The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25
WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
The Women in Session at Mechanics
Hail.


There was a lively hour at Mechanics
block yesterday morning as the women of
the Woman's National Relief Corps were
collecting for the meeting of the forenoon.
Veteran wives from the West and South
greeted the women from Maine and New
England, and for half an hour there was
such buzz that it took number of severe
raps from the gayel Of Mrs. Kate Sherwood.
Of Toledo, president of the Relief Corps, to
bring the convention to order at 10 minutes
to TO-
After some delay the delegates from the
various states arranged themselves in the
seats assigned to their states, Colorado and
California ON the front seats, with Connecti-
cut and Illinois right behind, and back of
them delegates from all the loyal states to
the number of several hundred.
The early meeting was to have been
secret business session, but as the president
explained, many of the delegates had left
their credentials at home in the bureau
drawers and it was necessary to spend the
opening hour in informal speeches of greet
ing which were given by Mrs. Fuller, of Bos
ton Mass, senior vice president, Mrs Wiet-
temeyer, of Philadelphia, National Chaplain,
Mrs. E. Florence Barker, the first National
president of the Woman's Relief Corps, Miss
Lizzie Anderson, of Topeka, Kansas, Mrs.
Emma G. Sibley, Toledo, the National secre-
tary and Mrs. Elizabeth A. Turner, the Ma
tional treasurer.
At precisely half-past ten the open meet
ing began with the presentation to the dele
gates present Of Past Commander-in-Chief
of the Grand Army, Paul Van DerVoort of
Nebraska, and Past National Chaplain Fos
ter of New York, who We're received with
the military salute, the ladies all rising.
President Sherwood explained that 1t was
during Commander Van Der Voort's term of
Office, at the head of the Grand Army. and
largely through his efforts that the Woman's
Relief Corps was organized; and that Chap
lain Foster was largely instrumental in eff
fectlng the early success of the CORPS
Past Commander Van Der WORT was loud
ly applauded as he complimented the work
which the Relief Corps has done for the SOL
diers; and Chaplain Fosters stirring speech
OF praise for the courage and endurance of
the wives and mothers who were alone at
home in the dark days of the war, command
ed closest attention and frequent cheers.
The delegates then arose and sang Gamer
| ica.
The formal portion of the programme be-
| gan at few minutes before IL O'clock. with
prayer by the National Chaplain, Mrs.
| Wittemeyer.
The president displayed the gayel which
| was sent by Comrade Reynolds, husband of
| the department president of the new branch
| OF the Woman's Relief Corps in Kentucky.
| the hrst south of Mason and Dixon's line.
Mrs. Fuller of Massachusetts,. senior vice
| president Of the Relief Corps, made short
| speech explanatory of letter which She
| read from Rev. j. F. Lowering of Massachu-
| setts, Past Chaplain-in-chief of the Grand
| Army, who presented with the letter an
| album which he gave as token of his re-
gard Tor the Corps. The president accepted
1t Tor the order, and then informed the audi
enee that the wife of famous soldier the
| Wlte OF the old 18th Army Corps, Mrs. John
| A. Logan, was present. Mrs. Logan was
escorted to the platform by Mrs. L. Florence
| Barker, who in her presentation speech re-
terred prettily to the compliment which
| Colonel Morrison, after his recent defeat
| had paid to the wife of his opponent. and
then led forward the famous Mary Logan of
| Illinois. o." -
Mrs. Logan, as she took her place amid the
| applause of the audience, which had risen.
| appeared a lady of medium height and fine
form, with her beauty rather enhanced BY
her gray hair, which might have Indicated
advancing years had it not been for the
| bright eyes and animated expression. which
| bespoke lady not past her prime and one
who would attract attention In any assem-
bly,, Advancing to the front of the plat