The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-08-19
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS
Proceedings of the Fourth Annual Con-
VentiOn.

The fourth annual Convention Of tho Wom-
ans Relief Corps assembled at Irving Hall on
Wednesday morning, Aug. 4, at 10 o'clock.
Twenty-three Departments were represented
and over 100 delegates answered TO the roll
call During the interim while the password
was taken, Mrs. Florence L. Barker, the first
National President, entered and was introduced
by the President, Mrs. Fuller and greeted by
a rising salute from the floor Of delegates and
galleries of visitors.
The Convention was opened with prayer by
the National Chaplain, Miss Annie Witten-
myer, of Philadelphia, the celebrated army
nurse.
The morning session was devoted to dis
tributing badges, tickets, registering and gen.
eral assignment of positions on the floor. At IL
o'clock the Convention adjourned 10 meet again
at 1:30 p. IN. A bountiiul luncheon was pro-
vided by the Woman's Relief Corps in the par
lors Of Irving Hall This facilitated the ses-
sions Of the Convention very much, as the ladies
were not Obliged TO leave the hall for luncheon,
thus necessiIating a long delay. The tables
were beautifully decorated. aud were one mass
of flowers and luscious fruit heaped up in large
dishes with ornamental designs. Among the
set floral pieces Of the different Corps on the
table were baskets and pillars from Lyon Corps,
cornucopia. horseshoe and basket from Lincoln
Corps, star and basket from AppOmattox, with
many smaller designs of flowers, which were
kept constantly refreshed and arranged every
day throughout the session. The lunch was
presided over by the ladies of Lincoln Relief
Corps, No. 3, assisted by members of Garfield
Corps, Of San Francisco and Lyon and Apo
mattox Corps, of Oakland.
Following the intermission the roll was called
and the delegates assigned TO their seats. Then
followed an address by the National President,
MRS. SARAH Z. FULLER,
which was mastery resume of the work of
the year, and full Of eloquent and glowing pas
sages of tribute 10 the loyal women of the land
and their great work of relief in behalf of the
soldiers aud their widows and orphans The
National Senior Vice President, Mrs Elizabeth
Darcy Kline, made brief and pointed re-
port. Mrs Kline was visibly affected she
referred TO some of the touching services of the
WOman's Relief Corps during thesyear that has
passed.
The report of the National Junior Vice.
| President, Mrs Alkaline L. Kent, was followed
| by that of the other National officers in their
regular orders, when by unanimous vote it
was carried that Miss Clara Barton be made a
member of the Woman's Relief Corps by virtue
of her great service on the battletields of the
Union and of the proud rank she has taken in
the German and Seryian wars and in promot-
1 ing the beneiicent principles of the Red Cross
Association.
A telegram was read from the National IN
speeding and Recruiting Officer Mrs. Emma
4
owing 10 the arrival of an ll-pound boy, when
the following resolution was wired TO her ::
The fourth National Convention sends greet
| ings and congratulations upon your success rs a
recruiting officer for the next year"
| Very elegant souvenir badges were prepared
and presented by the Department of California,
| the bear upon a Maltese cross being in solid
| silver suspended from yellow ribbon.
BY the report of the National President it
was shown that on July %, 1883, the member
ship consisted of but 40 ladies, while now there
are
MORE THAN $4,000
loyal and patriotic women banded together
with one grand object TO assist veterans and
their families of the late rebellion. Twenty
three thousand dollars had been expended the
past year in the work Of relief among the vet
Grams or their needy families. Fully $4,000
had been turned over to different Posts and
this the President thought was proof enough
| that they had been true TO their principles.
No estimate could be put upon the deeds OF
mercy done by these women, who have visited
the sick, buried the dead, cheered the afflicted,
and procured homes and friends for the unfor-
tunate.
The National President alluded 10 the great
work for the promotion of patriotism which
had been done by the Womans Relief Corps
and how they had aided in strengthening
the devotion and loyalty of the young and
their feelings Of responsibility toward God and
their country. Among the eminent army
nurses present in Convention were Mother Bick
erdyke, Mrs. Ransom, Mrs. Wood and Aunt
Becky.
At the session on Wednesday the National
President appointed the following committees
On the Presidents Address-Mrs. Ami,
Wittenmyer, of Pennsylvania; Mrs. Parker, o
Massachusetts,; Mrs Rogers, of Wisconsin; Mrs
Gibson, of Vermont, and Mrs. Garard, of Iowa
/ he nfb rod fol
lows:
On the Inspectors Report-Sarah L. Nichols
Of New York; Isabella Foster, of Maine; Fran
ces X. Martin, of Connecticut; Elizabeth NJ
Work, of New Jersey, and Ada i. Clark, 0
Ohio.
Committee on Resolutions-Mrs Kate b
Sherwood, of Ohio; Mrs. Nancy w. Moore, o
New Haven Mrs. Louisa II. Brown, of Kan
sas Mrs. Mary j. Zelford, of Colorado, ant
! Miss Mary L. Elliott Of Massachusetts.
THURSDAYS SESSION.
The Thursday morning session was calle
promptly and was very largely attended. IL
wing Hall presented a very beautiful appearance
The decorations were Of the most elaborat
character. There are six skylights lighting
the hall, which is square, with a gallery run
ming around the Sides and in the galleries tn
visiting members were seated, while the dele
gates were seated on the floor below, bot
!. right aud left, red banner marking each de-
: egation, bearing the name of the State. TIL
, Presidents chair on the platform was decorate
0 with a wreath of roses. The decorations owe
: the platform were Of a very beautiful charat
{ ter. A painted W.RC badge in large size wa
S suspended from an archway to the left OF whic
: were two very large flags For flags large i
d size and in rich colors San Francisco beats I'll
4 world. A very large Corps badge, four or Il Y
: feet in hight, on a standard, was placed on IL
e rear Of the platform. made Of beautiful immO
Is telles. Over the center of the ceiling WI
h bunting in red, white and blue, and silke
IS bands were suspended so as 10 form a drOopin
is canopy. All around the walls were flag
l. wreaths and badges, and flowers in beautif
designs.
The following preamble and resolution we
adopted:
A. Whereas Commander lin Chief Burdett has tax,
y n firm consistent and chivaTic view Of the relatio
~ OF the Woman's Relief Corps To the Grand Army
- the Republic in far az he has asserted that il
VI the only recognized auxiliary 10 the Grand Arm
&c OF the Republic; and
at Whereas ia this expression Of his views the Cor
q mander-in-Chief has but reaiiirmed the opinions
!, Past Commander -iu- Chiefi Paul NanDcrNoort no
Nv ert Il. Beath and John S. Kountz thus extendiI
IN 10 the woman's Relic: Corps that protection a.
as support due an association organized under res
lie luton of the i7ih National Encampmei
ana GAR, held at indianapolis in 1883; thereto
= be IL
IL Resoi,cd That the thanks of the fourth Nation
9n Convention womRn's Relief Corps hereby
he tended 10 the Commandcr-in- Chief; that la
ing heartily rcaiii our allegiance 10 the Ora
=, Army OF the Republic aud again declare our sacI
VI devotion 20 the solemn duties 10 which yctela
are pledged, =" 40 for those who have bon
o. the battle, their widows and orphans" in