The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-07-31
NATIONAL RELIEF CORPS HoME-INTEREsT
ING OBLIGATORY SERVICES,


ING OBLIGATORY SERVICES.
DEAR TRIBUNE. Thursday July H. was proud
day In tho annals Of the Western Reserve, for upon
that day the National Relief Corps Home was dedi.
Gated mt Madison, O.. with imposing ceremonies IN
the presence of thousands OF people from Lake,
Ashtabuln and adjoining Counties and many from
a distance.
The day was excessively hot and the roads dusty.
In addition, IA fierce wind blew from tho west pre-
saying storm Despite these discomiorts. a great
tide OF humanity flowed Mads0nwaTd aud "a
early 1880 "A. IN. hundreds OF carriages and wHg.
ous, we'll loaded were en- route for thr scene. Nine
hundred vehicles were noted at one time, by actual
count. along tho roadway near the Home, and
many others were under cover, ON the grounds.
and ia the orchards contiguous. The attendance
is estimated 40 from LOO to 1000
The citizens of Madison and members Of Burn
hau Corps. OF Madison, had contributed refresh
tucnts generously. aud all invited guests and hun
dTuds % other. were waited upon aud buuuteuusIy
fed by Burnham Corps ia one 81 the dining hail /.
Of tho Home, aud many others pi0n.ckcd upon
the grounds.
The two buildings Of the Homo were thrown
open TO tho inspection of visitors aud were much
admired They have been repaired. Fcm0dcled,
painted, aad partly furnished. and present a nice
appearance. The grounds are fine and Tie wafer
Of tho best.
AtI.30 tho people assembled around an outdoor
platform, erected east oi the buildings aud listened
TO several appropriate musical selections finely
rendered by the Geneva GFays Band. after which
the exercises Of the day took place. PIuma L..
Cowcs President Of Bowers Relief Corps, OF Ge-
neva, presiding As Chairman.
The opening prayer made by Rev. DIR. Stew
ems, pastor OF lhu Baptist Church, Of The Middle
Ridge, and was followed by the song a Thousand
Years" well rendered by the North Madison Male
Double Quartet. Mayor VI. r. Cook, OF Madison de-
liycrod an address OF welcome ia behalf OF Madison
villnRe. Addresses OF welcome were also made by
Commander Henry Paueost, la behalf OF Buruham
Post. GAR, and by President b. A. Emugton OF
Buruham Corps la behalf of the Corps The sew
erai welcomes were earnest and eloquent with
feeling.
Belle Il. nagley, Chairman OF the National w re
as AZ Il.n D.
dent of Ohio. responded Ia happy manner
Aketchng the history OF the project from the neep-
ton TO It's elimination. and concluded by reading
the regrets OF those who could not be present. This
list included Governors Campbell. of Ohio, aud
Beaver, Of Pennsy vHuia Gems. Alger, 3 II. Hurst
NJ r. Force, and John l.. lay; Lucrettn Garfield
Mrs. John a. Logan. Hon. lara H. Taylor, Cor
pofRl Tanner aud wife. Clara Borton, President of
the Red Cross Association; Sarah T. Fuller Past
National President of tho W re; Col A. L. Conger
and others She also read the following telegram
from Kate Il. Sherwood Chairman National Pen.
sion aud Relief Committee:
Congratulations ON the opening OF the Relief
Corps Home, aud honor and blessing ON the loyal
heads OF tho Western Reserve, WHO made ii posi-
Bile
THE Red, White and Blue y" was then rendered
by the Geneva GTays Band aud IL chorus.
Next in order was the report of Or. Stock ham of
Madison, Chairman tthe Building Committee who
stated the amount raised by tie people OF Geneva,
Madison aud other towns as So OOO OF which 81 GO
was expended for land, and 81, 200 for building re.
pairs. Aud right here let insert that AshtnbuIa
Jefferson, gainesville, Conneaut, aud Charlton
aided by one private subscription, contributed SlOO
towards the repairs, aud said amount was paid
upon the day of the dedication.
Annie WitIoumeyer, National President w II O.
responded ia nn interesting and entertaining man
ner. she said she always had the knack OF getting
something for nothing, and was perfectly satisfied
with the work of the building Committee I'VE
have elegant carpets" she said, and pcrhsps Won
think them too fine. What do you suppose we
we paid for those carpets? We went to first hands
and bought furniture and carpets 81 cheaper rates
than wholesalers can procure them. Was that
extrnvagant? iwant 10 thank the Building Com
hittee aud trustees i want to thank the Posts
and W.RC. OF Madison and Geneva la the name of
the National W.R.C." Applause
w, III. denning, esq, President OF the Board OF
Seminary Trustees, presented the deeds OF the
property TO the W.k.C, through President Wittcn-
myer, who accepted them with the pledge that the
property wlli be forever used for the purposes
herein Indicated: First Army nurses la broken
health aud without means of support. Second
Widows of soldiers only the most needy Third
Dependent soldiers with their wives. only Tins.
la broken health aud without means
Rev. IL. Ill. Votaw, Pastor of The Congregational
Church OF Geneva, made an appropriate dedica-
tory prayer, when Chairman Cowles announced
that the Home would be dedicated ia song by that
old fnvoTite, Home, Sweet Homcn which vns
beautifully rendered by Viola Mckinstry, OF Go-
neva.
ringing address was made by Past Departne,t
Commander Joseph w ONeali of lebanon a.
who said that he had been accused OF not f,yoInp,
the Home. =" admit" said he, 'thnt | do nor
And whyY Because believe that "a Government
that was saved through the iustrumentality of her
S'i'~sNs, oukHt 10 ptoFldo iof the needy at their
homes, and that they should not be dependent
upon the charity of anyone living" His Remarks
were earnest and peroration eloquent
AdcdlCntory poem com posed by Laura Rosamond
White was then read by tile author. This was fol-
lowed by the chorus, America In stirring stvla
Clouds had been gathering for some time and
quite shower was now lin progress. People scat.
tered for shelter, and the platform was deserted
as the possibility of II severe storm seemed immi,
nont. however, the sun soon shone, and those
who had adjourned To the church near by where
IL had been announced mt the break up that the
exercises would be completed, wendell their way
over the grass-jeweed with raindrop diamonds.
aud reassembled at the platform for the second
Campfire, rs il was termed.
Past Department President Elizabeth g Heron Of
Cincinnati, made an interesting opening address
She was followed by Department President Ada II
clarke, OF canton. who also spoke interestingly
Armilla A. Cheney. of Detroit Mich National
brightly and briefly. Hon. Il. j. Clapp I.episIative
member from the Geauga Lake District responded
To the call OF the Chairman, and made a clear.cut
speech OF much eloqueuoe. lie said without the
ana and encouragement OF loyal women Mt the time
OF the war; the results might not have been what
they were. lie was greatly appauded.
An obllgato, Home Again. was charminelv
rendered by Viola Mckinstfy; a humming accom-.
panment and full chorus making this very can
tivating and touching.
President Wittenmyer followed with a very fine
address, In which she sEetGhed the experiences of
Army Nurses, related war Incidents stated tho
financial status of the National w re told how
the Home would he supported etc. Three rousino
cheers were accorded her at the close
" Brave Battery Boys" was then exeellentlv
rendered by the North Madison Male Double
Quartet.
An organ, whose cost price was $780, had been
loaned for the occasion by the Munger Bros of
Geneva, who sent the ladies word that if $50 could