The National tribune., 1884-12-18
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.

Gleanings from 6 National Headquar-
ters--NoteS from the Departments.
i HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS,
| TOLEDO, o.
KATE b. SHERWOOD. National President.
EMMA ID. SHELLEY, National Secretary
TOLEDO, O., Dec. 9, 1884.
Bring not here an idle maiden,
Bring not here useless woman,
Hands unskillfu feet unwilling
Thus warning, spoke good old Nokomis.
| But Hiawatha knew that in the land of the
| Dacotahs there were hearts and hands that
| moved together and feet that run on willing
| errands, thinking of the ancient arrow makers
daughter. Now the wigwam is fast passing
away forever, and the Falls of Minnehaha sing
| no more the songs of the dusky warriors WOO
| ing, but warm hearts and willing hands are
| still there, whose loving presence and united
efforts in good works shall, as then
Be your moolight starlight, freight,
Be the sunlight of our people.
| Such are the musings of your correspondent
when to the morning salutation, whats the
news?" comes answer. We've Department of
Minnesota Woman's Relief Corps" This is the
third permanent Department organized since
the National Convention, and, therefore, it is
WlUn feelings Ol mingled pTlue auu JOY tudt we
review the following happy report:
| Pursuant to a call contained in General Orders,
| No. 3 of Mrs. Kate c. Wright, Provisional Presi-
| dent of the Department, Convention was held in
2s 1884. All of the six Corps then fully formed
! were fairly represented and permanent Depart
ment was organized. with the following officers
4, Minneapolis; S.V.-P., Hattie Haupt, s. St Paul;
J:V.-P:, Hattie Smith, 1, Worthington; Treas,
Mary Starkweather, 5, St Paul; ms, A. w. Mars,
| & Winona. MAN he'll 6 WinOnR.
| Con-, Mary Cook, 3, Minneapolis; Guard, Eloise
Brant l, Worthington: Helen M. Fox, of Corps
| Kate G. Wright, delegate to National Convention
| at Portland. Me-, and Miss Lizzie Peak, Mime
apclis alternate; Department Commander r. c.
| Babb was elected honorary member. Convention
| then adjourned to meet at 7:30 p NJ for nstaila-
ton of officers. The hall was well filed with an
| appreciative audience, including many members
of the Grand Army, both of this city and St. Paul.
After the impressive ceremonies of installation,
conducted by Mrs Wright, the Presdent-elect de-
ivered most interesting and appropriate address,
| thanking her associates for the honor conferred
and the confidence implied, and prophesying, with
porous future for the new Department Following
| this were short addresses from Past Dept Com
mander Rea; s. v. Dept Commander Becker of
ST. Paul; Post Commander Eye, and Comrade
Roberts. Mrs. Eloise Brant, the newly-eleeted
| Guard, was then called for, and responded with
few pointed remarks She was not tJ much !, OF
blessed work might add, for she was one of the
army nurses, serving at Lincoln Hospital, WASH
~. ~.
gram, an hour was spent in social enjoyment, and
the Convention was over all deciding that it was
| a complete success and the Department of Mime
sofa in good hands. Headquarters has been estab.
lshed in Minneapolis. The Relief Corps will hold
its next b meeting at the same time and place that
L.-HELEN NJ. Fox, Dept Secretary.
WORK IN THE FAR WEST
Work in our PARKWAY Western States and
Territories is alike progressing finely. In
Washington Territory, where women not only
share the hardships of anew country, but the
excitement of a political campaign they still
find time to organize themselves into these
helping bands. Mrs. Maggie A. Bywater, Ma
tional Instituting and Installing Officer at
Seattle, writes of a growing interest in the
work; that she is in direct correspondence
with all the Post Commanders, and can see no
reason why each Post will not soon have its
Relief Corps. Mrs. Bywater will inspect the
two Corps now organized.
In Oregon there is marked success under
the new Provisional Department, the latest en-
couragement being the institution of Custer
Relief Corps, No. 5. of McMinnville, by Mrs.
Ida NJ. Babcock, Department President, as
sisted by Mrs. Dinsmore and Miss Emma
Crawford, of the new Corps. After the cere-
monies of installation in the evening and an
instructive and pleasing address from the De-
partment Commander, +. j. Babcock, Comrade
J. G. Cooper announced that the Comrades of
Custer Corps and their guests from Salem a
pleasant SURPRISE and invited all present to
accompany him to the Central Hotel, when To-,
there appeared before their astonished gaze " a
feast fit for the Kings" The dining-room was
| decorated with GA K. emblems, flags notices,
etc. After supper tho company returned to the
GA r. Hall and passed the hours in social
games and conversation so pleasantly that it
was nearly midnight before any one thought of
returning to their home. The officers of the
Corps are: President, NJ P. Cooper; S. V.-P.,
Julia Gault; J. V.-P., A. L. Newgard; Sec,
Susie Talmage; Treas, Jennie Gallentine;
Chap, J. +. Feckham; c., Almira Newgard;
g., w. Z. Booth.
NO ORNAMENTAL APPENDICES.
1t occurs to me reviewing the correspond
ence at Headquarters during the past week,
and noting the frequent contributions from the
National officers, both the past and present
administrations it might be an item Of inter
est in our letter to state that unlike some or
CARNATIONS, there are no officers purely COM
plimentary or ornamental Each member of
the Staff of our National President and the
Board of Directors, whether an executive officer
or not. takes upon herself the responsibility of
extending the work in some particular district,
or by earnest, untring effort with tongue or
pen, to add to the success of this years work.
AS, for example Mrs. Sarah Z. Fuller, our Ma
tional Senior Vice-Presdent, has under her
immediate direction the work in the States of
Rhode Island and Vermont; Mrs Lizzie Ander-
son, National Junior Vice President, the bread
field of the State of Missouri; Mrs. Annie Wit |
tenmcyer, our representative army worker, is
lending her influence as National Chaplain |
throughout her travels in the State of Pennsyl- |
vania and elsewhere; Mrs. Sarah G. Nichols
National Inspector, takes occasion to do some
missionary work in connection with official |
duties; Mrs. Maggie J. Sias National Conduc-
tor, is nobly forwarding our interests in Mary |
land, and Mrs. Jennie E. G. Maish is our Ma
tiOnal Guard in name and deed. Not one, you |
see, but bears her share of the labor, as well as
the honor which the title of National officer
of our Order implies.
RICHMOND rs TAKEN!
And now, in conclusion, what can be more
gratifying than the following letter appli- |
cation for charter from Richmond, Va:
This Post learns through General Orders. No. /, |
from your Headquarters paragraph VIII, that |
those Posts of the GAR. desiring to form a |
Woman's Relief Corps should apply to you for full |
information. Situated are in the heart of |
the Old Dominion, wish to take part with you |
in helping to support the widows and orphans of |
those who fought for the holy cause. We have |
here good material TO work with give words |
of encouragement and full information and this |
Post will guarantee astrong Relief Corps in the |
capital of the late c. $. A.
Very respectfully,
ROBERT L. HoBsoN,
AdJt George A Custer Post.
In postscript the writer also asks for sup
DIV of General Orders, etc, for distribution. |