The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-11-11
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS--NOtes from the Departments.
HEADQUARTERS WoMANs RELIEF CORPS
SAN Francisco, CAL.
ELIZABETH D'A. KISSE National President
NELLIE q. RACKUs. National Secretary

SAN FRANCISCO, CAL, Nov. 4, 1856.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Quarterly reports from the
different Departments are reaching Headquar-
tiers, all showing steady increase of membership
and goodly amount of charity work per-
formed. Corps are constantly being formed in
Tennessee, Georgia. Florida and Texas.
Mrs. Henrietta Steismeier, of ST. Louis, No.,
Past Department President of Missouri, has
been appointed National Instituting and In
stalling Officer.
From Milwaukee, Wis. we have a very pleas
ant little account of how the members of f. b.
Wolcott Post and of the Loyal Legion have
been praising beautiful Persian rug that the
Post room was recently supplied with by the
ladies of L. b. Wocott Relief Corps. Wolcott
Corps, which was organized about a year ago,
has done vast amount of good work in Mil
waukee IN caring for worthy soldiers and their
families. and three or four times has provided
sumptuOus banquets OH the occasion of regi-
mental Reunions. Milwaukee paper, COM
menting upon Corps work says: They pre-
pared the banquet of the lst Wis. Cav, the LIST
Inf and the 2Sth Inf, and the members of these
organizations returned to their homes in the
! belief that the WOman's Relief Corps was not
only worthy of cordial support, but of their
everlasting thanks. Every Post in the State
should have a Relief Corps"
GENERAL ORDERS, NO. 2.
! NATIONAL HEADQ'Rs woMAS's RELIEF CORPS,
AUXILIARY To THE GAR,
4l9 California street, Room IL,
SAN Francisco, Oct. %, 1856
General Orders. No. 2.
i. The National President congratulates the
Woman's Relief Corps upon the continued interest
and growth of the Order as evinced by the reports
of Departments to these Headquarters, as well as
inquiries rom sections not yet favored with organ
lZed bodies OF this efficient aid To the Grand Army
which Is the only auxiliary recognized by that
ganlzation, as officially expressed in National
hncampment, or privileged 10 use the words
Tn he a,I Ar,,,x he lilo.
In this connection the National President desires to
say. that while the work of any and all who labor
Tor the Union veteran and his family i fully recog-
hzed ana approved, our organization Is so catholic
IN ITS membership that the good name and personal
Loyalty OF the applicant is the only test of elgibIli
~, but which Is also intended to embrace a loyalty
TO our principles of reaching out for membership
into the ranks of all who have the will to do, and
are proud to be known as loyal women That this
may be fully understood the following, adopted at
the last National Convention, is published for the
benefit of all interested:
"Resolred. That all members of organizations
opposed To the cardinal principles of personal 10y
atty shall be ineligible 10 membership in the Wom-
ans Relief Corps"
III. The principle heretofore promulgated that
two executive offices should not be held by the
same person IN Corps aud Departments has been
formally approved by the present National Council,
and the National President cannot too strongly
urge an acquiescence on the part of all officers in
tins manifestly proper decision In accordance
with this principle, Mrs. Margaret Il. Wilkins has
rendered her resignation as National Inspector.
This result was brought about by the unanimous
request of her Department Council that she should
remain President of the Department of Kansas.
III The following appointments are announced:
Louise III. Brown, Olathe. Kan. National In
spector.
Henrietta steismeier. st. Louis, Mo-, Instituting
Members of the National Council elected for the
ensuing year are announced as follows: L. Flor
enee Barker, Maiden. Mass; Kate b. Sherwood,
Toledo, o; Annie Wittenmeyer, Philadelphia Pa:
sarah l.. Fuller, East Boston, Mass; Gerte Rogers.
milwaukee,, Wis They will be obeyed and re-
spectcd accordingly.
~. IL Is with pleasure that the announcement Is
made that the first Department organized under
the present administration was perfected Sept Is.
1886, AT Covlngton KY, with Mary Lyle Reynolds
oil IoylnGton as Department President.
V. The following decisions and amendments to
Rules and Regulations are published for the infor-
nation oil ali concerned and will take the place Of
previous Rules wherever they are found TO conflict
with the same:
i. Representatives TO the National Convention
snail be one delegate at large. and delegate for
each 800 members or for a fraction Of more than
half that number, based on the return of members
IN each department In good standing at the close
OF the fourth quarter.
2 Corps TreAsurers must in all cases give bonds
FOR the faithful discharge of their duties in to
be liked by a vote of the Corps.
g. Initiation fee must not be less than 81 and the
cost of the badge must be added thereto. In all
cases the fee and cost of badge must accompany
the application.
4. All members must wear the membership badge
at Corps meetings.
5; Corps must no, establish a system Of benefits,
and the only funds are the general and relief funds
To be drawn upon as occasion requires. Needy SOL
diers, sailors and marines the widows and orphans
oil such, and members of the Corps, the only
persons entitled To aid from Corps funds. De
partment Presidents must not approve Bylaws
which contain provisions for regular sick benefits
or matters of "A kindred nature.
.. Department Presidents must not receive any
salary, out necessary expenses for the official dis
charge of their duties should be paid from the
Department funds
Z. When a Post requests the dissolution of its
auxiliary Corps the official notification the De-
partment or National President OF such desire shall
not Toe considered unless majority of the members
OF the Post have voted.
s. When Corps disbands, all moneys remaining
IN the Treasury, after the payment of all debts
must be turned over To the Department Secretary
subject TO the action of the Department Council
=. Corps Presidents shall appoint committees pro-
vlded IN Regulations at the first regular meeting
after installation.
10 Corps inspections to be made between Nov l
and Dec. 81 of each year, and all blank forms for
inspection will be mailed from the National In-
spectar Office.
vi. The National Inspector will issue orders at
an early date relative To the annual inspections
which VIII give all the requisite details for the
guidance OF Department and Assistant Inspectors
VII. Revised instructions To Corps Presidents are
sent with this Order, and Department Presidents
are charged with the duty of directing that they be
properly affixed in each Ritual in the hands of the
Corps Presidents, and in such Rituals as may
be sent out.
VIII Copies OF all orders issued by Corps Presi-
dents should be sent to Department Headquarters,
and those issued by Department Presidents must
DC h' ohce IorWarueu 10 these headquarteTs- IL -
recommended that copies OF all General Orders be
exchanged between Department Presidents
lA. The manner OF atfixing the names of De-
pariment and Corps Presidents to General and
other Orders. instituted by my predecessor will
be discontinued and ali official orders will hereafter
be signed a. designated on page % Rules and Regu-
lations.
Y. The Womans Relief Corps has now arrived
at such point IN its history to preclude any
idea but thorough and complete organization on
the basis of its existing Regulations changes in
which only be made in National Conventions
membership should not be encouraged in Depart
ments or Corps. Earnest faithful and tiTeles5
workers are needed TO aid the Grand Army as the |
auxiliary To which the Womans Relief Corps
OF that Order. As neither nationality, creed po
lltcai opinions test or bar in seeking admis
sion To the Grand Army, 50 neither can relation
ship, religion or temperance ideas he considered or
tolerated IN our meetings. The qualifications for |
membership are plainly stated In our Regulations
aud naught but active and welldrected efforts in
the way of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty should
be entertained by the more than 40 600 LOYAL women
ln our ranks or tolerated by Corps ur Department
Presidents who are charged with the duty of di-
reeiing affairs In their jurisdiction. Every nfrac
ton OF our Rules and Regulations, or departure
from ritualistic work should be promptly investi
gated and properly rebuked by Department oil |
GERS and Department Presidents are especially en-
joined To issue such Orders, and take such steps as
will bring about the proper results.
by command of Elizabeth Darcy Kinne M
tional President
Nellie &. Backus, National Secretary.
THE RED-CRoss PRESIDENT
Some months since Clara Barton. President of
the American Association of the Red Cross ac-
cepted AN invitation to accompany the members to
the Goth National Encampment and became the |