The National tribune., 1888-02-02
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
ters---NOteS from the Departments.
Resume of National Doiugs-Mrs Battels, of Ohio,
HOnored-All Along the Line-Annual ConveR-
NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS,
DE.rpInr Mich Ion OS

ilElRIOIs A1iCh,s Jan. 1895. J
DEAR TRIBUNE Christmas came and found
all at National Headquarters busy as bees. New
Years came and has gone, and still we sit at
our desks early and late, and find no time for
holiday festivities The recommendation of
the Past National Secretary, Nellie G. Backus,
which was favorably considered by the fifth
National Convention, together with the act
of Convention concerning revision has opened
up work the immensity of which can only
be understood by those performing it. Our
Order is no longer child, and every year
are added to our numbers hundreds of women
with broad, clear intellects and progressive
views. These women are standard bearers, and
imbued with the magic inspiration that is
found in no other organization, because of its
one grand, though transient object. This Or
der has proven itself an unprecedented educa-
tor, and experience teaches that we must con-
stantly and rapidly improve and perfect our
system of labor, that our growth may be health
full.
Inspection was the first univeral work after
the change of administration The expense at
tending the inspection of more than ], 800 Corps
must necessarily be great however shrewdly
managed, and our first thought was how TO
derive the best results to Corps from the
amount of money and time spent 1t was
found necessary to put ont entirely new blanks
to meet advanced requirements and instruc-
tiOns to accompany them, that the work could
alike beneficial. These blanks met a cordial
reception, and many letters have been received
at these Headquarters thanking US for the help
rendered Departments thereby.
| Secretarys and Treasurer's blanks, both
Corps and Department have also been thor
| oughly revised, and would have been sent out
last quarter but for the large amount of old
| blanks in stock, and as the next quarter new
| officers would be in their chairs, we concluded
| to use the old ones until the new year began.
! Our experience in Corps and Department work
| has taught US that too much thought and care
| cannot be given to make these blanks so simple
| that mistakes cannot be made.
| Credentials for conventions both Depart
ment and National having been dispensed
! WIth election returns, Corps and Department,
/ have been carefully revised and made to con-
J form to Rules and Regulations, and blanks for
| Departments will be in the hands of Depart
/ ment Presidents before Conventions.
| The work on blanks, together with the re-
| vision of Rules and Regulations and the Ritual,
| has required weeks OF careful research and pa
! tient study; also, constant comparison, lest
while we harmonized on one point we conflict
| ed on another. 1t was soon found that a hur-
ried or partial revision would only add to the
many complications already existing in our
| printed matter, and thorough analysis and
| comparison of every subject and point under
consideration must be had, to present to the
organization works as correct and improved
as possible under restricted authority. As the
! work advances and we get deeper into it, it
/ grows more interesting, and we watch for daily
developments, whereby symmetry, grace, or
| beauty are made possible. Many ideas and
| suggestions have been CLEANED from correspond
encereceiyed from thinking interested women,
and we gladly welcome any information or
assistance that may help in perfectng the
| great work, no matter from what source it may
| be derived.
/ Our great endeavor has been to make all
| points so simple and plain that they can only
be construed in one way and to mean only one
| thing. Can this be accomplished it Will
! save to National and Department officers an
astonishing amount of letter-writing. We are
/ constantly in receipt of letters asking what
such asecton in such chapter means. Such let
ters convince US of two facts: One, the desire tC
conform to proper authority, and the other, the
! great necessity of having our authority proper
/ and plain, meaning what it says, and always
meaning the same wherever found. We hope
every member of the Order viii carefully study
the new Rules and Regulations which were
| issued Jan. / 4; also, to the books used by Corp;
| Secretary and Treasurer. The names on al
issued hereafter will be as designated in the
Rules and Regulations. General Order files are
a necessity, and are now ready for use, conve
niently arranged for preserving Department
| aud National General Orders separately. The
new Rituals are also being Issued, and it il
hoped Department Presidents will at their Con
ventions exemplfy the work as therein found
for the benefit of Corps officers.
From almost every quarter comes informa
tion of joint installations and pleasant evening
entertainments each telling its own sweet story
of mutual confidence and harmony, which il
the harbnger of prosperity and success.
The National President has accepted an in
vitation to the Department Convention o
| Massachusetts,, and hopes to be able to visi
other Departments in the New England States
WOLVERINE.