The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-27
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GIeaningS from National Headquar-
terS---NOtes from the Departments.
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS.

NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS.
The Editor calls special attention to the prae-
teal counsel and advice of the National Presi-
dent, given in the statement which follows,
of W.R.C. work for the quarter ending Sept.
so. If every member of the Order would re-
member that it takes the units to make the tens,
the hundreds or the thousands, cases of indi-
vidual shortcomings would be less frequent and
the aggregate much more satisfactory:
NATIONAL H'DQ'Rs WoNAN's RELIEF CORPS,
AUXILIARY TO THE GAR,
VIRoQUA, Wis, Dec. 10, 1888. }
EDITOR TRIBUNE: The quarterly statements OF
National Secretary and Treasurer are all made up
except from four detached Corps in the South, and
1t is feared that some of these may have ceased to
exist on account of the yellow fever. The amount
expended in charity is SS,87506; turned over to
Posts, 50, 94S46. The membership shows but slight
gains over last quarters reports, because so many
Corps suspended for delinquent reports This
should not be. Every Corps in every Department
should have not only their standing at heart,
but should also remember that the standing of their
Department depends somewhat upon the prompt
ness with which the several Corps make their
quarterly reports.
Corps may think that because they have but few
members, and cannot do much, their reports viii
not make any difference, but every Corps organi-
cation counts one-no more less-in the De-
partment reports, whether it be the largest or
smallest. Look to it, Corps Presidents. Let us
If every Corps cannot be reported promptly this
quarter.
The inspection has been promptly done gener-
ally, although in some Departments the time has
been extended into December; the election and
excitement consequent upon the campaign having
delayed the work in some States during the first
part of November.
Headquarters is glad to report another State rep
resented in Relief Corps organization Georgia
having organized W.R.C. No l at Tallapoosa.
Supplies have also been issued for No. at Atlanta.
With these two fine Corps start, and the GAR.
interested in the work. the Order bids fair to pros
per in Georgia.
Tie Department of Tennessee and Georgia,
GAR, is working for the formation of Corps, re-
porting the W.R.C great help to them, and
desires to extend its lines as well those of the
GAR.
All decisions made by the Past National President
can only be reversed by action of the National
Convention. They cannot come before me for a
review of any case, if the decisions were not
presented to the Convention, and it would save
much time and trouble if Corps and Departments
would understand this matter of appeals
WORK OF RELIEF.
This seems to be busy month with the Relief
Corps all along the line; so many report fairs
bazaars, and what not, to fill the relief funds for
ing ourselves for the good of others viii bring not
alone the full purse we hope for, but good to the
giyers more than hundredfold. An increase of
practical business knowledge, such as one gains by
doing the business of the Relief Corps thoroughly
is not to be overlooked in the counting up of the
gains for the year. General orders of the different
Department Presidents show that all have at heart
the selecting of the best persons for Corps officers
the coming year. and no member should accept an
yNTfsna che .-uI., tba
rests the foundation of this Order-Charity Rusk
Craig National President.
WHAT Is RELIEF WORK.
Strange as it may seem, this question often comes
TO the Editor, not only from persons not members
of the Order, but from those who give the work so
little attention that they scarcely know for what
they are organized. No better answer can be given
than is found in the following extract from report
made before a meeting of the Toledo Woman's
Benevolent Union by Jennie r. GrifTen, Secretary
of Forsyth Corps No. l, Toledo, o.:
THE Relief Committee is presided over by a
Chairman, with Sub Chairman in each ward,
| who visits each known case often a
week, and many times more as the case requires.
The committee personally and thoroughly inyesti-
gates all cases, and keeps a strict account of
! money expended. The Chairman of Relief holds q
meeting once q month, at which each member of
/ her committee reports the number of visits made
! and gives a short sketch of her work during the
month"; presents her bill contracted for the amount
expended in relief, reports cases she may
| know of, and any item that bears directly upon re-
/ lief work The great aim of the Relief Committee
is TO contribute TO the necessities of the needy be-
fore they shall have become reduced to the neces-
| sity of asking for assistance One clause of our
Constitution reads: To assist such Union veterans
as need our help and protection, and To extend
needful aid to their widows and orphans; to find
them homes and employment and assure them OF
! sympathy and help
so, when soldier or his family are sick, our
place is there. Sympathy first then, if necessary,
| temporal assistance clothing, food, employment.
| If woman is left widow, first is to as
! sst her in keeping her family together and her
children in school. If she is worthy we assume
the rent, provide the groceries, shoes and cloth
ing for the children, that they may be presentable
! at school! If she is unworthy, we have the little
ones washed and clothed and placed in private
| homes, or the institutions provided by the State
We, indeed, sometimes contribute to the vicious
and improvident, but we do 1t knowingly, feeling
that we can turn away. But in all such cases
our purpose is To save the innocent. In no case is
there indiscriminate alms-glVing, which we look
! upon premium upon vice.
! :" To summarize: The work of the W.R.C. is tC
elevate and educate to preserve the selErespect OF
| the men, women and children assisted to stimu
late honest industry, and to employ all means al
our command to rescue soldiers families from the
depths of poverty, aud make them strong men
| tally, morally and spiritually for the battles wageC
by the poor in the hard conflict of life, and in al
things endeavor TO maintain the fraternity thai
binds US together sisters the charity that boast
eth not itself, and the loyalty that knows NJ
change"
NATIONAL PENSION AND RELIEF
Mrs. Gertie NJ. Rogers, Past Department Presi
dent of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis, has beer
made Secretary of the National Pension and Relic
Committee Mrs. Rogers is engaged in maxim,
up a carefully list of army nurses, in orde
to lay their cases before Congress with a view t.
pushing their claims for pensions, so long de
layed. From upwards of 100 names received, i
appears that the great majority are between til,
ages of 60 and 20 in many cases helpless and in so
need of aid All interested in such cases shoulC
look up the facts and forward to Mrs. Rogers
Kate g. Sherwood, Chairman Committee
Department Gleanings.
DEPARTMENT OF MAINE
| DEAR TRIBUNE: The work of inspection in thu
Department of Maine concluded Nov so th
entire work being done by the Department. In