The National tribune., 1884-12-25
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GleaningS from National Healquar-
terS--Notes from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS,
TOrrno q

time in all Christian households; the time of
all others when woman's deft fingers are quick
ened in their labors by pure, unselfsh love,
friendships esteem, or tender sympathy for
some one dependent-the season of Christmas
preparation.
Is there, l wonder, of all the holidays of the
year, one that brings such vividly bright
memories as this glad Christmas time? From
our earliest recollections when little brains
were set whirling with delight over the WON
derful stories of jolly Old Santa Claus and his
"eight tiny reindeer" we have ever associated
1T with joyful surprise in which mother or
sister had some mysterious hand. pity the
man or woman who does not anticipate some
little gift i'll remembrance of that day, or who
has Outgrown the beautiful custom of wishing
a Merry Christmas " to somebody; or, still
more, one who fOrgets that the day comes with
double blessing-that of giving as well as re-
celving. Who knows but some little act of gen.
erosity on your part may let in the sunlight
DER some cloudy life, and make some carewOrn,
troubled face smile where only the shadows of
grief has rested, and the heart, grown heavy
and cold, grow soft and warm by this trifing
show of human sympathy.
But the NOman's Relief Corps needs no such
injunction Throughout the vast territory of
its blessed work, whether in the mountains of
the Alleganies or the Rockies, on the shores of
our lakes or on our broad praires, echoiug from
ocean to ocean, comes to the needy and helpless
under their care as with one voice,
"A MERRY, MERRY CHRISTMAS TO ALI"
In Massachusetts the Womans Relief Corps
all over the State have been summoned, through
a formal invitation extended by Mary E. Elliott
in behalf of the Board of Visitors for December,
tOassemble at the Soldiers Home, Chelsea, on the
evening of Dec 22. to make merry Christmas
for the old veterans assembled there, to whose
care and comfort the ladies are contributing so
much. Mrs. NJ. Susie Goodale, President of the
department. of Massachusetts, presdes at the
entertainment given in the evening, and every
member in attendance is expected to contribute
something to the Christmas tree, or some fruit
or delicacy to the hospital. God bless the
veterans and their devoted friends of the Relief
Corps.
ORGANIZING RELIEF CORPS.
Applications for charter issued during the
week are to Comrades Jene /. Green, of c. f.
Lawton Post, Newport, R. l.; NJ l. Buchhert
of Rochester Post, Water Cure, Pa; Samuel L.
Hart, Commander of Lambert Boeman Post,
Remington, n. j.; A. w. Eek, Adjutant, Geo.
Hancock Post, Wolverine, Mich and to Mrs.
c. A. Rose, Hollenberg, Washington Co., Kan.
In States having no Department organiza-
tion, and the work, therefore, under the direct
supervision of the National President, the fol-
lowing Corps are reported as the latest insti-
tuted: Ryerson, No 4, of Tuckerton, N. j.,
with 81 charter members, and oflicered as fol-
lows: Pres, Nellie ID. Downs S. V.-P., Sallie
Blackmare; j. V.-P., Sarah j. Lippincott; Sec,
Sarah l.. Morey; Treas, Rebecca Jones; Chap,
Mary L. Morey; Con-, Harriet Chatten; g.,
Lizzie Grant. The installation service was
performed by Post Commander Samuel w.
Downs, who is a warm friend to the cause and
has greatly assisted III many ways in bringing
about the formation of the Corps, which, he
writes us starts off under most favorable
auspices, the ladies thoroughly in earnest. He
predicts a live Corps which will do the Post
great deal of good.
o. P. Morton Corps, of Joplin, NO., was in
stituted Dec. 8 by Mrs. J. b. Rush, President
of Frank p. Blair Corps, Galena, Kan, a full
report OF which will be given later, and at
KANSAS CITY, MO-,
the place of the next Grand Army Encamp-
ment, and where Convention is also called to
form Department of our own Order, the
ladies have displayed unusual promptness in
the work of organizing An application for
warded only few days since, for an auxiliary
to Mcpherson Post, has been returned signed,
charter has been granted, and the Corps will
be regularly instituted at once, and, therefore,
ready to receive the delegates to Convention.
A Kansas City paper, commenting upon the
meeting at the office Of James G. Young notes
the election of officers as follows Pres, Mrs.
Emma l.. Lindsay; S. Y.-P., Mrs. Hattie NJ.
Warner; J.V.-P, Mrs. Alma r. Orr; Sec, Mrs.
Bessie f. Young; Treas Miss Marva Mount
Chap, Mrs. Prude Bum; Con-, Mrs. Salina F.
Allen; G., Mrs. Manda Snedager.
CHARITY IN VERMONT.
At st. Johnsbury, Vt. new Corps, under
the title of Chamberlin, No. 4, has inaugurated
its work of charity by caring for the family of
an old veteran, who died short time ago |
There are five in the family, who are all i'll
just now" writes the President, adding that
much as the ladies desire the pretty new badges
and other Corps supplies, they cheerfully do !
without them, as all the funds at hand will be |
required to alleviate the distress of their
worthy wards.' The efficient Secretary SAYS: |
" The ladies are much interested and anxious |
to help the work along, and now that we are
aroused we hope to keep steadily increasing in
numbers and good works. Surely the field is |
large one, giving an opportunity to al, not |
only the relatives of soldiers, but all loyal |
women,-and l am happy and proud to say
that l am representative of both, having |
many relatives in the army. A brother was |
left down there at Cold Harbor, and am sure |
my heart responds to the sentiments of OUT |
motto, Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty"
GALLANT RHODE ISLAND.
In Rhode Island, where our work has lately |
been SO vigorously taken up we are particu-
larly strengthened and encouraged by the |
hearty Endorsement Of the representative Grand |
Army men of that Department. General Or
ders, No. 3, of Department Commander A. X. |
McMahon has for its first paragraph the follow |
ing generous notice:
The attention Of Post Commanders and comrades |
is called to the organization known the Woman's
Relief Corps, which is auxiliary to the G. A.R. 1t !
has n national organization, and Corps are being |
organized in every State and Territory where the |
Grand Army exists. 1t is doing n noble work in |
relieving the wants of the widows and orphans of |
our old comrades and we would heartily recon-
mend that each Post take suitable steps towards |
organizing Corps throughout this Department. |
Full information can be obtained by addressing |
Miss Emma ID. Sbley, National Secretary, Toledo, |
Ohio
OVER THE ROCKIES.
National Headquarters are in receipt of Cir |
cular Letter. No. 1, of Mrs. Ida E. Lincoln,
Chief Institutng and Installing Officer for the |
Department of Utah, Idaho, and Nevada, dated |
December 2, and addressed to the comrades of |
the GAR. of that Department, whose co-opera-
tion she earnestly solicits in extending the
work of our Order. Mrs. Lincoln is an able
exponent of the cause, and will accomplish
much good by her facile pen. The aims and
objects of our Order are in her letter thus
clearly defined:
The Woman's Relief Corps is auxiliary to the
Grand Army of the Republic admitting to its men,
bership the wives, mothers and daughters of all |
old soldiers, and all ladies of good character who
are loyal to the flag The object of the Order is to
inculcate the great principles for which you so
brayely fought, and, as its name implies, to take
upon itself the work of relieving distressed SOL
diers and their families, and the widows and or
phans of those who have already fallen in the
ranks. As in the days of trial. so now the loyal
women of the Nation are coming nobly to the re-
lief Of those in need.
Tn