The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-13
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS--NOteS from the Departments.

HEADQUARTERS WoMtN's RELIEF CORPS,
BOsTOS. Mass.
SARAH f. FULLER National President
ELEANOR ID. WHEELER. National Secretary.
HEADQUARTERS WoMAE's RELIEF CORPS,
AUXILIARY TO THE GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.
BosToS, Mass. April %, 1886
General Orders, No. Z.
In compliance with the Rules and Regulations OF
the Noman's Relief Corps. which ordains the OBJ
servance of Memorial Day, and in conformity to
General Orders, No. l6, OF :. s. Burdett Com
mander-in- Chief Of the Grand Army Of the Re-
public, which this year names May 81 as the date,
except In those States that have otherwise ordered
by legal enactment, the members of our Order are
hereby enjoined TO render all possible aid and assist
ance TO the comrades of the Grand Army in the
proper observance and services OF that day.
Let us each remember our solemn obligation to
perpetuate the memory of our heroic dead, and to
inculcate lessons OF patriotism and love OF country
among our children and in the communities In
which we live" Let the presence ofwoman in every
churclyard, city, town or village on that day, tell
of our loyalty and undergraduates of the brave
boys who wore the blue. May we who are aux
Hilary TO the soldiers living do well our part to keep
the memory of the fallen fresh and green, and as
we bend above the lonely grave to plant a flower
or shed the tear Of remembrance, teach the chill
Sren lessons they may not forget.
All over our broad land. from Maine to California,
are scattered the graves of our Union Dead" and
wherever "A soldiers grave, there let the fragrant
blossoms and bright flowers Of the glad Springtime
be strewn; but let us remember as we gather
around those graves, that there are hundreds OF
| graves beneath the blue waters of the Atlantic,
| or In the harbors and bays Of the South. beside
brave sailor boys who fell with Farragut, other
| of our naval heroes. may we shed the silent tear
and breathe prayer of thankfulness TO heaven
that there were men, soldiers and sailors who for
| their country's sake were willing to die, if so be,
| that the Nation might live.
The beautiful and appropriate custom, so happily
inaugurated last year, OF preparing a mound or
monument in memory of our ;" Unknown Dead, -
and those who sleep on Southern battleiieds or In
] the National Cemeteries. we trust will be con-
tinued as long our Order exists. To cover these
mounds with flowers, let ask the children TO
/ gather the wild flowers OF the fields woods that
| they too may share in the sweet, sad service OF
/ this holy day.
Brave, loyal women followed our armies to the
front, and on the field, in camp or in hospital,
ministered with loving hands TO the sick and dy-
ing, and for them let bring fragrant Offer
ings in grateful recognition ofther patriotic service
Death has also entered the ranks Of the Relief
Corps, and taken from numbers those who
were ever ready to answer the call for aid, and
above them let US place tho immortelles OF our
| fraternity.
| Let there be no needless expense in display bu,
with solemn and reverent spirit let Us unite 10
keep the day sacred and hallowed to all.
| Corps ChaplaiDs will make prompt returns on
the Memorial Day blanks to the Department Chap
lain. who will consolidate the same, and forward
without delay to the National Chaplain, to enable
that officer TO make full and complete returns tc
| National Convention.
BY command of National President, SARAH z
FULLER.
4
DEPARTMENT OF OHIO.
In her second annual address, Mrs Lottie l.
| Myers the retiring Department President, thus
| sums up the grand work accomplished by the
| women OF Ohio. 1t Is a magnificent showing. and
credtable alike to those at the helm and those al
| the oar. The recommendations were all carried out
and $500 of the accrued funds diverted to establish
| Department relief fund: "On Jan. %, 1884, thi:
Department was organized at GAINESVILLE, embracing
| 10 Corps and a membership Of 469 with not dol
lar In the treasury We close the present term with
proximating 5000. increase during the present
term Of 50 Corps and SSl members and q 5o3O5 II
| the treasury.
1.-THE condition Of our finances, notwithstanding
the reduction In the annual per capita tax from y
TO 40 cents ordered at the last Convention and the
largely-increased expenditures attending the rapid
growth of the Order Is certainly most gratifying.
| In accordance with the instructions OF the las
Convention, $500 United States per cent. bonC
| premium and including accrued interest, is wortl
S63l.10. There has been received from all sources
the sum of s. 1892, and the expenditures amount
to 50 s7l50 leaving balance on hand Of 81 ,30333
| TO which must be added the value Of u. s. bond al
ready referred to, making 81 ,93iS3 rs the presen
avails OF the Department. In this connection II Il
proper that call attention 10 the order adopted b.
| the Board OF Directors at their meeting at Spring
field in August last providing for the setting apar
% Per ocnl- oi eno me- cce,P'S % tho pePaE'ueh
| as Department relief fund. commend TO you
consideration the matter Of rendering this n per
manent feature OF our work the fixing of thu
amount TO be annually devoted thereto and tn
regulations under which the fund so formed ma,
be expended. Believing that the accumulation o
a permanent fund In excess Of what may be neces
sary TO meet the legitimate expenses of the Depart
ment inexpedient, and that the money thus save
can be more effectualy used by the local Corps In
their home relief work, recommend a furthe
reduction Of the annual per capita tax from 40 to
cents
1.-THE Secretary's report shows that the expendi
relief by the several Corps during the tern
amount TO S. 2jss2 I'm addition TO which there ma
been turned over TO the Posts to which they wer
auxiliary the sum Of s., 1850 and there is cash OF
hand for relief purposes S2,775.d. showing gTant
aggregate for the term of sll 3I5.5I gathered an,
discussed as required for purposes Of relief. How
many hearts have been eheered and otherwis
desolate homes frightened by the timely ministra
tions OF cur humane and patriotic sisters through
out the Department with the aid of this compare
lively insignificant sum OF money, the recording
angel alone could reveal. But IL Is sufficient for u
10 know that they have done what they could
and leave results 10 Him who notes the falling OF
sparrow and declares that even cup of cold waite
unselishly given shall not pass unrewarded."
OHIO SOLDIERS AND SAILORS ORPHANS HoMF
OF the Soldiers and Sailors Orphans Home, .
dear 10 the hearts Of the GAR. and W.RC.. w
have the following. The Ohio Convention furthe
emphasized their interest by the appointment OF
committee TO cooperate with the Superintendent
of the Home In securing suitable homes for tn
chiden when discharged from the Home.
In General Orders. No IL, a call was made o.
the ladies OF the several Corps Throughout. the DE
partment for contributions TO the Soldiers and Sail
ors Orphans Home Christmas fund. which was re
sponded to with the promptness and liberality .
characteristic Of ali the work of the Corps Wit
the aid thus secured the Christmas Of 1885 rem
dered one Of the events never TO be forgotten 4
the history Of the Home. II was indeed an occasio
OF great enjoyment to those who administered a
well as the little ones who received your benefaC
tons"
DEPARTMENT OF MICHIGAN.
DEAR TRIBUNE: The third annual Convention O
the Department OF Michigan was held In Jack ou
April Il and p, with goody representation of tn
delegates from the various Corps throughout ia
State.
The address Of the Department President, Emm
s. Hampton. WAS most eloquent and complet.
showing her thorough understanding of the work
ings OF the organization and comprehension OF Ia
necessities Of n successful administration. toxic
OF its merits its acceptance and adoption in a
It's detail. At the close Of its reading a beautifr
basket Of flowers was presented her by Sarah ). {
Plummer, In behalf Of the Convention, closing wit
the words, To the good and true present thes
flowers"
The Department of Michigan was organize
April 2, 1884, with 10 Corps and 800 members. TIL
second annual Convention was held In East Sag
nav, Feb. III, 1885 with roll of 81 Corps and Ot
I members, gain OF Il Corps and 100 member
During the administration just closed there hay
been organized 81 Corps, with a membership {
2 Of IS Corps with 1854 members. a gain of ,4(
! | members.
Mrs. Hampton proved her devotion by the Civ
Ing Of her entire time to the work without recon
pense, save the results Of her labor She trayele
1906 miles In the interest of the Order at a cost
the Department Of only S58Sl. 10 which IL the TOT
| OF inspection be added. the amount would be 81
!, miles, at total expense of Sass She also OF
!. ganized and instructed II Corps installing the
officers, and personally visited IS Corps Amour
= In charity. VI $3.50; amount turned to Post
$500. The various reports read were very intei
= esting and creditable.
For the evening 2lst. an invitation TO n Campfr
y / A.