The Portland daily press., 1885-06-25
womAN's RELIEF CORPS.
Address of the National President,
Mrs. Kate 8. Sherwood.

Brief and eyentiul have been the eleven months
OF Relief Corps work since the Second Annual
Convention entrusted to me the administration If
affairs for the fiscal year just ended. But not so
brief as to forbid the accomplishment of import
ant results not SO eveutful as to allow no place
for the quiet routine of thorough and systematic
work. Following the convention. COMMANDMENT
Chief John 5. Koultz, with that cordial rec0gni-
ton and practical assistance he has ever given TO
loyal women in their work for the soldiers ex-
ended cordial invitation TO the National Presi-
dent to establish headquarters in connection with
Grand Army headquarters. The offer was most
gratefully accepted, and throughout the year the
Woman'S Relief Corps has enjoyed through its ex-
ccutive officers the intestnable privilege of daily
counsel with the representatives of the honOred
association of veterans, whose name, by special
accord of the Fifteenth Annual Encalnpnents, re-
affirmed by the Seventeenth and Eighteenth
Encampment, we are permitted to bear 1t was
the opportunity of a lifetime, and one that has
been used to promote the high and holy interests
to which every member of the Womaus Relief
Corps stands Solemnly pledged.
HISTORY OF THE woMAN's RELIEF CORPS
AS in Antioch, the disciples of peace, good will
and practical charity were first ealled Christians,
SO here in Portland Maine, the name "Relief
Corps" was first given to wonlans work of loyalty
and love for the Union veteran. AT the very out
sou ol IIlo prcSeil ADMINISTRATION began 10 col
lect data for accurate history of our association
as well as to bring together, under one banner all
who, under whatever name, were enlisted in the
same holy cause. To this end addressed repre-
sentatiyes of the Woman's State Relief Cords of
Maine. who have so cordially arranged for the
reception OF this convention. A tiny blue-c0vered
book is before me, bearing the imprint of Stephen
Berry, printer, 1869, and the Inscription ''Const-
tuition and BYLAWS of Bosworth Relief Corps, No
l. The State organization was unanimously
formed, and the character of the association and
the eligibility OF membership was fully discemed
Maine may be termed the pioneer corps in work
but to Massachusetts must be given the proud
title OF the army of possession marching bravely
forward and planting their banners on the outer
most lines.
Bosworth Relief Corps had no printed ritual I'M
til Jnne, 1873, although kindred associations had
been organized under its work, when Mrs. A. NJ
Sawyer was elected President, and under in
structions prepared a printed form since in use.
This Corps was the fountain spring of all the corps
in Maine organized up to the autumn Of 1883,
and was the recognized head, although no formal
State Association was formed until June 10,
1883. 1t also extended its work as far as Fitch
burg Mass, where Z. V. Summer Relief Corps in
connection with Summer Post was formed. This
Corps in 1879 became one of the charter corps of
the Woman's Relief Corps of Massachusetts,, hav-
Ing burned all its rituals and accepted the new Or
der of things.