Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1864-01-29

| feellng QeSlre 10 ASSIST IN sen0lng sanitary
supplies to our sick and wounded soldiers,
and urged by letter received from Mrs.
Annie Wittenmyer, Corresponding Secretary
of the Keokuk Ladies' Soldiers Aid Society,
made call in the city papers for meeting
to be held to take into consideration the for
nation Of society for the above named
object.
September 26, 1861, meeting was::held in
the N. E. Church, about 80 ladies being pres
ent, who formed themselves into an organiza-'
ton called the "Muscatne Ladies' Soldiers
Aid Society,"" whose object should be to
relieve and assist sick and suffering soldiers,
when Mrs. H. Brewster was chosen President,
Mrs. G. Cadle Treasurer, Mrs. VIM. G. Wood.
ward Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. F. H.
Stone Recording Secretary. Committees on
contributions and work were also appointed.
The Presbyterian Church, through Mrs. DR..
Horton, generously offered the use of their
lecture room as place Of meeting. The offer
was readily accepted and Friday, Oct. 4th, our
first meeting was held there.
In November meeting was held to take
measures for the more perfect organization Of
the Society. As it was thought the work
would be Of but short duration, it was deemed
unadvisable to adopt written code of arti-
cles, but additional committees were appoint
ed and the work of the Society systematised.
The roam occupied as . place of meeting
being much larger than necessary, the NJ. e.
Church, through Mrs. H. Brewster, kindly
proffered the use Of . commodious room in the
basement Of their Church. The offer was
accepted and in December removed to this
room, which we have occupied for more than
two years through the courtesy and kindness
of the Methodist Church.
After the fall Of Fl. Donelson, it was thought
best by number Of our ladies to discontinue
our meetings, but more sagacious councils
prevailed and our meetings have been held
| weekly until the present time.
Nov. 18th, 1868, the Society adopted the
| following Constitution:
ART l. This Society shall be known ~
the ''Muscatine Ladies' Soldies' Aid Society,""
ART. 2. The object of this Society shall
be to assist and relieve sick and wounded
soldiers.
ART. s. The officers of this Society shall
be President, Vice President, Secretary and
Treasurer. The officers herein named to.
gether with three members to be selected by
the voice of the Society shall constitute an
Executive Committee of seven.
ART. 4. The President shall preside at all
meetings Of the Society shall maintain order
and exercise such other powers as the society
may by vote authorize. In her absence the
duties and powers of the President shall de-
volve on the Vice President.
The Secretary shall keep correct minutes
of the proceedings of each meeting, of goods
received and disbursed, and conduct the cor
Irespcndence of the Society.
The Treasurer shall receive, have the Gus
tody of and disburse the funds belonging to
the Society, and, whenever called upon, make
an exhibit of the receipts and disbursements
of the Society.
ART. 8. There shall be three Standing
Committees of the Society, viz: Working
Committee, Packing Committee and commit
tee to visit and assist needy families Of SOL
diers; said committees to be chosen of such
members as the Society may determine, and
be chosen by the Society. Their duties shall
be such as may from time to time be pre-
scribed by the Society.
ART 6. The regular meetings Of the Soci
ETY. shall be on Friday of each week, and
special meetings may be called by direction
of the Executive Committee.
ART. 7. The Executive Committee may be
called to meet at any time by order of the
President and Secretary, and when regularly
assembled shall have power to transact any
business which might be done by the Society.
ART s. The annual meeting of this Socl-
ETY. shall be the first Friday IN January, at
which time the officers of the Society shall
be elected, and the Secretary and Treasurer
shall make detailed reports of the years
operation.
ART. 9. Any lady may become member
Of this Society by signing the Constitution
and attending its meetings at least once each
month.
ART. 10. This Constitution may be altered
at any regular meeting. by vote of two
thirds of the Members present: provided
there shall have been two weeks previous
notice.
In the beginning Of the present winter,
the ladies Of the Society, knowing thst great
dest'tution existed among many families
whose hus bands and fathers were away bat.
Ting for the ''star spangled banner" made a
call for meeting Of the citizens to devise
means to relieve their present necessities.
The meeting was well at ended, and . reso
luton adopted to hold donation the next
Friday evening, the proceeds to be he'd by the
Relief Committee of the Soldiers Aid Society
f,r the present relief Of the needy families Of
soldiers. Dec. 4th the donation was he d,
ard contributions in cash and orders to the
amount Of 1922 As taken, besides -four and
meat. This amount, excepting SIS in orders,
together with $27 contributed at the Congre-
gational Church and $3.50 at the Methodist
Church, making $l74.95, the Committee ex
pended through the month Of December, in
doing which they furnished 36 families wi
wood, 81 families with -four and 10 famiie5
with either medicines, groceries or shoes.
This amount having been expended, the
ladies held reception at their rooms on New
Years. and received In cash $50, which was
Turned over to the Relief Commi.tee-they
being required to give an account to the So
cietY, for the manner in which they expend- |
ed the same.
From January LIST, 1868, to January LIST, !
1864, there have been forwarded by the So |
ciety the following amount of supplies, viz {:
Value. !
box Sanitary stores to Keokuk Hospital. ss72 so
box /" ." 10 Iowa Army Ban. Com.
at Davenport.......-.-- 100 90 |
box bbls. by Dr.. Horton s Col. Compton 1877 90
box to 37th 60 20 |
IL bxs, 20 bbs. hf bbls to Mrs. Wttenmyer SAB 80
1911 90
These boxes and barrels contained the fol. |
lowing articles: ZIG shirts, IS pairs drawers,
&c pairs socks, pairs slippers, 70 sheets, 46 |
pillow cases, "a pillow ticks, "a bed sacks, 4 |
comforts, 9 bed quilts, IL towels so pocket
hankerchiefs, 6 pillows, 275 pounds of butter,
14o pounds Of dried apples, lO2 pounds of
dried peaches, 80 pounds Of dried black
berries, 70 pounds Of dried prunes and cher
r'es, 20 pounds of dried beef. 50. pounds Of
Goldfish, "a pounds of corn starch, 80 pounds
Of crackers, 4 pounds of farina, pounds of
honey, pounds of chocolate, 8 pounds Of
pearl barley, pounds of tea, 2 pounds Of
pepper, half pound Of nutmegs, pounds Of
sage, pound of hops, box of herring, II |