The National tribune., 1889-01-03
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from the Departments.
WHAT IS RELIEF CORPS WORK ?

WEAT - RELIEF COhPo NOEh
"a Constant Reader" writing from Ohio. COM
plains that the Woman's Relief Corps is an ex-
travagant association because it asks contributions
from its membership to be expended outside of its
local jurisdiction She complains of the per capita
tax, of an Assessment" for the Soldiers Orphans
Home Christmas, and SO on, and adds:
Why tax US so heavily? We have own poor
to provide for; besides, think there ought to be
some plan hit on to keep some OF this money IN our
own CoTps.''
First the Editor would call the attention of Con-
slant Reader" to the following objects of the
Womans Relief Corps, as defined in Rules and
Regulations. W.R.C.:
Sec !. To specially aid and assist the Grand
Army of the Republic, and to perpetuate the mem
DRY of their heroic dead
Sec. 2. To assist such Union veterans as need our
help 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 oil
cur army nurses, and OF all loyal women who rem
dered loving service to their country III her hour oil
peril.
Sec. g. To inculcate lessons of patriotism and love
of country among children, aud in the com
munlties in which we live; to maintain true al
legiance to the United States of America; to dis
countenance whatever tends to weaken loyalty,
and to encourage the spread of universal liberty
and equal rights to all men.
Every woman who becomes q member of the
Relief Corps pledges herself to carry out these
principles, far consistent with home duties
and her own ability in means and strength. Hav-
ing taken these obligations upon her, she is bound
to carry them out within the prescribed limitations.
These obligations in the Relief Corps threeold:
First home-relief work for the Post to which the
Corps is auxiliary and to veteran soldiers and their
families in the community in which the Corps
exists.
Second. Relief work in the Department in aid OF
Orphans Homes, Soldiers Homes, and isolated
cases coming to the attention of the W.R.C in To-
calities where there is Post Corps to provide.
Such aid for army nurses, and in bringing the
attention of the proper authorities to the needy
and distressed soldier and his family.
| Third. National Relief work, such as contrib
uting to the necessities of army nurses and the
! proposed project of building Relief Corps Home
/ for which there are many applicants, women who
have served their country well in the hospital and
on the battlefield. Such also as assistance to the
/ afflicted in times of National distress; sending
flowers to decorate the neglected graves on South
ern battlefelds and
Constant Reader can thus see to what uses the
per capita is placed. AS for assessments" there
never are any in the W.RC. The Corps members
are given opportunity to contribute to certain
| specified Objects but demand is made upon
| them. Most Corps members rejoice in the privi-
| lege of making the soldiers ophans happy on
| Christmas day, and of sending some token to COM
fort the veterans in their homes of exile from early
scenes and friends.
Constant Reader" calls attention to the unex
pended sum of $40 in the Ohio treasury from last
years Orphans Christmas and asks why that wa:
not used instead of more called for. This question
we cannot answer. Perhaps 1t has been used Ii
any case, it is safe. and the WR.C is all the
better for nice little nest-egg in its treasury.
One thing the Editor does know, and that is tina
giving is good for Corps fora church; neither
can prosper without it. In this respect Americf
has grand and glorious record. Her women gave
of their best in war; they giving their best il
peace; f5t grudginly, of necessity, but feeling
in their hearts that God loves a cheerful giver.-
Kate b. Sherwood.
THANKS To THE GAR.
The annual address of Emma Stark Hampton
National President, closes with this merited ad
dress to the GAR, which has ever stood towe
of strength by the Womans Relief Corps, since it
organization in 1888:
ITO enumerate the good deeds and mention tn,
names of the Grand Army comrades who have
rendered royal support 10 this administrator
would be impossible, and knowing full well thei
desire that the right hand knoweth not what tn
left hand doeth,' let simply say they are legion
Beginning with COMMANDMENTS Chief Rea, thei
goodness aud kindness has seemed inexhausuUe
not alone in encouragement and Endorsement, bu
in rendering valuable and voluntary service. The,
have been towers of strength on which to lean 70
advice and wisdom, and have gradually led rs t
higher and broader planes of thought and action
aud thus to a more perfect fulfment of the duuc
and upholding OF the principles IN which the tw'
organizations are SO strongly allied"
TRIBUTE TO AMERICAN WoMANHooD.
The November number of the Acne Heversdc
Of Song and Patriotic Eioquence Is memora
number of the patriotic love and self-sacrifce O
American women during and since the war OF til
rebellion 1t is crowded with charming songs am
earnest tributes, and has full page portraits Q
Mother Bickerdyke," Julia Ward Howe, autho
of the Battle Hymn of the Republic; Mrs. JOIN
A Logan and Kate Brownlee Sherwood. A poem
by Kate L. Jones, National Chaplain. W-R.C.,
accompanied by portrait of Abraham Lincoln
the subject TO which 1t Is devoted. Among til
| writers represented are Mary a. Liyermorc an
Elizabeth Stuart Phelps The Woman's Relic
Corps receives many encomiums. Send TO cents
Comrade ]. C. o. Redington, Syracuse, n. y, for
copy. The following appears page 4, to Tia
tune of Maryland, My MarylaudN:
AMERICA, DEAR NATIVE LAND.
By Kate Broignee Sherwood.