The National tribune., 1888-06-07
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GIeanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOtes from the Departments.

HEADQ'Rs WoMAN's RELIEF CoRPs,
AUXILIARY TO THE GAR,
DETROIT, Mich, May %, 1888.
Among the numerous visitors at National
Headquarters during the past week it has given
us much pleasure to welcome Mrs. Louise II.
Robbins Department President of Michigan,
and her able Department Treasurer, Mrs. Phoebe
Curtis, both of Adrian; also, Mrs. Nancy Irwin,
of Wayne The former came bringing words
of cheer, and assured US a number of Corps
viii be added to their roster in the near future.
In some way, presumably typographical
error, the writer was made TO say short time
since that the work was going gradually on"
The manuscript read "grandly on, and we
would reiteTate the statement, for there has
been remarkable increase in members and
large amount of relief work done during the
quarter Just passed.
We are pleased to learn that School for In
struction was held at Springfield, ILL.,, not long
since, every Corps in the Department being
urged to send, If possible, one or more repre-
sentatives. We are informed that other De-
partments are considering similar plans.
If each Department would divide its terri.
tory into districts, arrange for gathering to-
gether of its Corps at some convenient point IN
each section, and send to that meeting a thor
oughly competent instructor, great good and
from Those in charge should receive from De-
partment officers special previous instruction,
SO there might be uniformity throughout.
The National President, Mrs. Hampton, left
home on the evening of the 9th to attend
Grand Army Reunion at Angola Ind, having
been repeatedly urged to be present From
there she viii 20 to South Bend, same State, 10
install Mrs Loretta j. Gorsuch, Past Depart
ment President, as National Inspector, in place
OF Mrs. Louise Ii. Brown of Olatha. Kan, re-
signed; the latter having been elected Treas
urer of the Department Of Kansas.
The following letter, received by the Ma
tional President from Gen. Edgar Allan, of
Richmond, Va, Past J.V. Gin Chief, shows the
response that had been made up to that date
towards the fund TO be expended in flowers for
decorating the graves of the 100000 Union sol.
diers who lie buried on the battIefelds around
aud in the cemeteries of that city:
Your very kind letter of the 17th inclosing $40
from your Corps and 81 from OswegO, Pa, duyre-
ceiYed. pause Just q moment III the midst of an
important trial, of winch this is the eighth day, to
| tender you our deep gratitude for the noble and
generous action of your National organization as
well for the liberal responses which have come
from subordinate Corps to aid Us in our labor of
loyalty aud love on the Both of this month We
have received some 800 from your organization,
and after Memorial Day / will forward to you
official report of all such contributions received
me, III order that your noble organization may have
upon its records perpetual memorial, and will
write you further when the present pressure Of
business Is at an end.
We trust the amount above specified was
greatly augmented by the total receipts.
WoLvERINE.
TRUE MISSION OF THE RELIEF CORPS.
By Kate Brot0ntee Sherwood
Again and again il seems necessary to emphasize
the fact that the chief end and aim Of the Woman 5
Relief Corps is the work of relief every member
pedging herself at initiation to use her best efforts
to ameiiorate the condition Of needy Union yeter-
ans and their families. This does not mean aims
giving, else the poorhouses enough for chat.
/ II sympathy, heI ping hand, encourage
! ment employment; education for the boys and
| girls lift toward an honorable livelihood,
/ And yet in face of all this we constantly hear Of
/ Corps that have relief work to do" My dear
/ sisters, turn 10 page 1 of Rules and Regulations
/ and what do you lind there?
This Association shall be known as the Wo-
/ man Relief Corps, auxiliary TO the Grand Army
! OF the Republic
OBJECTS.
81. To specially aid and assist the Grand Army of
/ the Republic ard to perpetuate the memory of their
/ heroic dead.
- Toassist such Union veterans as need our help
1 and protection, and TO extend needful aid TO their
widows and orphans. To find them homes and
/ employment, and assure them of sympathy and
/ friends. To cherish and emulate the deeds Of our
army nurses, and of ali loyal women who rendered
loving service to their country In her hour of peril
3. To nculcate lessons of patriotism and love Of
country among children and in the communi-
ties in which we live; 10 maintain true allegiance
to the United States of America to diseountenance
whatever tends to weaken loyalty and TO encourage
the spead OF universal liberty and equal rights TO
| all men"
Turn TO the specifications of Art IA, Chap. 5, and
! what do you find there?
relieffund for the assistance of needy soldiers
sailors and marines and their families, and widows
and orphans of deceased soldiers, sailors and
marines, shall be established by tue several Corps,
and any donations to this fund shall be held sacred
for such purpose.
"A relieffund shall be established by each Depart
| ment Convention to be disbursed by order OF the
Department President, through the regular chan
neis relief fund shall be established by the Ma
uonal Convention, to be similarly dispensed. De-
partment and National funds may be applied to
cases not covered by subordinate Corps"
Observe this point: A relieffund shall be estab-
lishedh Not may, but shalt there is alternative.
Therefore 1t becomes the duty of every Relief Corps
TO work for the establishment, maintenance and
distribution of relief fund, to be applied n III
work at homel, ~ III work throughout the State
and Nation, that we may thereby carry out or
VOWS to encourage the spread OF universal liberty
and equal rights to all men," Happily we have a
case point indicating some of the many needs at
hand, and how a Corps is blessed and prospered in
meeting them VIII not other Corps 20 and do
likewise?
GRANT MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY.
George III. Thomas Corps, Cincinnati. o. has
been making greater effort than before this
year TO place the work of the Relief Corps squarey
before the public and Il natural result has
| largely increased its membership and interest
The third successful entertainment of 1888 has been
given for the purpose of maintaining and educating
the orphan son of Il Tennessee Union soldier in
the Grant Memorial University of Athens Tenn.
Some weeks since a gentleman of Tennessee de-
lvered Il lecture education in Tennessee, Felat-
ing many incidents of hardships endured and diff
culties overcome by those thiTstng for the
knowledge that comes from above; of lads walking
/ over the mountains, 30, 40, and even 50 miles,
carrying their shoes on their arms, that they should
not be quite out before their destination wa.
reached; then when reaching the place only TO find
there was not dollar to- spare in their behalf and
nothing left but to trudge back again.
The Grant Memorial University is so called be-
cause the first endowment money given by the
great Captain of War and Peace. OF the 60 Posts
IN Tennessee each is entitled to scholarship; but
boys cannot study empty stomach5, and free
tuition must be supplemented by a little of the
wherewithall, never very plentiful in East Ten
nessee.
These points having been presented to Mrs
Lydia >. Morrison Past Department Counselor Of
Ohio and First President of the Corps she started
the good project by contributing 500 and then laiC
the matter before the Corps, when the Good Father
prompted them, unanimously, to give the enter
tainment named for the benefit OF some soldier boy
Another streak of sunshine came with the bene
fit night, when Mr.. Bartlett of Bartlett's Com
mercal College, Cincinnati, said he wanted to per
form his share toward educating the soldier boys
whereupon he presented scholarship in his Gel
ebrated business institute of the oldest in tbs
country, dating back to 1885.
Department Gleanings.
DEPARTMENT OF INDIANA
DEAR TRIBUNE: Mai. Robert Anderson Corps
No A, indianapolis, had delightful meeting MAY
| II The DenarfInant President Agnes Hit am