The National tribune., 1883-01-11
LOYAL WONyENSWORK
The History of Forsyth Post Ladies'
Society Of Toledo, Ohio.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

| Post Ladies' Society, auxiliary to Forsyth Post,
No. Is, G. A. r. of this city.
Forsyth Post Ladies' Society was organized
March II, 1879, and was the natural outgrowth
of an entertainment in aid of the widows and
| orphans fund of Forsyth Post, given some
months previous in July 1873. AS result of
the hard times, Forsyth Post found itself un-
able, by the ordinary methods, to meet the de-
mandS made upon its charitable resources, not
only by old soldiers sick and out of work, but
| by the widows and orphans of deceased COM
radcs who had shared with them the vicissi-
| tudes of camp and battle. Various methods
had been resorted to for the creation and per-
petuation of standing fund sacred to such pUr-
poses, but the results were always far short of
| the actual needs Finally, at q meeting of the
Post, when the sub hject was under consideration,
member present proposed lawn fete The
name had taking sound and it was speedily
voted that the Post give midsummer nights
| entertainment of that character at an early
day.
! But lawn fetes were not as common then as
| now, and the question at once arose, How
| shall it be done?" How indeed, but to call in
| the help of the patriotic women of Toledo, al
ways ready, as in the old war days. to care for
the men who have borne the brunt of battle
So a committee was appointed to confer with
the ladies. The chairman of the committee,
with the present President of Forsyth Post
Ladies Society, then called personally upon a
|
| In every good cause, and asked them to be
present at general meeting for the considera-
| ton Of plans for an entertainment that would
| enlist the sympathy and cooperation of the en-
tire city. The Court House and it's surround
| ing grounds was secured, tents were pitched
military patroled the grounds, bands played
martial airs, q grand display of battle relics
filled the court rooms; there was supper de-
partment, gypsy tents, dancing platform, &C.,
! and the first evening some 5000 people thronged
| to the scene. The entertainment was repeated
| with renewed success, and for the first time in
the history of Forsyth Post the relief fund
was equal to the many stringent calls made
| upon it.
Forsyth Post was more than gratified with
the results, and in their rejoicing were ready
to give all the honors to the ladies for the mag
| nifcent success, they having taken charge of
| the details of the affair with consummate care,
taste and skill. The Post supplemented its
| action by the formation of q committee to in
vite the ladies to form permanent organiZa-
tion and to aid them in the same Ladies who
had lent their aid the summer before were in
| dividually solicited to attend the meeting for
| organization, and call was issued through the
press, inviting all patriotic women, particularly
those who, during the war, had been connected
with soldiers aid societies, to come forward
and lend their names and their influence to
| the new society. 1t will thus be seen that all
/
mothers of soldiers or not, are eligible to our
society, and some of our most active and ear
| nest workers are from the latter class. 1t may
| not be amiSs to mention, in this connection,
that the first to suggest the formation of a
| womans auxiliary, and to lend his efforts to
such end, was General Charles L. Young Past
| Vice-COmmander, G. A. R., and, then as now, a
comrade of Forsyth Post. The Commander of
| Forsyth Post was, at that time, John S. Kounts,
| a one-legged soldier, who was, a little later,
! elected the Commander of the Department of
| Ohio and to him also is largely due the sue
cessful carrying out of the wise conception.
| As result of the movement outlined, there
assembled at the Grand Army Hall, on the
date mentioned, March 11th, 1879, a large num-
Der of patriotic women from all ranks of the
| community, when society was formally or
| ganized, which afterwards became a recognized
auxiliary of Forsyth Post, and which adopted
! the following
| CONSTITUTION.
This Society shall be called the Forsyth Post
ladies' Society of Toledo, Ohio.
! ARTICLE II.
It's 'oflcers shall be President, Vioe-President
Secretary and Treasurer to be chosen by ballot at
the annual meeting, to serve year. until their
successors are appointed.
ARTICLE H.
The object Of this Society shall be che perfection
and fIrtherance of benevolent and patriotic work,
especially as it relates to soldiers and soldiers
families.
| ARTICLE ~.
This Society shall be auxiliary tofForsyth Post
@. A R., with which it shall at all times be In COM
| muncation and shall stand ready for conference
| and suggestion whenever called upou by the Post
| for such purposes.
| ARTICLE v.
The Society shall hold its monthly meetings at
| the G. A. R. rooms on the second Tuesday of each
month at clock p M, and its annual meeting on
| the second Tuesday of March.
ARTICLE vi.
Executive and Visiting Committees each con-
sistng of not less than five members shall be elected
at each annual meeting, with such additions from
time to time as may be deemed necessary for more
| efficient work.
ARTICLE VII.
ANY patriotic woman may become a member of
this Society by vote of two-thrds of those pres
| ent, her name having been presented by member
at previous meeting. Each member shall enroll
her name in n book provided for that purpose and
subscribe to the Constitution.
ARTICLE VIII.
Ten members shall constitute quorum.
This Constitution may be altered or amended at
any regular meeting by vote of two-thirds of the
members present, a months notice of the change
Mrs l. r. SHERWOOD, President.
Mrs. @. L. YOUNG, Secretary.
Under the above very simple constitution
very satisfactory work has been done. The
work of the society is two-fold. First, the
creation of charity fund; second, its disburse-
ment, 50 far as it relates to the widows and or
| phans of soldiers. This work is carried on by
the two committees designated in article seven.
| The executive committee has charge of the
ways and means of the society. 1t levies as
sessments-we demand no membership fee-to
| defray the incidental expenses of the society,
such, for instance, the planting of flowers on
| the soldiers plat at the cemetery; it arranges
| for the annual meeting, and conducts the recep-
| tion which it has been our custom each year to
give ON the evening following, when Forsyth
Post is invited to attend in body; its members
serve on Decoration Day committees and are
expected to lead off in the grand annual enter
| tainment which each year is given jointly by
| the Post and its auxiliary for the relief fund.
The visiting committee carries on the charity
work of the society. The committee is made
up so that each ward has it's representatives,
whose duty it is to visit, when called upon by
the chairman, the various applicants that may
from time to time apply, or be reported to them
for aid. A woman for instance, applies for
help. Her name goes to the chairman of the
visiting committee. The chairman gives the
case to member of the committee, where she
cannot visit in person. The visit is made. If
the applicant is found needy and can show her
husbands discharge papers, can in some other
way give proof that she is what she claims to