The National tribune., 1884-07-24
half of the National Relief Corps. I felt proud to

half of tho National Relief Corps. felt proud to
respond.
A Conference Committee, appointed by Col.
Clarke at GAINESVILLE made favorable report to the
Encampment, and here the Relief Corps delegates
were honored in the request to be present at the
installation of Department. officers and the Depart
ment President joined ME by feqsest, in replying
to congratulations and explaining the objects of
our work. A special mention7of the invaluable
services rendered me by the Department President,
Lottie L. Myers in the work of organization, can
not be estimated, and her election TO the position
she la filling SO acceptably was particularly graft
flying to me- Other able and untiring assistants
have been Emma d. Sibley, Annie q. Howe Nellie
all of Toledo. Col. III. P. Lloyd, the present De-
partment Commander of Ohio. has given us noble
assistance, recommending the establishment OF
Relief Corps in General Orders and specially calling
upon the Relief Corps to aid the Posts IN his Memo
rial Day Order p
Miss Sibley made the TIP to st. Paul, Neb to be
present April 2, at the institution of the Depart
ment of Nebraska and aid Louise nj. Merrill
through whose auspices the call was made and
with whom / had held considerable connllIniea-
ton Miss Sibley was Hospitality received and
showered with kindnesses by both comrades and
Corps.
June 7. Mrs. Bacon, of Toledo, visited Elkhart,
Ind, and instituted the Department of Indiana,
with Hattie A. Floyd of Kendaliville, as President.
The Department Convention held under the
auspices of Shiloh Post and Corps, and the ladies
rendered reception in the evening at the Opera
House parlor
To the organization of eight of the 10 charter
Corps in Pennsylvania had the pleasure of con-
trbuting by correspondence; also, to many OF the
charter Corps of New York, Maine Kansas Ne
braslSa and Colorado, and had the honor of aiding
Mrs NJ f. Hausbeck, Chief Instituting and INSTALL
ing Officer and present Secretary OF the Depart
ment of New York IN the duty assigned her of
insttuing and convening the charter Corps for the
formation of a Department. But the greatest
pleasure have known in this work has been TO
aid in the formation of Relief Corps III California,
Washington Territory and Dakota. From Malne
to California, through New Hampshire, Vermont,
Connecticut. New York, New Jersey, Pennsyi-
yania, Ohio, Indiana and Michigan, Illinois SUD
Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Missouri, Da-
kota, Nebraska and Kansas Colorado to Cali
fornia, Oregon and Washington Territory, runs
this strong heart-chain of Union, broken only
by the rocky slopes and standardization OF Utah
and Nevada. In ell that wide expanse of country
measure Its magnificent distance to-day, not by
houses and lands, By gold heaped up and vast pos
sessions, but by the strong fraternal attachments
which have rooted themselves, firm and fast, in the
hearts OF soldier comrades and the warm, synpa-
thetic nature of the loyal women whose best
gies are concentrated to the disabled veterans of
the Union and to their widows and orphans. My
mander-in-C Chief, Robert b. Beath, for important
advice, whenever consulted; for his encourage
ment and support at Detroit Decatur, and Zanes--
vile, and his cordial Endorsement OF our work, and
for the opportunity extended to members of Forsyth
Relief Corps and comrades of Forsyth Post to meet
him in my own home January "a 1884, upon his
return from Detroit. Also to the Department Com
manders and others already named, well as to
Senior Vice Commander r. 3. Brown, Of Ohio;
Department Chaplain T. G. Wirner, of Ohio; Past
Commander ]. S. Kountz, of Ohio; Col. Austin
Curtin, of Pennsylvania; Capt. @. II. Barton, of
Kansas; Gen. III. b. Bowen, of Nebraska; Depart
ment Commander l.. 9. Babb, Of Minnesota; NaI.
Franklin. of Nebraska, and Commander Carnahan,
of Indiana, for many favors received
1t will be borne in mind that was among those
who preferred the open auxiliary society, on the
old Aid Society plan, to the secret work of the Re-
lief Corps, and only waived my objection TO the
latter in the interest of harmony and union. In
our Forsyth Corps and in our State there were
many who held to the views and who sur
rendered those views for the 1t may
now be proper to say that the adoption of secret
work the Dart of n has not only removed
any objections we may have entertained against it.,
but that we unite in saying that we find greater
interest among members, prompt attendance,
the development ofgreatert an increased spirit
of fraternity growth of charity, and an interest
that borders upon enthusiasm where often before
| the individual was moved by simple sense of
duty. We, therefore, frginkly and Internationally
lay this tribute before Relief Corps work, and will
never cease to congratulate ourselves that He who
governs in the affairs OF chose wisely for US in
| shaping events at Denver.
Again it will be remembered that I was among
those who warmly approved tine eligibility of all
/ loyal women, with the important qualifications of
| willingness to work for the soldier and of good
moral character If i were strong in that faith
| then, am if possible earnest now. In Ohio,
where the question has never been raised and
where applications are pouring IN upon the Depart
ment daily, the loyal woman feels that she has the
same right and privilege in Relief Corps that she
would have in s. church benevolent society. 1t
is understood that the very word auxiliary means
helper. and as her earnest desire Is to help the
soldier, where else could she do 1t SO well as IN
society pledged to soldier work. Fully half OF
our organizers and lintiTin workers in the Corps
only loyal women, and on the staff of our De-
partment President are several who have done
Spartan service in the institution Of Corps To ex-
pei loyal women from our Ohio Relief Corps would
be blow at the noble record of Ohio IN the war,
since hosts OF the noble women Eao worked Tor gs
/ then with now. IL hives great pleasure
to say that the feeling in nearly all the Corps and
all the Departments formed, save one, IS unani-
nous for individual loyalty as the lrs qualification
| for membership.
In conclusion / wish TO place myself on record as
| in favor and extending the
good OF the National Relief Corps by the establish
ment Of general relief fund by every Department,
well as by National Headquarters, to be used IN
the cases OF army and other loyal women
| who may have rendered important service TO their
country in time of war, and who are now, in their
/ declining years, after struggling along for bare
subsistence, left TO die friendless and unknown
without even the means TO secure hospital attend
ance Such a case is that of the noble and gifted
| Anna Ella Carroll who planned some of the most
important campaigns OF the war, and who did more
than any other by her writings and personal efforts
| 10 hold Maryland true to the Union relief fund
in the hands of the National President, to be judi
cious!y used to relieve some present distress in
case like this would be q divine benediction upon
many sorrowing one who has been cast aside by
forgctful people 10 fill pauper's grave. / would
have the National Relief Corps mernoriaize Con.
gress from every State and Territory in the Union
and they have now the organization to do task.
ing Congress not only to provide ittingly for the
widows and orphans OF soldiers, but to grant ar
honorable pension to every woman who gave hel
best services her dearest hopes for the salvation
Of her country and the care of the who fought
their cOuntry's battles.
Before closing I would bear testimony TO tho
noble zeal and broad and enlightened policy tlla
has characterized the executive officers OF the Ma
tioaai Relief Corps, Tothe President, Mrs E. Flor
ence Barker, the Secretary Mrs. J.. Il. Fuller, ana
the Treasurer Mrs L. A. Turner With each and al
nay relations have been frank fraterna and cordial
In all our intercourse we have withheld nothing
discussed all matters freely, and, laying aside al
personal preferences or individual opinions have
done everything in common effort TO promote tbs
welfare of the National Relief Corps.
To you, my dear President. my most loving
thanks are due for the unbounded measure of trus
and confidence you have bestowed upon me; fo
| your gentle forbearance when my importunitie
| have been sometimes eyaetng; and for the ex
ample placed before me in a nature overfiowin,
with generous impulses and sweet wonanIy sym
pathies. Each and all must ever dwell in my hear
as among my stanchest truest most trusted friend
and admirers.
have the honor TO be- yours, IN F., G. and L..
KATE 3. SHERWOOD