The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1883-07-19
LETTER FROM MRS. CHARLES.
WASHINGTON, D. O.
To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
In response 70 your reques, for frank inter-
change of opinions from iaeles Interested IN NOn-
ans Relief Corps work, auxiliary 70 the q. A. 2,
will state thsat the society Of the kind IN ths
Department of the Potomac was organized in Feb
TuaTy last as secret society, with ceremonies Of
initiation and 8 ritual. and is composed OF moth
ers. wives, widows, sisters, and daughters Of ex-
Union soldiers only The Lincoln Post WOmana
Relief Corps which have had the honor Of found
ing is in good working order and prosperous con-
dition- It's members would object 20 making
loyalty alone basis Of organization, for reasons
stated below. The writer believes 10 might ba
feasible 20 allow Individual societies TO seeept or
reject secret work at discretion bur IN thst
there would be trouble IN regard 10 issuance Of
transfer cards from society corps 70 another.
and uniformity of constitution IS essential In
er TO your Hfsh question, this society Wfu %
represented At the Denver EneanspUeat by its
president. The most Important qucEficn and enc
iikelv to arouse the greatest discussion IS tIat OF
membership and believe that i speak for each
member Of the society whel 4 state that the Lin
coin Post Woulan's Relief Corps, Auxiliary 70 tha
G., A. R., Department. Potomac, does favor Ma
tional Association, bur believes that the majority,
not only of the ladies interested, but Of Gsrand
Army men generally, would enter into The work
more earnestly and with more fTGseTT2l strs y~rs
the organization composed entirely OF wives,
mothers, sisters, and daug hters If those who wore
the blue. As this is 70 be Grand National $50
citation. founded under the auspices of and alSil-
iary to the Grand Army, it - essential thai COM
ra3es should be interested IN having Il founded
sound basis and to have its principles
embOdy not only loyalty. Eeariy all Northern
women loyal during the war; not only
charity, tnearly ali LOYAL WOfaen charitable 20
tho soldier cause) fraternity, that wonGrOus
bond, which unites them by sacred tie, through
the fact that their nearest and dearest and
best beloved have stood shoulder to shou der and
served and fought OF fell or died for the saTna
cause the preservation Of the Union. Had ths
Grand Army been founded alone on charity and
loyalty, 10 would never have reached national
organization. It's inception the result of fra
ternal feeling. So with this organization, 70
insure a steady and harmonious growth, and
interest abiding az Is the lie OF women allied 20
soldiers, this society Iaust have this bond Of
union, which can oRly be secured by combining ies
membership to those who have felt the pang Of
parting and have their fathers brothers. hus-
bands, or sons leave for the There - another
fact 70 be considered that by opening the oors %
all fewer will ask aeynittance since it VIII be OF
the same class other charity organizations, and
will be subject 70 decline failure while the
who should be most Interested. by reason Of rela-
tionship, may not find any fGg draw them to-
gether in an organization of that kind The greaa
purpose is 20 bring together In fraterna and ehsrt-
war and whose intense personal interest IN the
soldier II augmented by the fact that they also
members Of soldiers families.
The work OF sbts society - 70 promote fraternAl
of comrades, assist the Grand Army IN its social
entertainments end benevolent enterprises TO the
destitute soldiers widow or orphan, 20 he helpful
TO and thoughtful OF each other, IN a word. TO
make It truly Auxiliary OF the Grand Army IA
its policy and princV OFssan zstion tht sbsn
exist till the last Union soldier shall have been
mustered into the hereafter. til the last 50 ae-s
widow shall have folded her hands IN tes11. III
the last soldiers destitute orphan shall have 0csn
provided sor To insure these results sJssh an or
ssnization, repeat must nave fraternity FOR one
of its corner stones ! hope 30 present the su5scs
IN this lizht to the convention st Denver
EzILX fuOSNr0S CHARLES,
Prest Lincoln Post Woman's Relief Corps No.