The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-12-20
CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments.
IF NOT, WHY NOT?


A member of Circle l. Ladies' G. r., San Jose,
CAL commenting on the recent letter from a sister
member from that State says that the Ladies'
GAR. are ready to cooperate with the W.R.C in
charity work, but are not ready or willing to be-
come absorbed in the WR.C., and adds The
Masons have their Eastern Star, the Odd Fellows
their Rebeccas, and one, not a relative, seeks to
enter therein. Why, then, should not the Grand
Army have its Ladies of the Grand Army? II is
perfectly right and proper they should"
To the question of our correspondent we can only
reply as to what the Grand Army has done, not
what it might do. 1t has recognized its official
auxiliary band Of helpers known as the Won
ans Relief Corps Ithas not in official capacity
recognized any other band of women That ought
to settle the matter
TRUE CHARITY.
How refreshing it is to hear from those who have
joined the W.R.C. for the sole purpose of aiding
and assisting unfortunate comrades and advancing
the best interests of the Union defenders regard
less of race, caste, social condition. One of
Department Inspectors, a grand, a lofty character
writes as follows Among some find mistaken
conception of the object of the Woman's Relief
Corps They forget they are organized solely to
help the Grand Army, and some to consider
it an organization of women, independent arrang
ing matters Just TO suit their own comfort, wishes
and glory. l have one Corps in mind, the Presi-
dent of which orders things solely to please herself
and will not have joint meetings and receptions
with the Post, because forsooth, some of the COM
rades are not to her liking socially, and in har-
mony with her temperance principles. told her,
as she privately talked with me- that it is the prin-
cipe not the man, that the blue coat represents;
and while Knight deplore the faults of an inien-
perate soldier 1 would give him my hand every
time, rags, whisky and all"
This comes from a woman who had no near rela-
tives in the army, and reflects the pride and glory
of the W.R.C. in true charity work.
sIGHTLEss SCARS.
He bears no wounds on each shapely limb,
No scar on his sun-brown cheek,
The crash of the bullets have left to him
No tremor of nerves grown weak;
And yet he has lost, o, God, how much
OF all that is dear to man =
The strength to say " No - to the tempters touch
And the will to arise from his ban.
- He fought for the fagl" Aye, fought with his
Though boy with beardless face,
And his breath aname as he sprang to the
fight,
Though his lips wore nameless grace
! Who saw him are sure he would freely have given
His life for his country's veal
| He sprang to the breach when the line was riven,
AS if with his body to heal.
| None ever beheld his back to the foe,
/ None heard complaint or a sigh;
| He was glad he could march with the serred row,
He was glad he could dare to die
| But the heat and the cold, and the hunger and
| thirst,
! They warred with the shot and SHE'LL
| And the lad found the balm in the cup accursed
For the woes of a wider hell
Friend, give him hand he has given for you
The whole that man can give
Who yet must toll and yet must do
! What little he may to live;
He laid his hopes of lifetime down
| When he donned the sword that day,
! And put off the students cap and gown
To follow the troops away.
| You stood heaping gold in the marlSet-place;
| He sealed to the peaks Of war;
Now pause as you look in his war-worn face,
| And say whose the honors are!
| And give him a hand as he gropes alone
| A hand that is warm and true
| As God who sits on His judgment throne,
Shall judge betwixt him and you.
Kate Brownlee Sherwood.
RECOMMENDATIONS.
| The following are recommendations from the adj.
dress of Emma 5. Hampton, National President, at
| sixth National Convention:
]. Realizing the imprudenee, and that real in
Jury has arisen from the practice of Corps balloting
| for and initiating candidates the same day, /
| would recommend that this be allowed only by
| dispensation and that page 6, Sec. g, Art. III,
| Chap. H. of Revised Rules and Regulations, the
| first sentence read follows: Each applicant,
upon her election shall be at notified in writ
ing, and, on presenting herself for membership at
subsequent meeting, shall be properly initiated
| 2 That the clause where dues of Corps mem bers
are allowed be remitted be stricken out of Rules
and Regulations, the application of this practice
in our Order is wholly unlike that of the Grand
| Army, from which it is taken
| g. That to promote uniformity in the various
Il q i'm m and
Regulations, that admission fee OF charter mem.