The National tribune., 1883-02-01
A LABOR OF LOVE.
The Organization and Work Of Ladies' Auxilisries
in Maine.

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In your issue of January 18th was published
a history of Forsyth Post Ladies' Society of
Toledo, Ohio.
With your permission I will give you a brief
history of the ladies' society in Maine, which
is called the Relief Corps. Each corps takes its
name from the Post with which it is connected
and its number from the date of organization
None are eligible to membership but mothers
wives, daughters, and sisters of soldiers and
sailors, and none are admitted under eighteen
years of age.
Our object is to assist members in sickness and
distress, all needy and sick soldiers and sailors
the widows and orphans of deceased soldiers
and sailors, and to assist the Post with which
we are connected in whatever way they may
deem best. The organization is q secret one,
and originated with Bosworth Relief Corps of
Portland, Me, which was the first society of
the kind formed in this country. From them
we received the ritual, yearly pass word, and
unwritten work. The officers are president,
vce-president chaplain secretary, treasurer,
guard, and conductor, the retiring president
assuming the station of past president for the
ensuing term. We have also the following
committees, viz: relief, finance, investigating,
and purchasing.
The relief committee consists Of D chairman
and two members from each ward who ascer-
among soldiers and sailors families, and report
the same at the next regular meeting of the
corps acting under directions of, and in con-
junction with, the relief committee of the Post.
The meetings are all held weekly. Every can
didate Cor admission stands proposed one week,
and the investigating committee report the re-
suit of their investigation HefOre they are bal
lotcd for. The initiation fee is fifty cents, and
the regular dues fifty cents year. There are
some twelve or more relief corps in Maine. At
present, BOswOrth Relief Corps, of Portland, is
the head, but delegates from each corps are to
meet at Portland in June, 1883, to consider the
matter Of State organization which shall
stand in the same relation to the relief corps
that the State Encampment does to the G. A. L.
The corps of which l am member is known
as Burnside Relief Corps, No TO- connected with
Burnside Post, AZ, of Auburn, Me, and was organ
lied January 80, 1882, with thirty-three mem
bers We now number ninety-eight. Eight
more have been accepted, that have not yet
presented themselves for initiation, and twenty
one applications are in the hands of the inves-
tigating committee With our rapidly increas-
ing membership the interest increases in proper
ton. We nave organized Glee Club, and
each night, before closing, we devote half
hour or more to music, readings &C., for mu-
tual benefit.
On January Sd the ladies of the corps gave
the Post surprise party, carrying with them
refreshments; also set Of silk guidOns as a
New Years gift. 1t was a genuine surprise,
and proved most enjoyable occasion.
On Wednesday evening, January oath, the
Post entertained the ladies at their hall, and on
the Monday evening following the corps cele-
brated their anniversary, and entertained the
Post. Thus we keep up the interest in both
organizations, and l do not think the instance
is known of a Post dying out that had ladies'
society connected with it. 1t is expected that
COMMUNICATIVE Chief Van Dervoort will be in
Auburn February 9th to attend Department
meeting of the G.. A. R. If he does come, the
ladies will interview him, and ascertain his
views in regard to our manner of work.
RespeCtfullY. YOurS A. III.