The National tribune., 1889-09-19
DEPARTMENT Gleanlngs.
ARrMENr OLE PENNsYI.YANI

DEPARTMENT OF PENNSYLVANIA.
DEAR TRIBUNE: have been asked to define the
difference between the WomRn's Relief Corps and
the " Ladies of the GAR and to tell why there
are two National bodies of ladies asking for recog-
ton mt the hands of the Grand Army of the Re
public.
In answer to the first question, would just say
thatthe Noman's Relief Corps is not asking for such
rccognition for the Order was called into existence
by the GAR. by an order of Paul Van Der Wort,
then National Commander in an official order, and
at the first National Convention of the w c., held
at Denver, Colo. in 1888 1t officially recognized
the auxiliary OF the GAR. then holding their
18th annual Convention, and during the seven
gears that have elapsed since then the bond Of
fraternity, Charity aud Loyalty there made has
been strengthened and perfected by each decade.
Some three years ago more exclusive Order,
called the Ladies of the GAR was organized
In New Jersey. This organization, which now
numbers about 1900 members has been
officially recognized by the Grand Army only as
their different Circles are recognized by the Posts
20 which they sCveraiIy attached. The only
material difference I'm the two organizations is that
tho Ladies' of the @. a X. will not admit anyone TO
their Order except tho wives widows, mothers
aud sisters of soldiers and, / believe. Army
Nurses, Cnimfug that they thus become the heart
OF the GAR" On the other hand, the Woman's
Relief Corps works upon n wider and more ex-
tended plane Of usefulness, as all women Of loyal
principles, OF good moral character aud correct de
pertinent, are eligible to membership. The only
question IL that Of loyalty and personal integrity
and while the possession of these attributes opens
wide the door To- every woman who comes with
pure heart and spotlcss hands, il dehars the wife,
widow, sister daughter OF the highest military
officer lii the land, were she not loyal in sentiment
and pure ia character. Then. IT gives IA much
wider scope To work and our resources, for
there are hundreds Of the noblest and hest women
ia our Corps who have no nearer soldier ties than
those OF sympathy aud love for the for which
they fought, who give freely OF their time and
money TO help the great work that the w re. -
carrying on. When the red tide Of battle suTged
DER our land, and the women banded themselves
into Aid Societies and Sanitary Commissions TO
work for the brave men ut the front. were all de-
barred from working and giving OF their means to
help the glorious cause, except those who had
some loved one in the ranks; and when many OF
these loyal women made their way to the front,
did the soldiers ask. before they allowed their
wounds to be bound up, or the cooling drink held
TO their dying lips, Have you husband, brother
q in the ranks?" Nay, verify; but they took
the mid freely bestowed just because they were
soldiers fighting and dying for their country, and
blessed the hand that gave 1T.
And now when the veteran Is wcariy hating by
the way. out by the quarter of a century that
has passed, when the wall comes up from many
widowed hearts. shall we refuse the help OF any
Of the loyal women OF the land who are willing
To MD IN ts work OF love for the veteran and his
fnmy7 shall we dehar those who In tile dark days
OF the opened their hearts and their purses TO
give aid 10 the holy cause just because they had o
loved one Ia offer upon their country's ALTAR
The Indies of the GAR will take into their
ranks the woman OF foreign birth who has come
to- our country aud become the wife Of sol
der since the war, and who has no conception OF
the great struggle while they refuse To receive the
woman who scraped lint, made bandRges. or who
stood day n and day out perhaps IN old City Hall
nj BitiAbufE, serving refreshments To the hungry
soldiers huTTying forward to the front, return
ing home sick aud wounded.
But don't for one moment think that we OF the
W.RC do not recognize those bound by the ties of
ntllulty 10 the soldier Why. ranks full of
them for there are few homes in our land In which
there Is not some haling veteran. or q sword or Il
cap hung up IN some sncrcd placc-R holy relic, or
where there Is not some grave To weep over for the
brave boy mustered out.
The woman's Relief Corps is known to the vet
Grams all over the length end breadth OF the land
They know whether the pledge OF Fraternity.
Charity, Loyalty taken at Denver seven years ago
has been kept or not, We may not be the heart, y
but we are 10 be the hcpmeet OF the GAR
II Is not my Intention here nor IL there any need
TO boast OF Tie charity and help given by the 1900
members of the W.RC., but / wish TO speak OF
IA project that Is dear To the heart OF every
Corps and every member Of the W.RC,
aud that IL the Home that the W.RC OF the De-
partment of Pennsylvania at the last State Con-
vention pledged itself To establish, and which we
hope to see ia operation during the coming year.
Into this Home will gather the poor widow
who with failing strength finds herself friendiess
aud destitute. The old mother whose boys have
been mustered out ~ leaving her with no support.
Here too, the aged veteran and his feeble old wife
will Hud n welcome. Here they can together end
their days in peace with no fear OF separation
when lac has been sent To the Soldiers Home and
she, the faithful wife Of perhaps so years will go
over the hills TO the poorhouse" And we do not
propose TO put our hands into the pockets of the
GAR for the money To carry out our works of
charity. Our ranks are not restricted TO the few,
md other husbands, Mons aud brothers arc inter
estcd. and will lend cheerful, helping hand to aid
their wives. mothers aud sisters Ia this work for
the veterans TO whom they owe so much.-K. NJ.
Scott, Corresponding Secretary, Department. OF
Pennsylvania. W.RC.
LADIES OF THE GAR.
DEAR TRIBUNE: / notice Ia your issue of Aug. l,
ia the W re. column, under the heading Depart
rpector, la which she says Department President
Stocking and Secretary Plimpion, 1 find some
what worried over the efforts of some persons
to introduce into Iowa an organization ininiicnI TO
The w III. g. nrPsume from this sue has ref
To the organization known the Ladies' OF the
GAR. must take exceptions to her claim tina,
the admission to the WR.C. is based on the same
principles rs the GAR, e. personal loyalty. II
everyone who was loyal To the Government during
the war could apply for membership and could be
admitted to the GAR, what IA membership they
would have; but we ali know that can be
| admitted To- it's ranks unless regularly mustered
| into the service OF the United States and honor.
| ably discharged therefrom. In order To wear the
badge of the Ladies' of the q. A r., must be mother
| wife, sister, daughter, ex-Army Nurse; and
none can be admitted to our Order without showing
the honorable discharge of father, husband. or
brother. Who Is nearer dearer 10 them than one
| OF their ownY Can n loyal woman who never had
loved one In the prison pen on the battlefield
come rs near or derS to them we mothers, wives
| sistersand dauEhteHs? Never. And when we are
aged aud gray our little daughters who we are
raising to-day will take our places the as the
y. of V, are filling the places of their fathers
am happy 10 say To- YOU that our organization IL
growing rapidly, and whenever explained In the
proper way, we come out on the right side-Mrs.
Carrie V. Sheriff., Department President Ladies OF
the GAR, Pennsylvania.
ALL ALONG THE LINE
The Woman's Relief Corps Home Of California
will be completed this month. Furnishing and
Purchasing Committee has been appointed by the
Home Association with full power To net. Mrs
Susie nj. Shay, of San Jose has been chosen matron
of the Home. She Is the widow of IA Union vet
eran, and has been AN interchangeable worker ever
since the Home project WAS started and her APP
pOintment has given universal satisfaction. The
association has decided to furnish the Home plain
ly, but substantially and comfortably. Plain ash
bedroom suits of seven pieces, woven spring mat
trcsses and feather pillows will be put In the
rooms, The Home Will be dedicated In October
james A. Garfield Corps, Department of Cali
forna, has resumed their Progressive Eucher par
ties after the Summers adjournment.
Stephen Baxter Corps, No 2ll, of Mechanics
burg, O., has passed suitable resolutions on the
death of Mary E. Thorp, ia sister member of the
Corps. Miss Thorp was earnest aud active
worker in the Corps, and her death Is mourned by
Post aud Corps.
Al the fifth anniversary of Garfield Corps st.
Paul, Mimi, ACler Post and Corps were present
also the WR.C. of Minneapolis.
Harry SeribneT Corps, Plain City o. Mrs Mary
l. Converse President, is doing good work In q
quiet way, Besides attending to the wants of the
needy III the vicinity, they send weekly u bundle
OF reading TO the Sandusky Home and have
sent about SS5 worth of supplies To the hospital,
and are preparing another box for the same object
They gave social in their pleasant room last week
that Melted S6S3. The entire Corps enter into the
work SO earnestly that 10 mention individuals