The National tribune., 1886-01-07
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
ters--Notes from the Departments.

HEADQUARTERS WoMAN's RELIEF CORPS,
BOsToN, MASS
SARAH f. FULLER National President
ELEANOR IL. WHEELER. National Secretary.
Jan. |, 1856
&" Peace on earth. good will towards men,"
Sweet holiday greetings TO all. We have only
glad, good news to bring, for from near and
from far we learn of the progress of our work.
Loyal-hearted women everywhere are becom-
ing interested in Relief Corps work and the re-
ports from the National Aids in those States
where, as yet, no Departments of the W.R.C.
have been formed are most encouraging. Mrs.
Ida f. Lincoln, National Aid of Salt Lake City,
Utah, reports the organization of John A. Dix
Relief Corps, No. ., at Ogden, Utah, with Is
members and the following list of officers Pres,
Mrs. Jettie Stevens; S. V.-P, Helen Freeman :;
j. V.-P, Elizabeth Wadleigh; Sec, Alice Har-
ris; Treas, Josie Bond; Chap, Eliza Restall !;
Con, Maggie Selwright Asst Con-, Susie
Steele; G.. Nellie Preshaw Asst G., Sarah
Clark. John A. Dix Post, No. 3, has presented
the new Corps with $3.50 to get them started.
An Ogden paper reports the presence of a
large and appreciative audience at the enter
tainment given by John A. Dix Post, No. 3, on
the occasion of their benefit given for the Re-
lief Corps, and says: "The beauty, elegance
and fashion of the town were out. 1t was a
gathering the like or better of which the Union
Opera House has not seen since its foundations
were laid. The entertainment consisted of
tableaux, readings and a high class of vocal
and instrumental music, and the ladies of the
Relief Corps may Justly feel proud of the emf
nent success of their debut before the Ogden
public"
From the Salt Lake City Daily we clip an
interesting item: I" The members of James b.
Mexican Post and ladies of its auxiliary Relief
Corps held Reunion at the rooms of the Opera
House, occupied by both societies. The gather
ing was characteristic of the genial army veter
ans and their loyal lady friends, but the feature
of the evening was the mastering in and
christening of
JUVENILE RECRUIT,
Grant Wentworth Lincoln. Mrs. Lincoln, his
respected mother. is at the head of the Relief
Corps in the Territory, and received q special
invitation from the members of the Organiza-
tiOn in this city to present her boy baby for
christening at the meeting. Comrade Tiff,
Chaplain of the Post, otficiated on the impress
sive occasion, giving young Lincoln the names
suggested by the ladies and accepted by the
parents. Mrs. T. c.. Bailey, ON behalf of the
Corps, presented the recruit with a beautiful
velvet-covered case containing some useful
silver articles, and the happy father and mother
responded in graceful and grateful words. 1t
was voted that mention and record Of the pro-
ceedings should be entered on the minutes of
the Post an indication of the happy relations
existing between the two organizations"
COmrade Lincoln is preacher and teacher,
and Mrs. Lincoln is an elocutionist and lee
turer, and both are highly esteemed among the
loyal residents of the city and Territory.
Mrs. Kate f. Jones, National Aid for West
Virginia. reports the new Corps at Wheeling as
in good condition, and that by request of Com
rade William Washington, Commander of Joe
Hooker Post Yorktown, Va, she had forwarded
a anplication for chartpr and had homes of
organizing Corps at Hampton very soon. A
most encouraging letter was received by the
National President from Col. II. p. Kent, of
Portsmouth, n. H., who reports that while on a
business trip to the city of Dover n. H., he did
some missionary work for our Order, and sue
ceeded in arranging with the comrades there
for public meeting, at which our National
Junior Vice President Mrs. Adaline P. Kent,
will be present to explain the work of the
W.R.C.
Compliments of the season to all THE Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE readers. Echo
Department Gleanings.
CHRISTMAS AT THE OHIO ORPHANS HOME.
DEAR TRIBUNE: The Christmas festivities at the
Ohio Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home this
year will long be remembered by its $50 happy chill
dren A few weeks ago Col. K. B. Brown, of Zanes-
vile, Department Commander of Ohio, GAR,
asked for Il contribution of three cents from each
member of the Department to purchase presents
for the children of their dead comrades The re-
quest was met by ready response, and over 500
Brown assisted by Mrs. Fenton Bagley, Miss Jen-
ME Fortune. and Mrs. +. c. Dietz of Hazett Relief
Corps GAINESVILLE, in the purchase of every variety
of presents. Lists showing the names and ages of
all the children in the institution and the presents
desired by each were prepared by Superintendent
Jones and sent to Col. Brown. The requests of the
children We're found to be reasonable and proper
in nearly all cases, and the lists were followed in
the purchase and making of presents. On
Wednesday Col. Brown and the ladies assisting
him arrived at the Home, and were busy the re-
mainder of the day and all day Thursday in the
arrangement of the presents. On Wednesday even
ing Mrs. Lottie l.. Myers, President of the Ohio
Womans Relief Corps arrived When the boxes
containing the gifts of the Relief Corps were opened
the bountiful supply OF beautiful and well-chosen
presents bore testimony that the soldiers orphan
has warm place in the hearts OF the loyal women
of Ohio.
At an early hour Thursday evening the children
began to file into the chapel, which was beautifully
decorated for the occasion. Long lines of cedar
hung in wreaths and graceful curves along the
walls and from the ceiling. In the middle of the
stage stood a large arch with gas jets attached !;
behind the arch rose n high pyramid, covered with
books writing desks, handkerchief, skates, sleds.
and endless variety of other things to delight
the childish eye At each end of the stage stood
large Christmas tree, richly Ornamented and loaded
with presents.
When the last group of children had quietly
taken their seats Rev. DIR. Morehead invoked the
divine blessing the exercises of the evening,
after which the children led by the choir Joined in
n ringing Christmas chorus. Col. Brown, on behalf
of the Woman's Relief Corps and the G.AR made
q short presentation speech. The great-hearted
soldier had labored earnestly to make the occasion
pleasant, and 1t was easy to see that he was more
than gratitied as he looked down into the eager,
upturned faces of the children.
At the conclusion of his remarks Santa Claus
Col ii. A Axline-appeared from the chimney at
the foot of the pyramid, and announced that he had
brought presents for everyone. He waved his
wand, and more than "a dozen fairies appeared
dressed in white and wearing bells that jinged
merrily as they glided hither and thither bearing
Christmas gifts. The distribution of presents was
accomplished in about two hours, and the happy
tages. After they were all tucked snugly in bed
100 pounds of candy and nuts which had been
bought and carefully divided by order of Supcrln-
tendent Jones were distributed 10 the cottages.
number of ex-pupils of the Home now in its
employ and these were all kindly remembered by
the G AR
Besides the distinguished visitors we have men,
III. l.. Anderson, Chief mastering Officer, and Com
rade Bagey, with their wives, were present and
took q lively interest in the exercises. At
o'clock Christmas morning the military companies
of the Home were drilled in presence of visitors,
who manifested the greatest interest At 10 o'clock
the guests left the Home we'll satisfied, and carry
ing with them the gratitude of many glad hearts,
An Ex-Pupi Xenia, o.
RESPONSE OF THE w.R.C.
The Canton Repository, in the following,
shows how substantial was the response of the
Ohio Corps to the call of Mrs. Department
President Myers for Christmas gifts for the 63O
orphans at the Ohio Home:
During the past week box after box has arrived,
showing that the loyal women of the Relief Corps
throughout the State appreciate the great good