The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1889-08-15
RELIEF CORPS NEWS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
ters---NOteS from the Departments.
SHORT HISTORY OF rnh w.R.c.

-
SHORT HISTORY OF THE w.Rc.
In 1889. at Denver IL was urged on the Encamp-
nent of the Grand Army to hhyea Historical Conn
mittee composed of member from each Depart
ment, and that each Post should have Historian,
whose business IL should be to preserve the mill
tary record of each member and history of the
Post; the Department history to he under the care
OF similar officer, and National Historian for
the whole Order. This would be the means of
preserving individual records that would otherwise
be lost and from this material the future historic
would draw facts that could be collected in no other
way.
In the Woman's Relief Corps hundreds of those
who have become members during the last few
years have desired to know more concerning its
origin, organization and advancement; so, to give
some facts from the original minutes kept by my
self Mt the first meeting, also to help perpeluate the
names OF the founders and pioneers OF the great
undertaking, and make plain the reasons for their
action on the occasion, the following is written:
ro m .hs ca ipr i3r tm1 Won
ans Auxiaries and Relief Associations sprang up
spontaneously In every city and hamlet while in
the sparscly settled country the neighbors joined
In packing box TO go to tho front for the boys,
the women gaining so much experience of exeeu-
tive ability that the outcome of their patriotism
and zeal, their loyalty and love- was the Sanitary
Commission. This, with It's 10000 subordinate aid
societies of women, loyal 10 their country though
not always akin to the soldier, and the supplies d.
rected by. such women Mother Bickerdycke,
Clara Barton, Anna Wittonmyer and Aunt Becky
Young, did what the Government could not do in
restoring men To the ranks for service, and contu-
ucd the work until the last shot was fred. After
the boys marched home relief was required in
different forms, and the burden was scarcely light
eued the soldiers grew each year older, the
children more I'm number, and the widows and
orphans made such by the war, were multiplied.
In JAY 1906 The great Grand Army of the Re-
public was founded by II. II. Stephenson, and in
four months became a National organization.
While the first ten Commandersn- Chief knew of
the interest taken by loyal, charitable women in
relief work, IL was the llh, Paul Van Der Wort oil
Omaha, Neb., who recogized the service OF these
valiant allies and encouraged them in whatever
they wrought, and believing tn Rt with them, as In
the Grand Army, organized work would be more
powerful, lie wrote in December, 1852, TO Mrs Kate
b. Sherwood. President OF Forsyth Society, OF To-
lcdo o., which was the model of several other so
oiotes, as follows:
II shall invite representatives of woman's Relief
Corps aud Auxiliary Societies to be present at the
Grand Encampmcnt ut Denver, with the view of
forming National organization. | shall be very
glad If yon will write what women have done for
the soldier since the war : what they did then Is
written in heaven. am doing all | can, but be-
lieve that Of the brightest leaves In my present
work will be the encouragement have given to
the loyal women. God bless you nil who have
worked so nobly; shall be glad to sec you all at
Denver"
His General Order No. II, of May, 1883. reads ms
follows:
''rhe representatives of Woman's Relief Corps
and Auxiliary Societies to the Grand Army OF the
Republic cordially invited To meet at Denver
bring their rituals rules. bylaws and plans OF or
ganizaiiop, and, II possible. agree on n uniform
mode or system Of procedure throughout the coun-
try. fpIedgc the noble women who compose these
sooietics that they will be warmly greeted and
given all the encouragement possible"
Pursuant to this Order 200 women assembled In
the hall Of the Patriotic Sons Of America on July
~. 1893 when Mira Gen. II X. Stimsou. President
OF the Ladies' Auxiliary Of Denver, called the
meeting To order and gave nm Address OF welcome,
Mira Il. Florence Barker, OF Massachusetts. WAS
called to the chair and Mrs Kate II Sherwood to be
Secretary. II was soon AscerHnod that those pres
ent represented the Union Board Of the Woman 8
n had f.Fa ptya.
tons Ia eight States; the Toledo plan of ndepcn-
dent organization aud open work la 10 States; the
Loyal Ladies, Loague OF New Jersey, - state assoc
citation with IL subordinate Leagues; and others
whose work was known only la their own iocali-
ties.
To give all an opportunity 20 fairly discuss the
question. the meeting resolved itself into Com
miltse OF the Whole aud reporter "a gentle
mani allowed TO represent the press. During the
three days work Mrs Barker proved herself al
excellent parliamcnarian calling forth praise even
from her opponents
Mrs. sherwood was asked TO make statement
OF her experience In the work and present her
plans for the National organization. Mrs. \, L..
Fuller and Mrs. L. +. Turner, Of boston; Mrs. Ada
Clark, Of Ohio; Mrs. Charles, Of Washington, ID.
G.. Mrs IaGrn MeEetr and Mrs. Hugg, OF New
jersey also stated their views end history OF their
work.
Commander,in. Chief Van Der WORT and Gen.
Hazard were announced ana tho former addressed
the meeting stating thgt lac Ind G0o letters. each
urging SOME speciality but that each must give
way q TITLE Ia work in harmony: that 90 Posts
awaiting their action. and the success of tho
Grand Army depended largely upon their move
mrnt.
Gen Hazard stated that they must not expect nj
the FIRST meeting TO settle question Of eligibility
which had taken the Grand Army IL years to de-
eide
IL was resolved 10 form a National Convention.
aud decided that each delegation select two OF
their uuuibcr ~ members, to take seats with that
body aud act for tho whole, when Il was found
| that - states were represented.
The name NomanH Relief Corps was adopted.
| IL was then moved and carried 90 accept secret
| work, and adopt the Constitution of the Union
| Board for tho present year
II was moved aud carried that each Corps decide
for themselves whether only soldiers relatives OF
/ nil loyal women should be eligible To become
members. 10 form state Departments aud report
/ iiis wishes of their members at the next annual
meeting, and II hey do not sec ~ TO continue with
thn National ut tic close Of tbs year TO withdraw
1 and leave the field To- the National Convention
written communication was sent 10 the Ma
tionai EneHmp'nent of the Grand Army, stating
thai they had formed a National organization aud
| were ready io receive Instructions II was an
swsred bay request to proceed to Iabor's Opera
| House The members of the Convention stood Ia
| the vestibulc. confronted by guards with nxed
| bayoneis, while from inside ths room came sounds
! OF loud discussion pro and COZ; but when the
order was given, : Lst the women In " tie deaf.
ening cheers were kept up until after MI were
| seated and many eyes were din witb tears.
| Chaplain ia Chief Foster M the medium OF the
Grand Army. advanced To the front and bnde them
| welcome "As the National WRC. we hail the
organization and extend greetings TO them, bidding
| them Godspred."
L
understood that he considered the organization o
the W.R.C. To be tie crpwning act Of his admins
| tration and probably this 27th OF July, 1883, IL
| years after their own organization, WAS the irs
time IN the history of the Grand Army that women
| witnessed the installation Of their officers.
After returning To their hall the following OH
| GERS, elected previous To the recognition, were
| called for installation President, t. Florence Bar
| keT, Maiden. Mass: 3. V.-p.. Kate b. Sherwood
Toledo. o.; j. V.-P,, II. X. stimson, Denver, Colo
| Sec, Sarah Il. Fuller, Boston. Mass Treas, L. u
! Turner, Boston, Mass Chap, lanrR McNeir, Cam
den, n. j.; Con, L, =. Runyon, Illinois; g., j. w
| Beatron, Illinois.
The Chaplain, Inspector and Guard not present
Ing themselves. Mrs Gen. Gardner, OF Denver, was
made Inspector. and Mrs. Sherman OF Colorado
| Springs, Guard. As many were leaving because
OF limited tickets, business transacted after
| ward, and the meeting adjourned, To meet al the
same time and place the Grand Army ia 1884
aud the basis OF representation to be one delegate
for each 100 members
These charter members having been instructed
In the secret work, and armed with all due author
tty returned home prepared to organize and insti
tute Corps subordinate To state Departments, whicl
| should have not less than five Corps. The mem
| bers from Kansas were Mrs T. j. Anderson Mrs
Mrs E. Is. Alrich, OF Caylser City. OF these, Mrs
Anderson, while holding the Office of National Ju
Nor Vice President, devoting her time and strength
To relief work and tbroughthe battle TO her trus
| was true" was taken from us bat Hers will be
| the honors In the Grand review.r Mrs Alrich Il
the only one from Kansas who 10 still la the ranks
sun working for the same principles which the
Woman's Relief Corps was founded
Ia August, 1883, Farragut Corps of Denver, whC
had seen the work exeInpiified during tho Con
venton, applied for IL charter also, Joe Hooker
Corps of Cameron Mo, tho President of which
| Mrs. Mamie Shut, wrote thus; We carpet bag
gers la Missouri have more obstacles to eontent
with than you of tho East, aa several wives of ia,