.
Byers, Wm. Thomon, P. W. Stanhope, J.
B. Wihon, J. A. Stewart, and Sam'l McCul
lough. Alternates: J. H. Grove, W. B. Clarko,
T. M. Sechler, LaFayotte Lyttle, J. St. J.
Clarkwn, Jewett Palmer, John II. McUlurg, F.
McDonough, and O. J. Do Wolf. Wm. Earn
shnw, past commander-in-chief and past de
partment commander; J. Warren Keifor, past
junior vice-commander-in-chief. Past Depart
ment Commanders: Thos. L. Young, A. C.
Voris, J. Seymour, J. B. Stedman, D. W.
Thomas, John S. Kountz. W. H. Baldwin,
memlier of national council of administration.
Indiana Jan. R. Carnahan, department com
mander; A. C. Rosencraiu:, sonior A'ice-com-
mandcr; Ed Nicar, junior vice-commander;
Ben. D. House, ass't adj't gcn'I. Representa
tives: Geo. J. Langsdalo, 11. S. Robcrtoon, J.
W. Woolen. Alternates: John Spies, H. L.
Miller, M. D. Maoson. Past Department Com
ntandors: J. B. Hafter, S. E. Armstrong, W. W.
Dndloy. W. II. Armstrong, member of national
council of administration.
Illinois Thomas G. Lawler, department
commander; R. E. Campbell, sonior vico com
mander; J. L. Richardson, junior vice com
mander; J. L. Bennott, assistant adjutant
general. Ropresontfltives O. L. Mann, J. W.
January, William Jackson, A. B. Rus Rowley
Page. Alternates W. II. (Iienoweth, It. E.
Koch, L. S. Hudson, J. II. Collier, William
Avery. Past Department Commanders John
W. Burst, Edgar D. Swain, Guy T. Gould, II.
Hillard, T. B. Coultc, J. S. Reynolds. Jonn A.
Logan, past commander-in-chief. John Ste
phens, member of national council of admin
istration. Iowa Georgo B. Hogin, department com
mander; Frank DoFord, senior vice com
mander; Georgo L. Wright, junior vice com
mander; N. Townscnd, assistant adjutant
general; J. K. Powers, representative; John
Limit, representative ; J. W. Ilatton, alternate;
W. W. Phillip?, alternate. Past Department
Commanders J. C. P.nrrott, A. II, Perkins, II.
E. Griswold, W. F. Conrad, P. V. Caroy. A.
W. Guthrie, mombcr of national council of
administration.
Kansas J. C. Walkinshaw, department com
mander; ILL. Millard, scniorvicc commander;
II. W. Pond, junior vico commander; W. 3L
Lccpcr, assistant adjutant-gonural ; S. E. Shel
don, representative at large; Henry Booth,
representative at lare; T. J. Anderson, alter
nate; J. W.Steol, alternate; John C. Carpenter,
member of national council of administration.
Nebraska S. J. Alexander, department com
mader; L. W. Osborn, nonior vice commander;
J. S. Miller, junior vico commander; Brad. P.
Cook, assistant adjutant-general. Represonta
tivea at Large James O. West, S. B. Jones, J.
O. Bounell, II. G. Townpond. Alternates at
Large C. Wiltse, J. Swearinger, J. n. Culver,
M. H. Sessions. Past Department Com
manders Paul Vandorvoort, 11. II. Wilbcr, J.
W. Savage. F. E. Brown, member of tho
national conneil of administration.
Michigan B. R. Pierce, department com
mander; G. Wright, senior vico commander;
O. A. Janes, junior vico commander; H. II.
Holton, assistant adjutant-general; William H,
Miller, representative; F. W. Swift, repre
sentative; George E. Judd, alternate; A. V.
Donahue, alternate; C. V. R. Pond, past de
partment commander; A. P. McReynolds, past
department commander. Oscar A. Janes, mem
ber of national council of administration.
Wisconsin. H. M. Enos, department com
mander; J. M. Vandorhoof, senior vice-coin-mander;
J. H. Woodworth, junior vice-commander;
F. II. Putney, ass'fc adj't-gen'l; Phil
lip Check, Jr., representative; Elias A. Calkins,
representative; C. L. Dering, alternate; T. W.
Haight, alternate ; Past Department Comman
ders Thomas S. Allen, John Hancock, Edward
Ferguson, Samnel F. Hammond, Henry G.
Rogors, Griff J. Thomas ; H. B. Harshaw, mem
ber of national council of administration.
Mountains. E. K. Stimson, department com
mander; H. K. Miller, senior vice-commander;
O. P. Pelton, junior vice-commander; M. J.
Fitzgerald, ass't adj't-gen'l; Georgo West,
representative ; J. A. Coulter, alternate . S. W.
Donnellan, past department commander; John
A. Coulter, member of national council of ad
ministration. California W. A. Robinson, department
commandor; J. M. Davis, senior vice-com-inandcr;
R. If. Warfield, junior vico -commander;
Georgo McCarty, assistant adjutant
general. Representatives: Walter H. Holmes,
J. C. Tucker, W. S. Rosccrans. Alternates: E.
M. Gibson, R. M. Apgar, F. M. Coolcy. Past
Department Commandors: James Coey, Ed.
Carlcton, W. H. Aikcns, S. W. Backus, S. P.
Ford, C. Mason Kinne; Ira Moore, member of
national council of administration.
Provisional Department Minnesota Adam
MaTty, department commandor; J. P. Eca,
senior vice-commander; Charles C. Whitney,
junior vice-commander ; Samuel Bloomer, as
sistant adjutant-general.
Provisional Department West Virginia
W.H. H. Flick, department commander; Dan'l
Mayer, senior vice-commandor; W. H. Ricgs,
junior vice-commander; H, V. Daniel, assistant
ad j u t ant-gen cral .
NATIOXAT. OFFICEES.
Geo. S. Merrill, commander in chief, Law
rence, Mass.
Chas. L. Yonng, senior vice-commander in
chief, Toledo, Ohio.
C. V. R. Pond, junior vicc-coinmander in
chiof, Quincy, Mich.
Chas Styor, surgeon-general, Philadelphia,
Ta.
Joseph F. Lovering, chaplain in chief, Wor
cester, Mass.
Wra. Ward, quartermaster general, Newark,
N.J.
Jas. R. Carnahan, inspector general, Indianp
olis, Iud.
Geo. B. Squire, judgo advocate general,
Brooklyn, N. Y.
Wm. N. Oliu, adjutant general, Boston, Mass.
THE COUNCIL OF ADMINISTRATION.
The National Council of Administration is
an advisory board or oxecntivo committee
of tho Encampment. The duties of the
council are to audit all accounts and solve
such questions of administration as are re
ferred to it by tho executive officers. It is
composed of the elective officers of the En
campment, who are ex-oflicio members, and
ono delegate from each State Department.
The following are tho members for the pres
ent year: Commander-in-Chief, George S.
Merrill, of La wren ce, Mass.; Senior Vice-Com-mander-in-Chief,
Charles L. Young, of Tole
do, Ohio ; Junior Vice-Commander-in-Chief,
C. V. R. Poud, of Quincy, Michigan ; Surgeon
General, Charles Styer, Philadelphia; Chap-lain-in-Chief,
Rev. Joseph F. Lovering, "Wor
cester, Mass., and the following delegates : II.
F. Blanehard, Augusta, Maine; J. N. Patter
son, Concord, New Hampshire ; E. J. Orms
by, Brandon, Vermont; Silas A. Barton,
Lynn, Massachusetts; R. II. I. Goddard,
Providence, R. I.; Henry M. Durfcy, Green
ville, Conn.; W. II. Bright, Utic, N. Y.; A.
D. Peloubot, Jersey City, N. J.; Robert F.
Potter, Miuersville, Pa.; W. Y. Swiggett,
Wilmington, Del.; Charles II. Richardson,
Baltimore, Md.: S. S. Burdett, Washington,
D. C, Potomac ;) II. B. Nichols, Norfolk.
Va,; W. H. Baldwin, Cincinnati, O W. 21.
Armstrong, Terre Haute, Ind.; John Steph
ens, Chicago, 111.; A. N. Guthrie, Dcs Moiues,
Iowa; F-E. Brown, Syracuse, Neb.; John C.
Carpenter, Leavenworth, Kas.; Oscar A.
Ji .nes, HUlsdale, Mich.; H. B. Harshaw, O3I1-
i?i)sli, Wis.; John A. Coulter, Georgetown,
' (fol., (Mountains ;) Ira More, San Jose, Cal.
y r - . . - . -
THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF.
Arrhal of firacrnl Merrill and A djnf ant-General
Ol'.n A Cordial Kcccption.
General George S. Merrill, Commander-in-Chief
of tho Grand Army of the Republic of
tho United States, and Adjutant-General
Wm. M. Olin, arrived in the city on Monday,
aud were enthusiastically received and
warmly welcomed by the members of the
Order and distinguished citizens. They
came quietly, without escort, it being Gen
eral Merrill's desiro to arrange certain pre
liminaries before the various delegations
reached the city.
General Merrill is a genial gentleman, in
the primo of life. Ho is a journalist, the
proprietor of the Lawrence Daily American,
and has been postmaster of Lawrence for
twenty-four years. During tho war he re
signed as postmaster, recruited a company
for tho Fourth Massachusetts Regiment, aud
commanded it until it was mustered out, a
year afterward. IIo earned a line record lor
bravery aud pluck. Returning to Lawrence
he was again appointed postmaster, and re
tains the position still, lie is now major of
artillery in the Massachusetts Volunteer
Militia.
In conversation General Merrill expressed
his delight at the manifestations of welcome
shown by the bright bunting and decorated
buildings. lie remarked that a cordial wel
come was anticipated by the reports received,
and evidently the hospitable reception ac
corded himself, the officers and staff of the
Grand Encampment and the zouaves were
tho sincere aud heartfelt expressions of
"hospitable Baltimore." General Merrill
said that as head of tho Graud Army of the
Republic he had visited, during the past
year, every State north of the Potomac and
east of the Rocky Mountains, ami that this
has been the year of greatost gain the Grand
Army has ever known, having added 33,000
names to tho roll, and it now has a round
hundred thousand ex-Union soldiers upon
tho roster. Tho largest gain in any previous
year was 15,000. Iu the Posts he has visited
politics and religion are steadily ignored,
aud the Posts iu the East, North, and West
are composed of Democrats, Republicans,
Green backers, and everything else. In his
otv'n Post live of the commanders have been
Democrats, and are held in as high esteem
as any other members. He thought the wol
come was hearty, cordial, and enthusiastic.
The members of Dahlgren Post, No. 2, of
Boston, which is Gen. Merrill's peraonnl es
cort, arrived at Philadelphia Monday, en
route to Baltimore. They were met in
Philadelphia by Post No. 2, of that city, aud
tendered a formal reception at Independ
ence Hall. The streets along the line of
march were gaily decorated. The Philadel
phia Post carried twenty battle Hags. Mon
day night tho Boston vibitors were given a
banquet at Belmont Mansion, and Tuesday,
in company with Post No. 2, of Philadelphia,
left for Baltimore. Gen. Merrill went to
Bayvicw Tuesday moruiug, where he met
his escort of honor and formally entered the
city. Tho official staff of the commander-in-chief
arc Adjutant-General William M.
Olin, Boston, Mass.; Quartermaster-General,
William Ward, of Newark, N. J. ; luspector
Geueral James li. Carnahan, of Indianapolis,
Ind.; Judge-Advocate-General Geo. B.
Squires, of Brooklyn, Assistant Adjutant
General Alfred C. Monroe, Brocton," Mass.,
and Senior Aid John G. B. Adams, of Lynn,
Mass.
Adjutant-General Olin enlisted in the
Thirty-sixth Miissachusetts, Cols. Bowman
and Draper, at Worcester, Mass,., in 1802, at
tho age of sixteen years. He served oue
year. He was military secretary to Gov
ernor Long, and is now private secretary to
Collector Worthington, of Boston. The
business of the adjutant-general's offico is
very heavy, involving great labor.
THE NEXT ENCAMPMENT.
Shall It ho Held at San Francisco TioTTs of Delegate
Holmes.
Comrade TV H. Holmes, of George H.
Thomas Post, San Francisco, delegate from
the Department of California, called at The
National Tribune office on Monday.
Comrade Holmes is full of the grand idea
of tendering the hospitality of the Pacific
Coast to the Grand Army of the Republic
" That would be a consummation devoutly
to be wished," said Tnc Tribune man, "but
all of us are not Vanderbilts or Jay Goulds,
and can't afford the luxury of a trip across
the Continent."
" We have anticipated that objection," said
Comrade Holmes, in that breezy manner
characteristic of Californians, " and have ar
ranged for round-trip tickets at less than
one-half the usual price. Tho Knight Tem
plars are to meet there in June next, and
many of them belong to the Grand Army.
The increase in the number of excursionists
occasioned by the selection of San Francisco
for tho next annual Encampment by the G.
A. R. would result in still further lowering
the rates on tho railroads and at hotels."
" It would bo the realization of a long
cherished desiro to many an old soldier to
see the land where the setting sun sees the
last of earth when the day is done, fill a
long felt want, as it were," said The Trib
une man.
" Why not realize the dream of years,"
said the enthusiastic comrade. " Why not
fill your lungs with the pnre air of mountain
aud plain, gaze upward at the snow-capped
mountains, and feast your eyes upon the
glories of the Yosemite Valley. It is not a
question of economy any moro than the pur
chase of books, or pictures, or the indul
gence of any other elevated, taste is a ques
tion of economy. Like a trip to Europe, or
tho purchase of a home, it is one of ,$he
grand objects for which money is earned and
saved."
"IIow long would we have in California?
Tho tickets are, of course, limited."
" Thirty-five days. Long enough to visit
m.ost points of intemt usually taken in by
tourists. The capitalists of San Francisco
have oxpresscd their willingness to enter
tain the representatives of the Grand Army
in a manner worthy of the hospitality for
which the city is famed. Thousands of dol
lars have been promised, and we can pledge
all the money desired if the Encampment
will accept the invitation. The G. A.R.has
1,800 members in California, representing al
most every military organization in the vol
unteer army. George H. Thomas Post has
368 members, comprising the most influen
tial citizens of San Francisco. Senator Mil
ler and General Rosecrans are both mem
bers of that Post, and will press the invita
tion upon the delegates."
" How are you getting on with the Veteran
Soldiers' Home in San Francisco?"
" Over $50,000 have been subscribed, and
the mooting of the Grand Army at San
Francisco would result in securing subscrip
tions of double that amount in a day's time.
Vast good would bo done in that way. It
would popularize the undertaking aud up
hold the hand3 of the men who have labored
for its success."
THE GRAND ARMY ORGANIZATION.
The Grand Army of the Republic is an
association composed exclusively of men
who served in the Union army during the
war between the States. No one is eligible
to membership who has at any time borne
arms against the United States Government.
The objects of the apsociation are to preserve
fraternal relations, to protect comrades in
sickness, age, or misfortune, to care for wid
ows and orphans of soldiers and to promote
loyal allegiance to the United States. At
first one of tho declared objects was to secure
the rights of Union veterans by every moral,
social, aud political means within the con
trol of the organization, but this has been
stricken out as too partisan. The first Post
was formed in Illinois by Dr. B. F. Stephen
son, now deceased, in 1SGG. Throngh his
exertions Posts were formed in other States,
and a short while afterwards the national
organization or encampment, as it is styled,
was formed with representatives from ten
States and the District of Columbia. From
this beginning the organization very rapidly
grew aud Poste and Departments were formed
all over the States which had supplied sol
diers to the Union army. The different commanders-in-chief
have been to date as fol
lows: B. F. Stephensou, provisional; S. A.
Hurlbut, Rockford, 111., 18G7; John A. Lo
gan, Chicago, ISoS, 'G9, '70; A. E. Burnside,
Providence, R. I., 1871, '72; Chas. Devens,
Bojrtou, 1873, T4; J. F. Hartrantt, Phila
delphia, 1875, '7G; J. C. Robinson, Bing
hamton, N. Y., 1877, 57S; "Wm. Earnshaw,
Dayton, Ohio, 1S79; Louis Wagner, Phila
delphia, 1880; George S. Merrill, Lawrence,
Mass., 1SS1. The Second National Encamp
ment, which met in Philadelphia in 1SG3,
elected Gen. John A. Logan commander-in-chief,
who gave the greatest impetus to the
movement it had yet received. He served
three terms and kept up tho boom. It was
during I113 administration that May 30 was
established as Union Memorial Day, which
at first excited criticism as tending to revive
and perpetuate sectional animosities, but
this feeling soon passed away.
THE ANNIVERSARY SERMON.
An Eloquent Address on tho Unity of tho Republic.
The Days of Strife Ended.
On Sunday last the annual sermon to the
Grand Army was preached at the Second
Presbyterian Church in Baltimore by Rev.
J. F. Lovering, Cbaplain-in-Chief of the Or
der. Comrades from the various Posts in
the city wero present in full uniform. Chap
lain Lovering is the pastor of the Old South
Church, in Worcester, Mass. He is an able
and eloquent speaker, and his discourse was
marked by a full understanding of the
subject-matter to which it referred, and was
bold, brief, and highly interesting. The
theme was the unity of the Nation, and Mr.
Lovering drew his text from the prophet
Ezekial, 37th chapter, 22d verse. He
first referred to the children of Israel,
how they were repeatedly separated and re
united, and God's words, " I will make them
all as one nation in the land." Those words
to our forefathers, he said, were tho words to
us. The text suggested a national unity, a
closer binding together, a forgetfulness of
differences and a forgivenness of errors and
faults. The proacher said howas speaking now
to those who had had the country's future
thrust upon them : to men who were Chris
tian believers and knew the beauty and vir
tue of a cessation of strife. Tho text ap
pealed to all as an interpreter of the past, as
a pledgo of the future. God had announced
that ho would causo a union, and his words
had been fulfilled. The people were to-day
closer togothor than before tho war. Their
interests were nearer allied ; their ambitions
and desires considered from a national
standpoint wre more nearly alike, and the
evidence of it was the immediate resentment
by all the people of the country of foreign
intervention or imposition, aud the unanim
ity with which fchey suffered from a commom
bereavement. But reconciliation and union
were not complete ; they could never be as
long as the object of the people was to per
petuate a greatNation. "While withontmen
there could not be a nation, a nation was
never an aggregation of men with feelings,
sentiments and ambitions identical. It must
be a fragmentary aggregation ; there must
be differences for a nation to be prosperous.
As in individuals, so in nations where
everybody agreed upon every point, senti
ment was neither healthy nor lasting. Cen
tralized ideas were indispeusible to the pros
perity of society, but perfect unanimity and
accord was fatal. The American idea was to
subordinate individuals to the Nation ; its
dominant spirit was the organization of the
masses under one general principle, whose
power and efficacy consisted only of tho
unanimity with which they were received.
In order to guard against disintegration some
general principle was needed, and this, and
this alone, gavo rise to the pronuueiamento
that the price of liberty was eternal vigi
lance. "What, asked Mr. Lovering, was this
controlling, this omnipotent principle which
dominated the other principles, ideas and
practices of a government ? It was the be
lief in the sovereignty of God the univer
sal reliance upon Ilis potency. The sense of
alliance with God had been the source of
national strength since it bound the people
together. The love of God was inseparable
from the love of country ; those who be
lieved in him felt that in God was their
power, the perpetual source of their inspira
tion. Atheism overthrew nations, not be
cause, as some would say, the people did not
believe in God as the Ruler of the Universe,
but because there was no bond of union, no
directing head to whom all could look to re
ceive the strength which is the inseparable
attribute of faith. Faith in anything was an
efficacious; faith in their gods armed and
nerved the heathens for greater deeds of valor
and of courage ; faith in what might easily
have been an equally imaginary God fired tho
blood of the crusader. The principle of reli
ance was apparent in all the great battles that
had ever been fought, even those of Napoleon
I., who, though it was said he was not a be
liever in Christianity, had as his god a
princely ambition. It was his faith in that ;
and so faith was indispensable the world
over. Atheism permitted of faith in noth
ing; its synonym was sacrilege, and tho
inherent elements in sacrilege were indiffer
ence and reliance on self. Self was not
unanimous, and the epitaphs upon tho
tombstones of atheistical peoples were the
boasts of God, whom, or his equivalent, they
held they could do without. How many
evidences of the existence of faith in God aa
the ground-work of unity were there?
The occasion which called forth the mem
orable expression in Now York, when 50,
000 men rose as a unit on the assassination
of President Lincoln, t: God reigns and the
Government at "Washington still lives,"
demonstrated in a remarkable way its effi
cacy. The turbulence of the mob was
stilled, the vengeance which they wished to
visit upon the assassin of a martyred presi
dent was left to a higher and more impar
tial Judge and from a state of utter help
lessness the people were recalled to the ex
istence of One who was greater and mora
omnipitcnt than they. National unity was
then indispensable, and if this preservation
was necessary, it was the duty of every
citizen, unless he were careless of his coun
try's good, to endeavor to preserve it. Plato
said that the country was holier than father,
mother or other ancestor, and this statement
covered a conviction of the speaker's. Pa
triotism in the fullest sense ot the term was
the means by which nations could be pre
served. For the duty of patriotism there must be
magnanimity; a magnanimity which in
time of peace had no cringing or unmanly
concessions, no compromise of principles, no
bending to political chicanery. Mr. Lover
ing told of how upon the banks of the Rap
pahannock just before a battl two armies
were camped. They were the Northern and
the Southern armies upon opposite shor"
It was night and the strife of battle had
given place to the quiet of darkness. Thf
soldiers were all lying down upon tin
ground, many of them dreaming of hamr
and its blessed circle of friends and family
when suddenly the band of the Northern
army struck up the national air. The baud
of the Sonthern army replied with "a
down South in Dixie," and for fully half ;it
hour the air was alive with musical stritV
Finally the soft, sad strains of " Home. S wet
Home" were wafted down the Racpalu'n-
nock from the Northern lines. In an instant
the soldiers of the two armies were as still
as death. There was a great yearning in
their hearts, an indescribable reaching out,
which attained to a climax when the con
cluding notes of the sad and beautiful air
had ceased. Then arose from the Northern
men a terrible wail, as if their very heart
strings were being torn assnnder, and the
cry was replied to by an echoing yeU from
the confederate lines. Then all was again
still; the music had ceased and the camp
fires were out. There was terrible pathos
in that occurrence. Both sides thonght
they were fighting for the right. Both
were protecting their countries for in
the hearts of the Southerners there existed
a land separate and distinct from the Union,
if there were no geographical lines to distin
guish it from the Northern States and in
battles they bore out Plato's belief, that their
country was holier than father, or mother,
or brother. A sad evidence of this was there
in the fact that brother was arrayed against
brother, and cousin against cousin. I cannot
help but think of that remarkable scene on
the Rappahannock, said Mr. Lovering in
conclusion, when I see the preparations
being made for your encampment. The
yearning desire which for an instant bursts
the bounds of cold reserve and hostility
of the soldiers to ceaso the war and return
to their homes from whioh a crnel conflict as
useless, it would seem now, as it was deter
mined, had exiled them, refused to be stifled.
It was one of those p'eculiar passages in a
lifetime when nature and all the feeling3 of
man refused to be hushed any longer they
must have utterance. The wild, heartrend
ing wail of the two armies found echo in the
valleys. What it implied was a desire for a
cessation of war peace and rest. The prom
ise which that desire gave has been fulfilled.
The war is over ; those bitter days of cruel
strife are gone. Out of them the Nation has
been revived and rectified. No doubt you
believe yon were right and so do I; no doubt
the confederates thought they were right
too. We referred the case to the arbitrement
of war, aud the sword has decided in our
favor. But whatever wo think, or whatever
we believe, one thing remains, and that is,
that national unity is essential to national
life.
REUNION OF EX-PRISONERS.
A Grand Reunion of the Ohio Association
of Union Ex-Prisoners of War was held at
the Central Branch, National Home for D. V.
S., on the 14th and 15th instants. The fol
lowing was tho order of reception: Home
Band; Ex-Prisoners of War, Soldiers' Homo
Division ; Veteran Post, No. 5, Department
of Ohio, Grand Army of the Republic; Hi
bernian Benevolent Society; Home Drum
Corps ; and Union Ex-Prisoners, Columbus,
Cincinnati, Cleveland, aud Toledo. Ohio.
The home societies assembled at half-past
nine on the 1-ith instant, and ou the arrival
of the guests escorted them through some of
the avenues of the Home to Memorial Hall,
where Chaplain Earnshaw offered prayer,
and General M. R. Patrick, governor of the
Home, delivered the address of welcome.
The annual business meeting was then held,
and after dinner an experience meeting took
place, and the Rev. F. AY. Gunsaulea rad au
original poem. Tho special feature of the
second day was a public meeting under tho
auspices of the Soldiers' Homo Division of
Ex-Prisoners of War; at which speeches
were made by Generals K. P. Kennedy, of
Bellefontaine; Durbiu Ward, of Columbus;
A. J. Warner, of Marietta, and Ed. S. Meyers,
of Cleveland. "Wo regret that the pressure
on our colnmns renders it impossihle for us
to publish a full report of tho'procecdings.
