Press and daily Dakotaian. (Yankton, Dakota Territory [S.D.]) 1880-1889, 1884-09-12
THE wonAs,s BELIEF coap,.

81
Address Of the Newly Elected Presidsn,
for the Department Of Dakota.
Mrs. Allen 4. Bennett, who was cleo.
ted president of tho Woman's Relief
corps. g. A. r. for the department of
Dakota, delivered the following address
at yesterdays installation exercises.
1t is With deep sense Of, and graft.
tude Tor, the honor conferred upon me.
that I enter, this afternoon, upon nv
duties as president OF the Womsn's Re.
lief Corps. Of the department OF Dakota.
and l assure you with no less real ID.
probation OF the responsibility devolv.
ing on me, in accepting the manifold
and important interests confided to my
care. feel greatly reassured, however,
whom I remember the strong, earnest.
competent assistants I have, for I am
osftain they will prove helpers in deed,
as IN name, ard then there are hundreds
| Of noble, active, loyal women, all
over Dakota, upon whom I can call for
cid and counsel. So begin the work,
depending upon their righteous iudg.
ment. kindly criticism and earnest co.
operation in every good work and word.
l am conscious Of deep. and sincere
desire to serve the order, to enlarge it's
borders, increase its usefulness, add to
its dignity and inhame it's zeal. To the
comrades whose attention We have
enjoyed, and especially to Major Free, I
would tender my grateful thanks, echoed
by every member Of the Woman's Relief
corps in Dakota, for their unvaryinR
courtesy, real kindness and invariable
assistance. Without it our task would
have been hard, with it we have come to
pleasant and prosperous organization
and, trust We are not asking too much,
when we beg for continuance of your
favor and appreciation. With you, we
would labor to mitigate the pangs of
sickness and pain, cheer the despondent,
raise the fallen, assist the weak, comfort
the afflicted, weep with those who mourn
and Joy with the glad. enlisted in the
work of assisting the soldier in 1851, in
1867. sent my soldier away to fight, and
perhaps die. for our country, assisted
him as l might, with cheering letters and
trembling prayers. Wrote bushels of
letters to other soldiers &c, but
as the months rolled by the burden
Of waiting grew too great and I asked
Gov. Kirkwood, of Iowa, for work among
the soldiers. My letter was referred tc
our honored national chaplain, Mrs
Annie Wittenmeyer, who called me tc
> Nashville. There in the low diet kitchen
and dim ward, ministered as I might
to the comfort of the living, and cheereG
the dying heroes. have never received
my discharge papers, and never expec
to be mustered out, but hope in tn,
last day to be promoted up higher
by the Great Commander of all
and there, with thousands as earnes
and loyal, to attain to greater ant
, better things. True we shall hav,
, work to do and difficulties to overcome
but they will only sweeten our SUCCESS
render US moro worthy of the soldierl
confidence, call to our ranks the tru
and loyal women of our land, and rende
us stronger and more efficient. 10 th
people we announce ourselves as th
friends and helpers of the soldier.
Do you know OF any who better meri
our regard and assistance? all of 70,
are proud that you are American clti
zens. Our country is very great amonl
the nations of the earth, mighty in re
sources, in commerce, in manufactul
ing, in the products of her rich and varie
( soil, mighty in space. affordin
homes to all who come to her from les
favored lands, mighty in law. protectin
the weakest and avenging all her chill
I dren who need justice-dreadfu in WA
and glorious in peace! and under he
/, flag you enjoy all the blessings whic
= accrue to you from your citizenship
J. To whom, under God, do you owe q
this but to the soldiers, who gave the
best years and energies, yea, their yer
life ofttimes, to defend from destructio
= these institutions. Can you, dare you fo
get these instruments OF your prosperit
!. and happiness? The time was, when
9 was great and good thing to be so
der. The time will come when it wi
be the highest crown of American cit
u zenship-shall it not be so now, vhe
you have the survivors with you? Sha
r they not be made to know the appreci
tion which you have in your hearts Il
them? We shall expect and receive tt
active aid Of every loyal man and woma
g in this broad land in our noble work {
fraternity, charity and loyalty, and c
J.. wings of enthusiasm rise to great
Il heights of usefulness, until, in anoth
world, We enter upon brighter, newe
# fresher, purer, life, the true sprinetln
Of the heart and soul. May the Gre
Commander above direct and bless Of
- efforts.