The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25


burg, Mass, where K. V. Summer Relief Corps in
connection with Summer Post was formed. This
Corps IN 1879 became one Of the charter corps of
Ing burned all its rituals and accepted the new Or
der of things.
RELIEF CORPS IN MASSACHUSETTS,.
AS in Maine, Pennsylvania Ohio, and possibly
other States the work for the soldier was never
abandoned by the loyal women Of Massachusetts,
From the close of tile war until 1878, the ladies of
SouthBoston, who were identified with the work of
the Sanitary and ChiristanCommission during the
war, held frequent meetings to aid and assist
needy comrades aud their families Joseph Hook
er Post held fair about the year 1863, when a
Joseph Hooker Ladies' Aid Society was formally
organized, under which they worked until 1875
when the State Relief Corps was formed of which
they were part. At least sixteen auxaries had
thus been formed throughout the State, all Of
which held open meetings except the Relief Corps
at Fitchburg and society at Somervile, working
under some kind OF ritual, SO far as l can learn
OF their own making.
HOW THE UNION WAS coNsUSfMArED
In the year intervening between 1851, when
the resolution of the Grand Army approving of a
national association was passed. and 1892 almost
nothing was done in bringing about national unity,
though subordinate Relief Corps in the East and
Ladies' AnXiliares in the West were multiplying
rapidly Mrs. a. M. Sawyer, Portland, Me-; Mrs
Z. Florence Barker, Maiden, Mass. Mrs Emily
McAier, Camden N. j.; Mrs. f. X. Stimson. Den
yer, Col; and Mrs. Kate b. Sherwood, Toledo o.
each recognized as the head Of some special form
OF work, were appealed TO by comrades for in
formation from all parts Of the United States ask
ing for rules and regulations, Instructions and
on, in forming auxiliary societies. A union was
Imperative and demanded by the best interests of
the Grand Army i'll nearly every State. But with
a certain opposition from a portion of the Grand
Army, and with such a diversity of opinions
among the women themselves as to the character
and government OF an association to be formed
the most sanguine entertained small hopes as to
its speedy contamination. But God rules today
IN the affairs of men as when six thousand years
ago He gave his people the aid Of a Miriam and a
Deborah an Esther Lydia, Lois and Eunice
as he gave them i'll latter days Florence Night
ingale, an Anna Ella Carroll a Clara Barton, an
Annie Wittenmeyer, or a Mother Bickerdyke. In
all ages and all countries; In all times of peril in
sorrow. and affection. as in joy and rejoicing
woman has stood by the side Of man.
For year, as jealous guardian of the Grand
Army, Comrade Beath watched the progress of
the association, and it was with deep thanksgy-
ing the national officers learned of his report at
Minneapolis, in which he said that In visiting
national headquarters at Boston, and in personal
conference with officers east and west, he had
become deeply impressed with the fact that they
had III themselves the ability and resources to
carry out the details of the association they had
formed, and that what was most needed from the
Grand Army was expression of hearty apprecia-
ton In the work and sympathy with its objects.
But what was vastly more encouraging, he ex-
pressed the opinion that the Relief Corps was
much further advanced in organization in one
year than the Grand Army was in the same length
OF time, followed with this predictions Comrades
who doubted the wisdom OF our taking any action
last year will soon see that this Womans Relief
Corps Is to be our Grand Army reserve ready to
respond for efficient help in all our social and
charitable work
WORK OF THE YEAR,
My first care on assuming command, as an
nounced In General Orders No. 1, was to appoint
such aids as might be necessary to disseminate, as
rapidly as possible, knowledge of our associa-
-.
departments of the Grand Army. Thirteen ma
tional corresponding secretaries were thus ap-
pointed supplied with stationery, postage, rules
and regulations and other requisite information
to be brought to the attention of Department and
Post Commanders. Special fields were assigned
to most Of these, and the service they have per
formed cannot be estimated at its full value. OF
these Mrs. Francis I. Russell of Ohio deserves
special mention for interchangeable and highly sue
cessfu efforts in awaking Kentucky and Tennes-
see to the Importance of our work. The various
promotions accorded TO these will indicate the
measure of their usefulness. Mrs. Kate K. Jones
m mas a New So e%toF 1f S % H Depr
partment President of Michigan; Mrs. Maggie
Davis, Brooklyn, following important work in
New Jersey. has been entrusted with important
relief work by the Grand Army and Woman's Re-
lief Corps in New York city; Mrs. Russell has
been appointed chief instituting and installing
officer, Department of Ohio; Mrs. Julia A. Bowen
serves as department secretary of Nebraska; and
Miss Maggie Monroe. besides her reappointnent
SeCTttdIy OI IOMd, lids successfully
conducted the Wolnan's Department of the Vet
Grams Advocate Department of Iowa. Frequent
and excellent reports have come from Mrs. De
borah q. King OF Nebraska, Mrs. Isabella G. FoS-
ter Of Maine, and Mrs. Mary j. Telford of Coora-
do, as well as from Mrs. Alkaline 2. Kent, Mrs NJ.
Susie Goodale and Mrs. Elizabeth c. Kiefer, presi
dents respectively of New Hampshire, Massachu-
sets and Maine.
WORK OF RELIEF
In pursuance Of the provisions establishing
Relief Fund, and to aid in securing pensions for
Mrs Carroll, Mrs Bickerdyke and other needy
army workers. committee was appointed, con-
sistng Of Mrs. Abbe NJ. Gannett, Maiden, Mass;
Mrs. Annie Wittenmeyer, Phila., Pa; and Mrs.
Juliet G. Howe, York, Nebraska, of whose eXcell-
ent report, made to this Convention, your special
approval is solicited. The committee was instruc-
ted to devise ways and means to assist the loyal
women specially named in securing necessary pen
sions, and such medical attention and home com
forts as they might need. Mrs. Wittenmeyer and
Mrs. Howe both belonging to the noble ranks of
army workers it was deemed that their synpath-
les would be all the stronger for their sisters in
need The good work of this committee has been
compiled In most admirable manner by the chair
man of the committee, Mrs. Gannett, showing how
work and low rich the promise for any future eff
forts which may be put forth. Instructed to form
Relief Fund, with nothing in store in the general
draw at discretion, the plan of an open letter to |
Posts and Corps suggested itself: This call was
by the National President asking for a /
special contribution from Posts and Corps, of ten
cents per member. The Conmander-in-Chief gave |
his signature to the call, and launched on the /
TO the Grand Army and the Woman's Relief Corps. |
The amount raised by the ten cent subscription /
was 1888 05, small sum inthe aggregate but rep
resenting the good will of ten thousand loyal |
hearts.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The National President very early discovered |
that rules and regulations governing the Woman's
Relief Corps, as adapted to the national work af
ter Denver, and as revised after Minneapolis. were |
yet wholly inadequate for the government and |
conduct Of the National Association. National
was deluged with correspondence,
asking solution TO Corps troubles, and multitu-
dinous questions, to answer which no provision Il
was made In our written law, or indeed in our UNI Il
written law, save as we fell back upon Grand Ar
my rule and precedent. One of two things pre-
scented itself: either 10 allow the WOman's Relief
Corps to go adrift into dsintegration for lack of
prompt and decisive management not provided for
IN rules and regulations, or by somewhat arbi-
.rary course of action to declare such laws as |
we're essential to the mantananee and preserva-
Iantage of recognized auxiliary came to the l
'ront. The National President felt that if sus-
aimed by the Grand Army of the Republic in her |
course of action she would not bring upon herself
'he censure Of the Woman's Relief Corps, if she |
gent beyond their expressed instructions to pro- |
note their good After full conference with |
Grand Army officials in command. the announce |
nent was made i'll General Orders No. 2. that the 1
decisions and opinions of the Commanderjn-chief |
and Judge Advocate General of the Grand Army |
II the Republic, compiled by Gen. James r.. Car |
lah8h Judge Advocate General 1SS2-83, and
adopted and approved by the National Encamp- l
nent july, 1889, would stand as recognized ail- 1
hority, in the Woman's Relief Corps, in so far as
he decisions are applicable to questions arising
n the Corps; This was reiterated after the publ-
alton OF THE Grand Army Blue Book" bysCon- |
r. b. Beath and the substitution !
If the same, as more complete was sanctioned
49,. ,-,- MEMORIAL DAY.
The ready response which the Woman's Relief
Jorps in the several Departments gave to the rec
'mmendation of the National Presidentto prepare |
memorial for the unknown dead and those who |
leep on far away battlefields; to remember the
owly graves of the army nurses and of those of
heir own number, gone to their long rest, is but |
mother evidence of that feryid patriotism which |