The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-11-08
PAST NATIONAL PRFsTDFyT.

DEAR TRIBUNE But for physical debility attend
ant upon the weeks since Convention would have
publicly acknowledged my appreciation Of the
many and great Eiuduesses shown me at that time
as the executive headof our great Order and now
to this debt of gratitude is added maHy fresh aud
oHreturniug Kindness, for during the weeks or
bodily pain and prostration following that event,
while waiting for the strength that returns bBt
slowly, each day has been cheered and made more
enduTable by letters received from all quarters
bearing words of appreciation, sympathy and con-
graduation As 1t has been Impossible TO reply To
all, wish through these columns 10 acknowledge
them until each may receive personal attention.
have often wondered was It the sauCtily of our
mission that enlisted for 10 many noble and uu-
selfish advocates and now. in the quiet home LOOK
ing back over the past months and recalling the
beautiful spirit with which the officers of each De-
partment took up their duties, with q determined
effort TO advance good work in n good and per-
feet manner, ] am lost in admiration of women
VINO, moved by the great magnetic power Of love,
marched side by side and hand in hand with us
like one great family with mutual interest.
1hey shared our burdens and horrors, lghtened
labor by words of encouragement and kindly sug-
gestious, welcome by ready obedience TO con-
stitutional authority and prompt performance of
official duties. The sweetest and most perfect
harmony existed between each Department and
National Headquarters the entire year, and it
most gratifying 10 note the evident and growing
desire to excel not one another, but in conformity
to perfect discipline and adherence to the law
wherein lies one great secret Of our wonderful adj
vancenent.
Women thus associated in noble and unselfsh
purpose can but be personally benefited, and will
gradually rise to still higher and broader plane of
moral and intellectual worth, thereby elevatugou
cause to q corresponding degree OF dignity and
tnement. Words can lily express the feelings that
bound me to my co-wOrkers and when at sixth
National Convention, weary and worn by excess
i've work / stood before them, felt as never be-
fore the power that lies in mutual confidence
aud united action, and the true love OF truer
hearts there found expression in grateful sympa-
thy, loyal support and hearty Endorsement of all
had done This rich recompense will be cherished
as most precious gift bearing evidence of the
principles we espouse, and the memory of good
deeds done and works kindly spoken will be a
of nile FrYFl 3iph will HslVv
abundant and fond reeolleetons of the year that
has gone.
Accompanying many letters received are faces
OF the writers, and asking an exchange, which viii
be cheerfuly given when time and strength per-
NIT. Although these are already photographed on
the tablet OF the mind, IT VIII IN days to come be
great pleasure to spend hour in visiting with
the " Home Circle" as have named my valued
collection.
Numerous requests have come from both COM
rades and members of the w re. for copies of
Presidents address; but, much as / regret it, am
obliged to say there none remaining to send.
Duly approaching ali kindness and courtesy ex-
tended during my official year. am ever, faith
full in f., G. and L.-Emma stark Hampton.
A GAR. LADY FOR UNION.
DEAR TRIBUNE: saw in the paper a short letter
from member of the Ladies of the GAR. Now,
wish to speak word on that subject. / have be-
longed to that Order two years, and have studied
and studied what was best to be said. / FOR
peace and union with the " re, though "a vet
Grams wife. | nave belonged the church %
years, and that Is a sign work FOR peace. Now, IL
we organized to exclude disturbing clement,
with the idea that wives, sisters, mothers, etc,
could not be of that class; but we 10 exclude sol
dleFs wives, sisters and mothers who are not OF
good moral character.
We ladies in town, in choosing the Ladies of the
GAR Society, inquired I5-this tine Relief Corus9
Why not2 Tie answer came, " Not exactly; that
IS, like other lady lodges" II has taken two
years to decide why the " 20. IS not like other
like all other lodges but one word ia its name
changed IT'S whole course and that word was orig
inaliy misinterpreted. refer 10 the middle word
II meant re!let IN military tactics, and not, as It
was taken to mean, relief in charitable sense.
This misinterpretation caused it thus to become
charitable Order, devoted surely to the GA R., but
not q component portion of the GAR
All hail. charity and the W.RC.i / would like
to be member of that Order that basis. Further
proof of my explanation is in the fact that first
name, Loyal Ladies' League was also nIsiu-
teFpreted and not essentially significant, and we
had to say " GAR to get safe at home. As I have
spoken correctly, peacefully, eharitsoy aud intel
Jgently, / hope all members of ". re. and
L.G. Ar. will understand themselves and shake
bands.-A California GAR Lady.
DEPARTMENT OF NEW YORK.
DEAR TRBUNE; As the time for the usual Fall
inspection drew near, the ladies of VIM. Richard
son W.R.G., No. 80, Department of New York,
conceived the idea that ii would be very pleasant
to have the Department President Mrs. Sarah c.
Mink and Past Department President, Mrs. Sarah
z. Nichols, present during the services. Mrs.
Nichols has otiiciated many times IustitutiHg,
inspecting and Installing Officer for the Corps
during the three years OF It's existence that the
ladies know her worth. With nearly all, however.
it was the first occasion of seeing Mrs. Mink but
her kindly bearing and gentle dignity all hearts
from the rst consequently, with two such visitors
each member became full of interest for the usual
inspection services, and entered iGto all the cereo-
MES with evident pleasure.
The Corps President 1frs. Ellen NJ. Putnam has
been engaged in school work teacher and De-
partnent Frinclpai Tor - years, consequently she
has a strong belief IN the benefits of discipline
The Corps was declared by both ladies the . best
disciplined Corps in the Department" and Mrs
Faalsl rad
it her intention 10 report the Corps par excel
fence" The only interruptions occurring during
the entire business when Mrs Nichols in
srueted the Corps according 10 The newer code mod
itied at Columbus, when Mrs Mink rose 10 com
piiment the Corps for specially good proceed
ing, as when a ballot was taken Tor acandldate 1t
would hardly be interesting 10 enter into full details
of the afternoon services they necessarily varied
little from the order Of business pursued by all
Corps. Both ladies' however, expressed at the
close OF the session their pleasure in having wit
messed SO orderly and hearty an execution of the
Ritual exercises. As the Post, with which the
Corps s specially associated and all friends OF the
Corps had been invited to attend an informal re-
eeption IN the Corps rooms IN the evening to meet
the visiting olheers, tile members stald only to
greet the two ladies, then dispersed to in the
evening.
For the reception in the evening the Confer
ence Committees from both Post and Corps had
arranged short informal program, somewhat as
follows:
An opening address by Rev. w. s Hubben
Chaplain uf Bidwell-WiIkesou Post, No. 9, who,
with his usual blending Of the serious and the hui
mOfOuS, stirred All hearts, anu delighted the
rades particularly; very tiue address by City Au-
ditor Anselm J. smith, whose empty sleeve was
II possible even more eloquent than bis words
even though lie IS styled by all the comrades
our stlver-tongued orator.; short addresses by
Commander Calkins, of Chaplin Post, No ? Com
mander Stowits, of Bidwell- Wilkeson Post No 9
and Past Commander Leroy ;. Oatman
lhterspersed with these addresses was a song hv
Comrade chatham, Adutant of VIM. Richardson
Post, The song That Touched My Heart -; the
singing of e" Star Spangled Banner by Miss Camp
bell; song by Mr. Andrew Edstrom and recta-
tons by two children, pupils of Mrs. Putnam
These children, Lille Hudson and Percy Waltz
both gave their Rotations with vim and evident
enjoyment, as 10 cause all the comrades TO applaud
SO vigorously that they returned with smiling
faces to speak another piece
Mrs. Putnam, Corps President then presented a
picture of William Richardson for whom the Post
is named given by Mr.. and Mrs. Richardson to the
Post. 1t was accepted, in the Of the Post by
DIR. j. Nj. Grosvenor, Surgeon. In closing. Mrs
Mink and Mrs Nichols called upon for a
short address. Owing to the late hour, each spoke
but briefly, and touched upon the work of Relief
Corps. In response to request for an address by
the Corps President, Mrs. Putnam gave, in herown
pleasing manner, one of jack Crawf ord's poems
Il was indeed pleasant gathering aud an impress
siVe scene rs well. Upon the rostrtul were seated
the three iades-Mrs. Putnam in the center Mrs
Mink at her right and Mrs. Nichols at her left
Ranged at right and left of the rostrum were Com
manders Leroy ) Oatman, NJ NJ Drake Geo w
Vaughn John ID. Leib, while the room was com
iortably filled with comrades from various Posts
the members of the Corps aud their friends Alto
gether It was pleasant social evening, thorouphIv
enjoyed by ali present and ACCOMPLISHING much