The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-05
BNATI0NAL AUXILIARY
Some Additional Opinions as to How
It Should be Formed.

The following additional replies to THE
TRIBUNE circular have been received, COM
ing all the way from New Hampshire
and Massachusetts, in the East to Missouri
and Wisconsin in the West, and it will be seen
that as before, although the writers differ as to
the form and method OF work, they are all of one
mind as to the Importance of the national organ
lzation, auxiliary to the G. A. r. 1t begins to
look now as though the loyal women of America
were to be bound together in the grand Loyal
League noteRs golens, leaving minor differ
ences to take care of themselves. The first
letter we present is from Mrs. Celia F. P. Fos-
ter, Department Secretary of the New Hamp-
SHIRE Noman's Relief Corps Mrs. Foster can
ably speak for herself and her work. The New
Hampshire Department is ofhcered as follows:
Matte b. Moulton, President; Adaline z. Kent,
Senior Nice-President; Emma b. Hull, Junior
Vice President; Angela NJ Hayes, Treasurer;
Frank f. Johnson, Inspector Louis NJ. Deer
ing, Chaplain; Kate Cram, Conductor; III.
Lizzie Foster, Guard.
GOOD WORK IN NEW HAMPSHIRE.
MILFORD, N H. June IS. 1888.
DEAR Mrs SHERWOOD Your letter to Mrs. Mat
tie B. Moulton, President of the Woman's Relief
the q. A r., asking for items of interest regarding
the work of our Department, has been forwarded
to me to answer. This l am most happy to do.
Perhaps can give you the best idea OF what we
are, what we are doing and what we have accom-
plshed by the following statement: Last fall we
held our third annual convention at Ashland, this
State, and Mrs. Moulton unanimously re-
elected TO the presidency of this Department. Most
ably has she presided over the affairs connected
with 1T, and too much cannot be said in her favor
as a lady and an efficient officer Previous to her
election to the office of president she the faith
full secretary of the Department from its beginning
10 her earnest and untirng efforts arewe indebted
to-day Tor our present position, together with kind
words of encouragement and public recognition of
the g. A. X, Department of New Hampshire. Yet
we haye come up slowly amid many trials and DIS
couragements, we number twelve Relief
Corps, with combined membership of over 400,
and q relief fund of between S400 and 500. Cur
charitable expenditures have not been large, owing
doubt, to the fact that as yet Relief Corps have
not been established in cities. The Posts have
been for some reason little slow to take the
matter up but the interest throughout the State Is
gradually increasing, and many are desirous of
having AuXiliaries formed and we have much
encouragement that other Relief Corps viii be
instituted.
Doubtless you well aware that Massachusetts,
was the first To bring this Auxiliary work into sys
tenn and build upon solid foundation, working un-
der uniform bylaws, and providing for their work
ritual well adapted to the use of the Order. To
New Hampshire they kindly extended the work,
which we voted to adopt, making virtually one
in aim and purpose. And here may answer your
question: Do you favor National Organiza-
tlon?''
Yes. If at the coming convention at Denver it
is made TO appear that the welfare and interests of
the Grand Army of the Republic will be promoted
by these numerous Aaxilingies throughout our
AS to the next question, Do you think it
would be possible to form a National Association
under a constitution broad enough to allow the
State Corps Societies TO accept reject secret
work at their discretion, the same with exclusive
membership confess l do not see how this is to
lie accomplished II appears to me- and think il
is the general opinion in our Department, that in
order to become national these various Relief Corps
and other Auxiaries should form one harmonious
whole. How can this be, if one State is allowed to
work under ritual and another permitted to put
that one side, because some object to what tney
term red tape. How can we be called q na-
tioBal organization unless we bear the name?
fail to see how this Auxiliary movement can be-
come national one, unless the whole is reduced to
system, and that system become universal.
/ see, by your article a plan for Union In
THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, that you anticipate come
difficulty in the coming convention with the repre-
sentatiyes of tho State organizations of New Eng
land, because OF their systematzed method of per-
forming the same labor of love which your sisters
OF the West have so nobiy engaged in on y differ
ent basis Again, you look TO plan of union that
is possible to make it," Now, it is true, have
a secret work, and are governed throughout each
Department by the same laws; there Is regu-
larity attending all our movements. and general
interest pervading the whole, that places
more solid foundation than if the various Relief
Corps OF New England We're permitted TO carry on
this sacred work in a sort of go-as- -you-please
method What red tape there may be in our
way OF aiding the G. A. Il. is more or less than
is needed to keep us in good running order. Our
ritual is exceedingly well adapted to our work and
perfectly comprehensive 10 any intelligent mind.
And 1T appears to us, who have tried both ways,
that much and even more efficient work can be ae-
complished for the noble Order to which
auxiliary, where we acknowledge fountain head.
To your third question, Will your Department
send delegates TO the Denver meeting,'' / am at
this writing unable to answer. fear not ButsVe
shall feel our cause and indeed the entire cause,
safe with our Massachusetts sisters, although we
would gladly meet you in that far Western city.
Now, ON the subject of loyal women believe in
admitting them. But the majority in New Hamp-
shire would confine the membership to soldiers
families l would have them admitted with this
provision They should not expect 20 share in the
reieffund of the Corps, but have patriotism enough
to join the Order for the sole purpose of assisting
in the of soldiers and sailors families / have
been exceedingly interested in your articles pub
lished III THE TRIBUNE, but while Endorse many
ideas .here advanced / cannot bring myself TO
think that the methods adopted by the Western
Auxiliares is the best TO pursue in g National
movement. Hoping that we may know more of
each other in future, and wishing that l might
meet you at Denver,
/ remain, yours, fraternaly, in F., c. and L.,
CELIA F.P. F0Sf TER, Dept, Seciy w r. @.
p. Some thing more / feel that ] am sadly
remss in duty, inasmueh as / have failed to
mention the encouragement this Auxiliary work,
and those engaged in it, has received from Conn
mander-in-Chief Paul Van Deryoort, who seems so
desrous that ii shall become national
c. p f.
PLEA FOR ALL LOYAL WOMEN.
Mrs. Sprague, of the East Boston Relief Corps
makes a strong plea for the admission of all
loyal women to membership in q. A. r. Aux
iliaries
EAST Boston, Mass, June 10TH 1883
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIgUNE:
Your circular duly received. and should have re-
piled before had circumstances permitted. think
with you that much may be done by a frank inter-
change of opinions, and will reply to the best of
my ability to your questions:
First. | am decidedly in favor of a national or
ganization of women whose duty tshal be 10 work
for the interest of the @. A r. in such manner as
shall best promote its growth prosperity aud we'll
being. / believe that such an order, under proper
discipline, with competent officers at their head
men who did not shrink in the hour of danger but
went bravely forth to lay down their lives il need
be, in defense of their home and country and the
honor OF the dear old flag ibelieve that n yvoniars
organization can be to the Il. A. X. what II good
wife can be and is to her kusband-a helpmect
Second As to membership: This is question to
which have given much thought and often heard
discussed, and for long time felt that it should
only be the nearest kin of the soldier who should
be admitted to woman order whose work was for
the soldier. But my opinion has entirely changed
to debar any lady who wishes to perform her part
in the good work from doing, simply because
she had no near relative III the service We little
know how many there may be whose dearest
friends went forth mover TO return, and although
the VOWS registered in Heaven were never conse-
Grated on EARTH and she could not bear his name
or claim his kinship, think you her interest in
those who fought and suffered with him is any
less, and shall she be debarred from doing what
she To show her Interest in the cause? | feel
that the truly loyal woman has just as much right
to work for the soldier as baye those who near
of kin. 81 t
Third T xyould have the Soa;at,- n sao,ot .,,.,