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will dominate all the future along the loftiest planes of enduring liberty.

And now, in Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, with a full heart of gratitude for the honors conferred and friendships formed, and with a deep and abiding affection for our noble Order, I wish you every happiness, and may God bless you, every one.

Yours faithfully in F., C. and L.,

ALBERT D. SHAW,

Commander-in-Chief.

Report of Senior Vice Commander-in-Chief.

OFFICE OF SENIOR VICE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF,
GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC,

THOS. J. STEWART,

INDIANAPOLIS, IND., Aug. 15, 1900.

Adjutant-General,

Dear Sir and Comrade :

As the time for our next National Encampment approaches, I beg to submit my report for the past year. I have endeavored by all the means in my power to subserve the highest aims of the Grand Army of the Republic, in public and private. I trust that I have so conducted myself and have so labored for our beloved Order, that no one will regret having honored me with the second gift within their power. I have visited many Posts at their business meetings and on social occasions, and have taken part in the installation of officers of several Posts. I have attended several reunions of comrades and found everywhere a strong fraternal feeling, and that the comrades are drawing closer together as their serried ranks are depleted by death.

In October last I attended the reunion of the Blue and the Gray at Evansville, Indiana, when there were assembled thousands of comrades from several States, and hundreds of Confederates from Tennessee, Kentucky and Georgia. The utmost good fellowship prevailed on all sides. Many a good story of narrow escapes and brave actions on each side were celebrated with the healths of the survivors drank standing, but not in silence.

I find the U. S. Soldiers Home at Marion, Indiana, and our State Soldiers Home at Lafayette, where the wives and widows of our comrades are cared for, to be in a flourishing condition and crowded to their utmost capacity. I attended

GENERAL ORders) HeadQUARTERS GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC INDEPENDence HALL,

No. 5.

PHILADELPHIA, March 1, 1900.

VIII.

Announcement is made of the following deaths of members of National Encampment, and of National Officers:

PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF GEO. S. MERRILL.

Born at Methuen, Massachusetts, March 10, 1837.

Died at Lawrence, Massachusetts, February 17, 1900.

Comrade Merrill was one of the conspicuous and forceful leaders of the Grand Army of the Republic. He was the first Commander of the Post at Lawrence, Mass Department Commander of Massachusetts in 1875, and Commander-in-Chiet in 1881; afterwards for many years Chairman of the National Committee on Pensions. He was a regular attendant at the National Encampments, and embraced every opportunity to advance the interests of the Grand Army of the Republic, and be helpful to his comrades. He filled with signal ability and fidelity many positions of trust and responsibility in civil and political life. Genial and social as a comrade, brave as a soldier, a citizen of spotless reputation and character, he was a true exemplar of the American Volunteer Soldier. By his devotion to the Grand Army of the Republic he honored the organization whose highest honor he had worthily worn.

[From Address of Albert D. Shaw, Commander-in-Chief.]

"The most conspicuous names upon the roll of our honored dead for the year are those of Past Commanders-in-Chief

GEORGE SARGENT MERRILL, OF MASSACHUSETTS,

who died at Lawrence, Massachusetts, February 17, 1900, and John Patterson Rea, who died at Nicollet Island, Minnesota, May 28, 1900. Each of these comrades enjoyed the highest honor this great patriotic organization could bestow, and brought to the discharge of their duties that earnestness and comradeship that won for them the reverence and love of the Grand Army of the Republic. The members of this Encampment knew them, loved them. They were wise in counsel, grand in leadership, devoted in comradeship. We place for them in tribute the vacant chair, and for every member of the Grand Army I voice the sentiment to their memory honor; to their ashes peace."

[Extract from Journal Thirty-fourth National Encampment.]

Past Commander-in-Chief Louis Wagner moved that the Adjutant General be directed to prepare for the Journal of the Thirty-fourth National Encampment, memorial pages for Past Commanders-in-Chief George S. Merrill and John P. Rea, and the motion prevailed.

[graphic]

GEORGE S. MERRILL,

PAST COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF G. A. R., 1881.

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