The National tribune., 1885-03-26
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GleaningS from National Headquar-
ters--Notcs frem the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMASs RELIEF Corps
TOLEDO, o.
KATE Il. SHERWOOD. National President
EMMA ID. SIBLEY, National Secretary.

TOLEDO, o.
| KATE r. SHERWOOD, National President
| EMMA ID. SHELLEY, National Secretary.
TOLEDO, O., March II, 1885.
Being somewhat of privileged reporter at
| Headquarters, your correspondent has this
morning, in the absence of soul food of more
recent cooking, dared to invade the archives of
the Office and like little Jack Horner, put in
thumb and pulled out a plum" that may
cause US to feel quite as important as the little
| hero of the nursery tale.
| find that at the time the National Organi-
zatiOn was effected-at Denver, in July, 1883
| there were but two Departments formed the
same which had comprised the Union Board,
| viz: Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. Ohio
| was the first TO form into line as q regularly
| formed Department, the Convention for which
purpose took place at the same time and place
| of the Department Encampment of the Grand
| Army-at GAINESVILLE, Jan. 80 and 81. Illinois
| organized the same week, and Kansas and New
| York soon followed their example; and when
| the meeting at Minneapolis convened last July
the National Officers were able to report IA
Departments fully equipped for the grand
| work.
SUCCESS OF PROVISIONAL DEPARTMENTS.
When our National President Mrs Sher-
wood, assumed the duties of her office her first
work was to naugurate n system of organizing
permanent Departments out of Provisional De-
partments, appointments being announced in
her first General Orders. In all We have had
five Provisional fornia Da-
kota, Minnesota, Oregon and New Jersey. The
first four Of these are now enrolled as perma-
nent Departments, and New Jersey will soon
| rank with them. This system has been most
satisfactory, as the preliminary instruction of
Provisional officers has enabled new Depart
monts to start out fully instructed and equipped
for work. Those Departments formed by di-
rect call from National Headquarters land
which, | might say, were not first made Pro-
vjsional because of being under the direction of
National officers in neighbOring States) are:
Indiana, Missouri and Vermont. 1t will there
fore have been anticipated by our readers that
We have to-day II regularly formed. ably Off
cered Departments, WR.C., and a Provisional
Department with the requisite number of
Corps five, which warrants an enrolment of
at least % with which to close up the year. A
NEW NATIONAL ROSTER
will shortly be issued. States and Territories
in which We have from one to three Corps are:
Kentucky, New Mexico, Nevada, District of
Columbia, Rhode Island, Virginia Washington
Territory aud Utah; and, by way Of encourage
ment in new fields, / would say that during
the past week applications for charters have
been sent by request to interested comrades in
Arkansas, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia
and Texas, and throughout the Grand Army,
diHOSb WITHOUT tue WOfk ot
our Order has ever established itself in their
locality or not, Department Commanders have
by voice in Encampments, notice in General
Orders or personal correspondence pledged rs
their hearty support, and, as soldiers, they will
keep their word.
GOOD WORDS FROM THE COMRADES.
Extracting from General Orders just re-
ceived, we find from Col Ed. S. Jones Depart
ment Commander of Tennessee and Georgia,
Just reelected, the good words:
The organization of the Womans Relief Corps
auxiliary to Grand Army Posts is respectfully
commended and urged upon the attention of officers
and members of Posts organized and TO be or
ganized.
While Col Chas D. Long, the new Depart
ment Commander of Michigan. where the work
has been fully tested and approved, says:
The attention of every comrade in this Depart
ment is most earnestly called to the vital import
ance of the Womans Relief Corps IL is hoped that
each Post will proceed ut once TO the establishment
of this auxiliary For information concerning the
Relief Corps you are referred to Mrs. Emma :.
Hampton, Department President. Detroit Mich,
most esmable lady, who it is believed will do most
efficient service i'll the coming year.
General Orders, Nos. and 2, of Mrs. Minna
G. Hooker President of the new Department of
Vermont, are models of neatness and good taste
and contain just such information as is needed
by Corps.
Mrs. Lizzie D'A. Kinne comes out in three
page General Order, the first from the head
quarters of a permanent Department of Cali
fornia, teeming with valuable information and
good advice, not only for the Corps under her
direction, but is most readable paper for ev-
cry patriot and friend of the soldier, the widow
and the fatherless. The closing paragraph
says:
Let il be understood that while the nucleus ofthe
Corps naturally should be from those more closely
allied To- the comrades of the Post all loyal women
eligible to- membership, and thus the Woman's
Relief Corps brings TO its aid the earnestness and
devotion of charitable hands, who love the deeds
and share in the glory of the Union soldier and
are willing to participate in the labors of benevo-
lence espouscd by the Order, whose motto is Fra
ternty, Charity and Loyalty.