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Show I.G.A. R. BIGOTS REBUKED BY COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF The following interesting correspondence needs no commeut : Gen. R. B. Brown1, (.kmmiandei-in-Chief, G. A. R.. I Zanesville. O. Dear Sir: I take the liberty of forwarding to you a copy of the resolutions adopted by the Allegheny Alle-gheny county branch of the American Federation of Catholic Societies of the United States, at a meeting held in this city on October IS. From evidently reliable accounts published in the press it appears that Chester Post. G. A. R.. of Dauphin county, this state, in conjunction with a number of secret anti-Catholic- societies, signed a petition to the public school board of Williams-town, Williams-town, said county, to debar Catholics from teaching in the public schools. Inasmuch as many Catholics are members of the G. A. R.. men who, as you well know, fought none the less valiantly for the preservation of thr. Union on account of their religion, we consider this, act of Chester Post unwise, unjust and contrary con-trary to the spirit of the constitution of our beloved be-loved country. Should, upon investigation, you find this report to be correct, I trust that you will take such action as will prevent a repetition of such an occurrence on the part of any post of the G. A. R. in the future. fu-ture. With profound respect I remain vours trulv, F. W. LMMEKUS', President. Pittsburg, Oct. 31, 190;. ; Headquarters" Grand Army of the Republic. F. W. Immckus. 1301 Carson St., Pittsburg, Pa. - My Dear Sir: I have your favor of the 31st. ult., and very carefully note all you say. : The alleged action of Chester Post, of Dauphin county, Pennsylvania, has been called to my attention at-tention two or three times. If snch action as is represented rep-resented iu the newspapers was had, I deplore it. I have asked a comrade'in Alabama and a prominent promi-nent official of the Grand Army in that department depart-ment to" thoroughly investigate this matter and assure as-sure himself of the accuracy of the newspaper statements, state-ments, and then report his conclusions to me. I r-should jake it as a great favor -ifyou would do: the v. -same itLingf :--V ; 1. ',"..'' '-"' f.-f -'- -T ! V The Grand Army of the Republic : 'is in no sense a sectarian or political organization. Twenty-two Twenty-two years ago we elected a Catholic, a most devout man, who was a drummer boy during the Civil War, commander-in-chief. In the very same citv this year the fortieth national encampment elected the Yery Reverend Archbishop. Comrade John Ireland, Ire-land, as chaplain-in-chief. These two facts of themselves are a sufficient answer to even the suggestion sug-gestion that the Grand Army could look with favor upon such action as is alleged to have been taken by Chester Post. T say to you again, that personally person-ally and officially I greatly regret this alleged incident. in-cident. Iu this city, so far as I am advised, every soldier sol-dier or sailor who is a Catholic is a member of the post in which I have the honor to hold my membership. mem-bership. Xo such sentiments as those which seem to obtain in this Pennsylvania town are now., or ever were present here. I am very certain that 'the sentiments do not obtain, among the Grand Army men to any extent anywhere. I shall be very glad to hear from you further on this matter if you are so minded. Yery sincerely sin-cerely yours. R. P. BROWX. Commander-in-Chief. Zanesville, O., Xov. 3. 1906. |