The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1888-03-29
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
GleaningS from National HeadQuar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments.
NATIONAL HEADQ'Rs WOMAN's RELIEF
CORPS, AUXILIARY TO THE GAR,
DETROIT MICH, March %, 1888

CORPS, AUXILIARY TO THE G.A.R., 7
DETROIT, MICH, March D. 1888
Early Monday morning, Feb IS, found the
National Secretary, Mrs. A. Cheney, on tour
of inspection, boarding westbOund train, with
South Bend, Ind as point of destination. Ar
irving she found Loretta J. GOrsuch, the intel
ligent and estimable President of the North
Bend Division of Indiana WR.C., in waiting,
who greeted and entertained her with such
heartiness and hospitality that the feeling of
being among strangers was at once dispelled.
Despite the fast melting.of heavy snow,
previously fallen, and that the sidewalks were
buried under slush and water, large number
of GAR. and W.R.C. members gathered for a
Campfire that evening. Here the spirit of fra
ternal feeling between the two organizations
was particularly apparent. Greetings and pleas
ant conversation supplemented with bounti-
full collation. were the order Of the evening.
The many pleasant acquaintance there formed
will be long remembered. Justice would not be
done was not the beautiful and cOmmodious
GAR. and W.R.C Hall mentioned. The walls
are hung with emblems and portraits of gallant,
noble men, who have already answered their
last roll-call, and now silently bid their COM
rades and sisters yet on duty to be faithful to
the end.
The following day was spent in the inspec-
ton Of this Division of Indiana W.R.C, the
National Secretary having been appointed to do
showed that the work of the officers in charge
had been carefully and Systematically perform
ed the economy exercised was everywhere
apparent, and the books of the Treasurer, Mar
tina g. Smith, were marvels of neatness. Bid
ding good-by to Mrs. GorsuCh and her staff,
Tuesday afternoon the journey was again taken
up and Springfield, ILL.,, was reached about A
o'clock Wednesday a m. After few hours of
refreshing sleep the Secretary found herself in
company with the well-known Department
President Of Illinois, Sue A. Sanders, in the
spacious parOrs of Gov. Ogesby's mansion,
whittier the gathering delegates to the fifth an
nual Department Convention had been invited
to meet and see the veterans, aud listen to the
tramp, tramp of their many feet as they passed
by in review.
Mrs. Sanders presided over the Convention in
a most able manner. The decided, energetic
call Of the gavel was responded to with marked
promptness by the large number of delegates
present, and much work was rapidly accom-
pished. The reports showed the executive
ability and rare intelligence of the officers
whose administration was drawing to a close.
The report Of the work of the Department
during the year, prepared by Mrs. Sanders, to
be read in the Encampment, GAR, resulted
most favorably, for on every hand was she be-
sieged by comrades who desired information as
to the modus operandi Of organizing a Corps
that they might begin their work upon their
return home.
1t was pleasure to look at that Convention
Of earnest Women-WOmen of experience
women whose faces mirrored their strength of
character gathered together in one grand
and noble cause, showing their devotion to
those who had served their country so hero
ically IN its hour of peril, and now proving
themselves ready to be their helpers in the
feebleness of their declining years. To just
such women as these has the work Of the com
ing year been intrusted.
Happy hours were those spent in visiting
Lincoln's home and monument; unexpected
and unusual were the attentions shown by those
IL charge. Memory will revert in the years to
come to these hours with more than ordinary
pleasure. But as the days would slip by and
go0d-bys must be said, all this was done; and
again resuming her journey. the Secretary after
a few hours ride, stepped from the train to find
herself at Shelbyyille, for a few Testful days
among the friends Of her early womanhood.
Monday morning came, and with it the
meeting, with the officers in charge of the In
dianapolis Division Of Indiana W.RC.-Flora
Wulschner President and the work Of inspec-
ton. These officers started out in their work
under many difficulties; they had literally been
obliged . to make bricks without straw" HAY.
ing been cut of from receiving regular supplies
from the National Treasurer, they supplied
themselves as best they could, with necessary
they adopted methods Of their own That
they had labored hard and effectively was
made manifest by the number Of Corps they
instituted; what they would have accom-
plished had they worked untrammeled would
be difficult to calculate. Feb y and % was
convened in the Senate Chamber at Indianap-
oils a Convention the like Of which is unknown
to the annals Of the W.R.C. Two bodies, dis
tinct in themselves, each one separately Off
CETed. and each President with gulCr6 "a
Corps, equally loyal and true to their respective
officers. Oh the grandeur Of the magnanimity
OF those women as they all laid down the bur
dens of the past, and instead took up the olive
branch, so beautifully brought and presented
to them by the National President Emma
Stark Hampton and her chosen presiding Off
Ger, Kate b, Sherwood, National Counselor.
The National Secretary rather dreaded act
ing as Secretary of this Convention, feeling
that her time and strength was tasked to their
utmost; but amply repaid was she when, as she
closed her book, she was able to say that it con
tanned not one word Of discOrd or discussion :
perfect harmony prevailed throughout Surely
the whlte-wInged angel of peace had spread his
wings and lowered over usi The message of
love brought to them by Mrs Sherwood
Study the things that make for peace" had
been Needed well and accepted as Che guiding
spirit OF the whole Convention.
The labors of the National officers having
ended, together they journeyed homeward,
nor stopped nor staid they until their respect
i've homes had been reached early on the morn
ing OF FEB. p, where they awaited the day
break to take up their home W.R.C. duties.
Such an accumulation Of letters, papers, etc.
as awaited theml But chccrcd and strengthened
they resumed their responsibilities only to SEQ
the frightening apparition gradually dissolve
/ from before their view. WOLVERINE.