The National tribune., 1884-08-14
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Reception to Pres. Kate B. Sherwood
at Toledo.
WISCONSIN AND THE GOLDEN srArE-LoyAr

ganized June g. 1884, with Headquarters at
La Crosse, Mrs. Clara b. Sloane, Pres. Miss
Sophie Nelson, Sec, reports much interest de-
veloping. The Ladies' Loyal League at
Portage City, Mrs. Little, Pres, has just been
reorganized. 1t is a strong organization, with
an able presiding officer, and promises to be
one of the best disciplined and most active
Corps in the State. The National President
visited the Department upon her return from
Minneapolis; also, Wilson Colwell Corps the
Presidency of which Mrs. Sloane has resigned
in order to give her undivided time to Depart
ment work. Mrs. Sloane has an able assistant
In her Secretary, Miss Nelson, who has given
up her Secretaryship of the Corps in order to
better serve the Department.. Following is an
official list of Corps as far as reported:
Presdents-No. 1, Geo. H. Irwin Lodi Mrs.
Hattie Dunlap; 9, Wilson Colwell, La Crosse, Mrs
Clara sloane 3 Geo; II. Bell, Wonewoe. Mrs; Jen-
Wilbur; 5. Henry Miles, Eroy, Mrs. O. E. Booth !;
6, A r. Mcdonald Mazomanie, ---; z,
VIM. Evans, Menomonee, Mrs. Amanda Bailey.
THE GOLDEN STATE
glorious work has been going on the past
year in California, and now that the National
President has appointed Mrs C.. Mason Kinne
President of Lincoln Relief Corps, San Fran
cisco, Provisional President of California w.
R.C, the Posts will be enabled to organize much
more rapidly, and it is probable permanent
Department will not be long delayed.
In February last Mrs Kinne received in
structions in recognizing an independent Aux
iliary into Relief Corps through the Wom-
ans Department of THE TRIBUNE, and in
March the reorganization took place, with so
charter members. The Corps now numbers 70
good, earnest women, who have done noble
work IN visiting the sick and aiding the needy.
Lincoln Corps has also solicited and turned
over to the Veterans Home over 500 worth
of supplies, bedding, dishes, etc. 1t is not to
be wondered at that such Corps has proved a
strong mission center, and the President has
sent instructions to several Posts at their re-
quest. Lyon Relief Corps, No g. of Oakland,
was recently instituted by Mrs. Col. Kinne, in
the presence of the comrades of Lyon and
Appomattox Posts aud the ladies of Appomat-
tox Corps. Lyon Corps is made up of noble
band OF women, who, following the installa-
tion exercises, had provided an excellent
literary and musical program closing with a
fine collation.. The comrades of California,
including Past Junior ice-Commander-in-
Chief Holmes, are earnest advocates of woman's
work in the Grand Army, and, all in all, no
State promises more or better work than Cali
fornia. As The NATIONAL TRIBUNE visits
3l1 California post-offices the comrades are in
position to make this information available all
along the line. Address Mrs c. Mason Kinne,
Provisional President, Department of Califor-
MIA, W.R.C, 2520 Port ST., San Francisco, Cal.
LOYAL MASSACHUSETTS.
To THE EDITOR: A request having been made
by the Commander of George E. ssayies Post, GA.
r.. that the loyal ladies OF Adams organize a
Noman's Relief Corps auxiliary to the GA. r. 20
ladies responded to the first call at meeting held
on the evening of June A. "A charter having been
stituted on the evening of July by Mrs. Mary N.
Perry, Department Conductor and President of
Corps Il Springfield, assisted by Mrs. Wood Con-
ductor of Corps II. At public installation in the
evening III the presence of the GAR. the follow
ing officers We're installed: Pres, Mrs. c. K.
Spooner; >. v p, Mrs. j. III. Cummings; j. V. p,
Mrs. j. NJ Montgomery; Sec, Miss Stella Cum
mings; Treas, Mrs. j. r. Simmons; Chap Mrs
ID s. Blanchard Conductor, Mrs. III. M. Whitney;
Guard, Mrs. Hattie Blcknei After the installation
there were addresses by Mrs. Perry Mrs. Wood
and Mrs. Spooner, and Commander Whelock adj
dressed the ladies of the Corps in few wel-chosen
words, in which he thanked them for their kind
ness in the past, and hoped in the future great
deal of good might be done through them for the
families OF those who gave their life for their coun-
try. Following this were addresses by several
members of the GAR, poem read by Miss Stella
cummings and q recitation by bliss Swon. The
Corps has good start the 6. A; r. Post giving
them the use of their hall, including lights and
heat and also paying half of the installing officers
expenses, and will continue To assist them in every
possible way. The Corps viii undoubtedly be the
means of alternating great deal of suffering and
misery. Great credit is due Mrs Perry the install
ling officer for the careful instructions given by
her III the Corps work. She is a lady of refinement
and culture, and makes friends with aIl-CLARE
Adams Mass.
MOTHER BTCKERDIKE's LOYALTY.
The 18th Annual Encampment of the GAR
took action looking to the presentation to Con-
gress of the claims of Mother Bickerdike, one
OF the noblest of the army nurses, now aged
and in straitened circumstances, though con-
tlnuing to exc out a support for herself by
nursing. We learn from Mrs. Louise H. Brown
President, Department of Kansas, WR.C,
Olathe, Kan, that Mother ckerdike, at the
time of the breaking out of the war, was
widow, with two little sons to support en-
ployed as professional nurse, at good wages,
at Galesburg, H., and intimately associated
with the practice of DR.. Woodward, afterwards
Surgeon of the 22d III. Mother Bickerdike
was intensely loyal, though she had no relations
in the army, and when Dr. Woodward entered
the service he secured for her position where
she could care for the sick and wounded, the
town of Galesburg providing for her little bows
during her long and faithful service No army
nurse did nobler service, and none is more de-
serving the grateful recognition of her coun-
try. Since the war Mother Bickerdike has
rendered voluntary service, particularly in
San Francisco, where she has recently resided
IN caring for sick and disabled Union soldiers
and 1t is eminently fitting that from the Grand
Army should come some testimonial of her
worth, both during and since the war We
learn, also, from Mrs Brown that Mother Bick-
erdlke is at present in Kansas, and will be
enrolled in the Womans Relief Corps-one
more jewel In the crown of the loyal women of
America.
SOUTHERN OHIO WIDE AWAKE
Lemert Post, No. II, Newark, o. is happy
IN the organization of an able auxiliary Com
mander j. j. Huston expresses the sentiments
OF the Post in the following:
On June 2j Lemert Relief Corps No. As. auxiliary
to Lemert Post, No. II, Newark, o., was organized
with the following officers and % charter members
IN. hTra II
Mrs. Anne Wright; Treas. Mrs. Ella Ashbrook
Chap, Mrs. Sarah Bourner; Con, Mrs Helen
Nailor; Guard, Mrs. Louise Miller After the in
stItut1ng ceremony and necessary instructions
T. Russell Department Mastering Officer, of Zanes-
vilie o., it resolved that all should banquet at
the Hotel Warden and have public installation of
officers in the evening AT 8 o'clock D. M the
GAR Hall was completely filed with comrades
OF Iemert Post, their families and friends when
Mrs Francis 4. RUSSELL assisted by Mrs M Lilli-
bridge, Dept CON- AIRS. Louise Terry Dept j. "
r., and Mrs. Capt. Grant Dept Guard. The three
last-named ladies' accompanied by their husbands
proceeded with the installation. Great credit
should be given TO Mrs. Russell for her able man.
agement, and TO her assistants for the energy and
interest shown III the good, loyal work. The grace
ful and military movements of the above named
corps OF officers made the ceremony impressive and
highly entertaining. The military bearing of Mrs.
lillibrdge while performing her part as Conductor
would not only make old soldiers doubt their
knowledge of the tactics but would also put the
boastfui ability of the military science of many
West Pointers TO the test. The evenings enjoy
ment closed by an able and appropriate address
from ,. v. Dept Commander II. B. Brown of
GAINESVILLE and Mrs, Louise Terry, President of
Auxiliary to Haziett Post No. 81, of GAINESVILLE
The modest department, patience and courtesy
extended by Mrs Russell. in connection with her
xNtsa "A L..