The National tribune., 1890-09-04
NATIONAL CONVENTION.

darcy Kline and Emma Stark Hampton. inc
committee. IN their report. according 20 the Ma
tionRl Presidents suggestion, prepared clause on
Delinquent Members, TO be inserted under Gen
eral Rules which provides that when members do
not respond promptly 20 written or printed nouii-
cation Of dues they shall be called upon ia person
by the Treasurer or such assistants As the Corps
may provide, whose duty it shall be TO explain the
operation Of M.R.C. rules upon delinquent mem
bers Adopted by Convention.
On the recommendation proposed the commit
tee reported a. follows and their report whole
was approved by Convention:
l. Approved with change Of "ffly" to
"thiriy."
2 Amendment disapproved, but recommended
that entire section be stricken from Rules and Reg
uiations.
s. Standing Committee disapproved the Com
mi.iee Appeals 10 be announced with call for
Convention. when all appeals shall be placed in
their hands 20 report early in Convention.
4. Clause first approved. appointment OF a COM
Bit;ee disapproved. Potomac Corps TO maintain
is present relations until the Department OF Poto-
mac. GAR, in Encampment assembled 10 take
official action.
5. Amended so as TO allow white Corps TO form
Departments when their application for charter
has been Endorsed by the GAR. Colored Corps to
continue to report to National Headquarters as
Detached Corps.
6.7,s, and g. Approved
10 and II. Approved, provided that the Relief
Fund shall not be drawn upon Tor running e1-
Penses OF the Home until the appropriation Of Con-
vention shall he exhausted.
NATIONAL PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
o5o7t and Members Of the Eighth annual conUen-
fi0R-
We come together to-day afler a year Of earnest.
successful work, 10 revise old methods and 10 lay
new plans by which we may accomplish the high
and holy mission Of tie Woman's Relief Corps.
gfs1ar ffao
women Of the world have ever been engaged In.
lt becomes Us. therefore, 10 enter this council
cham Der with revercnt tread. and to take upon
the solemn duties and obligations OF this Conyen-
ton. with firm reliance upon the Almighty God
for the wisdom and help we shall need at every
siep.
II l. justly expected Of us that all our thoughts
and plans shall be inspired by spirit OF lofty pa
triotisGn and that the most uuseish devotion TO
sacred cause shall chaTacierize all the business
OF this tie supreme council Of our organization.
Ia looking back over the years that we. as an
Organization, have been privileged 10 work, we
recall that al the beginning. seven years ago we
numbered only g, and we were without property.
money, or prestige.
To-day our membership reaches nearly hum
ored thousand; cur charity work during this one
year Is over 100000 and we have IN the treasures
OF the local Corps throughout the land
fund on hand Of over Sl53 600 and the name Of the
Roman's Relief Corps has become a precious
household word throughout the Republic.
All honor 10 tle noble women who laid such
broad and deep foundations Tor this grand work
We may have improved on some Of their methods.
substantially the same.
Ny term Of Office las seemed very short to me
far too short for The accomplishment Of all de-
sired 80 do, or All that needed 10 be done
During the brief time that il has been my prIvi-
lege 20 serve you, the work has been JOY and
blessing % shall carry with me. through all
abe after years Of my life. sweet memories Of your
kindness and gracious hepfGness. and precious
memories Of The devotion and gratitude Of The
ra1es of the Grand Army Of the Republic.
There has been q spirit Of eErnestuess and en-
fhnsiasm throughout our entire Order this year.
But il las by no means been equal 70 tie demands
upon Us. Or The wonderful opportunities a.! around
Thousands o. heroes have needed help this year
who have never called Tor aid before. We have
done what We could for their comfort but 81 our
numbers had been doubled every needy veteran Ia
tie land could have been reached and properly
cared Tor. There are thousands Il loyal women all
about az vino carelessly look On, aud do OF reaizc
that there las come To- them the grand chance
1n al the ages for them to minister 70 the heroes
who saved their country from utter des.ruc-
ton.
The wonan's Relief Corps should become an
evaugel 10 the careless daughters 81 tie land 10
call them back 10 meet their high and holy obliga-
b0ns 10 these MANNED aud needy veterans. aud The
widows aud orphans Of those W!io have fallen ia
oeieuse u their country
The perpetuty 81 this Government depends
largely upon the patriotism Of her woman. They
are Tic educators ri thc generations II j. far
more important that should have sensible
patriotic mothers than thai should have gifted
Statesmen. Mothers train the mhsses-siatesnen
A. society. we have scarcely touched with our
hnGerfips the rim Of the wOuAnhoOd Of this
country.
TIKI EXTENSION OF THK WORK.
During The year the following permanent De
partments have been organized: Texas North
Dakota, and the Potomac. great deal Of worI,
has been done 30 West Virginia, and the Corps are
ready 70 come in ~ a Department. but il was
deemed best 70 allow them 70 further extend their
work and 10 bold their Convention for orgauiza-
tiOn ia connection with the next Encampineut Of
the Grand Army Of tie Republic. 30 the compile
non u that work las been left TO my SUCCESSOR in
office.
The preparatory work in Texas and West Vir
Rinsh was accomplished. under great diniculues
1y Sarah A. &. Plummer, my energetic and able
lIstitutlug aud Installing Officer.
Josephine Folsom was appointed Provisional
President q North Dakota, and coon brought il Ia
~ a strong vigorous permanent Department.
had the honor Of organizing the Department Of
tic Potomac, with seven Corps net including The
Potomac Corps, which stands as heretofore d.
Tectly auxiliary 10 the National.
Early in IBy administration detached Texas
from Sew Mexico continuing Maggie Muuroe
Eudlsle Provisional President Of New Mexico
Tennessee Sui remains a Provisional Department
will Blanca X Muller ~ Provisional President ia
TIE place 81 Helen ~. Nixon, resigned
Al te request 81 iIe officers 81 the Department
Of Washington, attached Alaska 20 that DeuaTt-
nlent. and already there Lac been advance into
Various egoIas have been made 10 extend the
work into Montana without success. have re-
Gently attached Montana 10 North Daknfa belicy-
ing that the earHcst workers in that Department
would he able 10 enlist the women Of Montana 10
whom they arc - closely linked by social Ties and
STATUS or THE COLORED c0RPg
have not deemed il beet 10 organize the de.
tGcllcd Corps 81 Virginia into Department but
the school u instruction ordered by the National
Convention was hela al Norfolk, Va. by Sarah a.
Fuller, Past National President. After much IFe.
paratOry work good attendance WAS secured and
every part Of the work wac fully eKeulpliGed Mrg
FuilcT also inspected and instructed lie Corrs {u
Virginia, North Carolina and Florida. think ne
FACT Las been clearly established that colored CoTDe
auxiliary TO local Posts and having relations al.
Tectig With National Heaoq quarters arc doing GOOD
work
know - no reason why c0Iored men who were
properly enlisted in the United States service dur
Ing the aud who fought thc battles Of tic re-.
public with courage. and were boHoIaily mustered
out 81 service may moi organize Posts Of the Grand
Army Of the Republic.
And ar this class have their needy aud cripuIed
ones and their widows aud orphans who sGou5
have AID, can sec no reason why respectabIe
loyal coioged women may not be organized int
hOmene Relief Corps, auxiliary 10 such Posts te
AID Them lu their charity work.
cannot forget that our white soldiers nyjnp a.,
their lives were often glad 10 sleep Ia the beds aud
share the coarse food Of tie loyal colored ueoule
And never knew or heard, during all those terri.
bic years Of strive aud blood, Of a colored man
woman or child proving a traitor 10 the IJnion
cause or 10 the men who upheld it.
j. seems 10 me that the question ia the Woman
Seile4 Corps should not be whether a woman,