COMRADE SCOTT: I have been asked by a great many comrades why Atlanta did not make an application for the Encampment to go south. The City of Atlanta, that has more large buildings in it than any other city of the world of its population, with more large hotels than any other city of the world of its population, except the Seaside Resorts, will most graciously welcome you, and I have no doubt will come before the next Encampment. I say to you this, that the only question in my mind would be whether we could take care of, not the Encampment, but the old Johnnies who would come from three states to welcome you. COMRADE SUYDAM: I want to say in reply to my comrade from Atlanta that we will take care of the Johnnies, when we get down there, with open arms. The Commander-in-Chief announced that the Council of Administration would meet at parlor H, Boody House, at 4 o'clock p. m. today. The Encampment closed with prayer by the Chaplainin-Chief, Comrade Spence, in these terms: O, God, our God, God of our fathers, we thank Thee for Thy love and Thy goodness manifested upon us during the past year, aud especially on this Encampment. Command thy blessing, O Lord, tu rest upon the retiring officers, and upon those who are now taking charge and upon the entire Grand Army of the Nation. And now we ask in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, continued blessings, forever. Amen! F. Dew Adjutant General In Memoriam Thomas G. Lawler Commander-in-Chief, Grand Army of the Republic, 1884. Died February 4, 1908 In Memoriam The following resolutions were unanimously adopted: Resolved, That a committee of three be appointed to prepare a memorial page for insertion in the Journal of this Encampment, containing a proper and fitting tribute to the memory of Thos. G. Lawler, Past Commander-in-Chief and for thirty-seven years Post Commander of Post No. 1, Department of Illinois. JOHN C. BLACK, MEMORIAL TO THOMAS G. LAWLER. The Committee appointed by the Forty-second National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic to prepare a memorial to Past Commander-in-Chief Thomas G. Lawler, beg to report as follows: The sorrow which was felt at his departure was as universal as the membership of the Grand Army of the Republic. From the lips of all came the words, "I am sorry he is gone." Yet we all know that after life's long battle he sleeps well, and as he is only one of the rear guard which is constantly passing the Jordan we say, Peace to him. Thomas G. Lawler was born in Liverpool, England, April 7, 1844, and was removed to the United States in 1845. The city of Rockford, Illinois, was his home thenceforth save as a few of his boyhood years were spent in Chicago. He served for three years in Company E, 19th Illinois Infantry, from September 17, 1861, taking part in the battles of Perryville, Stone River, Chickamauga and Missionary Ridge, and in many of the engagements of the Atlanta campaign, attaining the rank of sergeant. After the close of his enlistment he was attached to the headquarters of the Fourteenth Army Corps, and served from thence on till the close of the war at the headquarters of that fighting organization. He was made Commander of Nevius Post No. 1, Department of Illinois, in 1868, and, with the exception of a single year, served as such until his death. He was elected Commander of the Department of Illinois in 1881, and Commander-in-Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1884. Besides his service in war he was captain of a military company for many years, and colonel of the Third Regiment of the Illinois National Guard from 1886 to 1892. He was postmaster of Rockford for more than twenty years, holding that position at the time of his death, and holding, besides, honorable positions at the head of commercial affairs of the city of Rockford. He was married Christmas day, 1867, to Miss Fannie A. Rood, who survives him. He died at his home in the city of Rockford, Illinois, February 4, 1908. During the funeral ceremonies every business house in the city of Rockford was closed, and the national flag hung throughout that city at half-mast. He was buried by the Grand Army of the Republic at Rockford, the chaplain of his own post delivering the address. Through all his life he bore himself so as to enlist the affection and regard of comrade, man, and fellow-citizen. The foregoing is the brief outline of the services and life of that slender lad, whose raven hair and long black mustache surmounting his swarthy face, made us who knew him always think of Logan; and all the passing years did not take from that face its battle-life, and its splendid challenge to high enterprise. Although he had had conferred upon him the honors of election to the Commandership of the Post, to the Commandership of the great Department of Illinois, and, finally, to the Commandership in Chief of the Grand Army of the Republic, yet while bearing all these positions and receiving all these honors he delighted to be known as Tom Lawler of Post 1, Rockford, Illinois. In all of the parades and reviews of the Grand Army of the Republic he marched with his post and at the head of the procession, relegating all advancements to dwell in comfort and happiness, and with assured support, with the comrades of his everyday life. His comradeship soon learned to recognize his devotion and his steadfastness in their interests, and there was no voice of them all which swayed hearts and judgments of the men of the Grand Army of the Republic more effectively than did his. When he rose in public assembly or in private session, closest attention was bestowed upon him, and he spoke most unvaryingly the final and decisive words of counsel, of leadership and of advice. What more can be said of him? Under the flag that he loved so well, under the tender care of the organization of which he was so proud, he sleeps in the state of his home, his youth, his maturity and his age. Whether a monument shall be raised to him, or whether over him the prairie grass shall grow and flowers planted by loving hands while the spot is remembered shall blossom, is matter of indifference. The man's record made here will be remembered while the history of the patriotism of the country is kept alive, and while the story of the Grand Army of the Republic is repeated. For what he did and was we love him. "Green be the grass above thee, JOHN C. BLACK. |