Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-05-30
THE wOMAN's RELIEF CORPS.
An Organization That Represents the
Women Of the Union.

Women of the Union.
THE WORK OF THK CORPS AND ITS MEMBERSHIP
IN THIS cITr-LooKISe OUT ron THE NEEDY
HOW THE ORGANIZATION WAS FoRMEp-rHE
POTOMAC CORPS.
While the American man was engaged in
bloody strife, was doing his utmost to remove
from off the superficial area of this continent
his fellow-beings woman gave freely OF her
moral support. When, twenty five years ago.
the recruits marched to the battlefelds Of the
south women wept and prayed and were ex-
ceeding sorrowful, but they waved hsndker-
chiefs and sobbed encouragement They had
but little use for the laggard and the nom
combatant and their feminine scorn was
plainly and oftentimes uncomfortably appar-
ent. When the husbands, fathers, brothers
and sweethearts were in the field the women
wrote letters full of patriotic hope that made
men more determined than ever that the
federal Union should not be dissolved.
Then came the clash Of arms and
out of the roar and the smoke
came the shrleks and means Of wounded and
dying. The agonizing appeals of MANNED and
suffering humanity penetrated to the mountain
recesses of Vermont rang through the forests OF
Maine and traversed in waves of vocal sorrow
the broad prairies OF the west The response
was electrically sudden. From out the loya.
states poured stream OF womanhood-soft-
handed, kind hearted. eager anxious to smooth
the pillow OF the dying or TO nurse back TO lie
those whom death had spared for another
harvest. Thousands of the tairest IN the land
iorsook home and Its comforts TO risk them
selves in the hospitals which had suddenly be-
come so numerous. Those who could not 60
20 the front stayed home and, burrylpg
through with the details of household routine,
rolled bandaSes or picked lint until the nights
were far spent. At the front and at home
wherever they were-they comprised the grand
est ana most energetic relief corps the world
mas ever seen and worshiped.
MARCHING SIDE BY SIDE.
Today the republic is at peace with itself and
all other nations. The veteran who survived
the civil war seeks now to save life rather than
destroy it, and with this purpose in view he
moves along hand in hand with his sister in
the Grand Army-she of the Woman's Relief
Corps. Today they marched together at
Arlington, at Soldiers Home at Congressional,
and side by side they strewed flowers on the
graves OF those who sang, quarter of q GEN.
fury ago,
We're coming, Father Abraham three hundred thou
Who is there outside of the Grand Army
that knows anything about the woman's Relief
Corpsf Who can tell of the misery it removes,
OF the SORROWS II chases away, OF the tears it
wipes from the eyes of widows and orphans,
OF the oreao 1t gives to the hungry and of the
clothing donated to the naked? For several
years after the Grand Army OF the Republic
became al established institution il had the in
coherent and irresponsible support of numer-
Gus organizations composed Of the wives,
daughters and sisters of GAR. members.
There were the Ladies of the Grand Army, the
Loyal Ladies' League, the Ladies Aid Society
and number Of Others
raR FIRST CONVENTION.
Various departments of the Grand Army
recognized such Of these societies as iabored
In their territory. but there no marked
endeavor looking to national Capitalization
until 1879, when Woman's Relief Corps con-
vention was held in Fitchburg. Mass. Two
years later the Grand Army, In national en-
campment assembled, adopted resolutions
heartily approving Of the movement for ma
tional organization among the women and au-
thorlzing the sisters to add to their title the
words: Auxiliary to the G A. r. Agitation con-
tlnued and spread for two years more, and
then, when the Grand Army met at Denver in
1883, the women went right to the front and
held the first National Woman's Relief Corps
convention while the veterans encampment
was In session. They were encouraged to do
this by the then commauder-n-chief, Paul VAN
dervoort Of Omaha. Now, whenever the G. A.
X. boys camp the " Il C. is within speaking
distance; the two bodies hold their annual
meetings together. Year by year the women
have added TO their number until the present
membership is more than ~, 600.
TIE POTOMAC CORPS.
In all this great national organization for the
relief of suffering not one OF the integral
parts is more efficient than the one located
here, known as Potomac Corps, an auxiliary to
the Department of the Potomac. This i'm
portant branch Of active femininity Was set
running November Is, 1856, with a charter
membership Of 20. Mrs. Annie Faunce was its
first president. II was u success from the COM
mencement, for it took up at once the great
work which previously had been almost neg
iected. No matter how willing the veterans
were they could not nurse the sick as could
women. No relief committee composed OF
men could find out how unutterably poor we're
some soldiers widows, nor how wretched their
apologies for homes. Many a widow or de-
pendent parent would have starved to death
rather than whisper the truth in the ear Of
other than sympathetic woman.
BRIEF RETROSPECT.
Potomac Corps has had its trials and had the
members been less earnest, had they been more
mindful of their own comfort, nobody knows
what might have happened Strong friends
assisted when assistance was most needed. and
now there Is no more actively useful distributor
of equitable charity than Potomac Corps. Last
year, when Mrs. A. s. 0dell was president was
most prosperous and full of good works This
H.
corps is progressing more rapidly than ever be-
fore; its field is broadening ali the time and the
worthy unfortunates rising up and calling it
blessed. The membership is constantly in
creasing.
Potomac Corps is distinguished above all
others in the national organization. When the
Women's Relief Corps convention of 1887 met
at st. Louis it was resolved That In view of
the special privileges bestowed upon Potomac
Corps by the national convention, we direct that
the number be removed from the name of the
corps and that it be SIMPLY known az Potomac
Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Department of
the Potomac, G. A. r.
1t vas shown at the G. A. r. encampment at
Milwaukee last year that Potomac Corps had,
during the convention year then closed given
more in charity than any other corps in the
country. 1t is the banner corps.
THE MEMBERSHIP
The entire roll of membership is rs follows.
President, Mrs Rose E. Ferree; senior vice
president, Mrs. Nellie F. Prentice; junior vice
president, Mrs. Frances A. Burger; secretary,
Miss Helen r. Holmes; treasurer, Miss Mary L.
Smith; conductor, Mrs. Mary NJ. Paige; chap
lain, Mrs. E. A. Vose guard, Mrs. Emily J.
Smith; assistant conductor, Mrs. Mary Ed
ridge; assistant guard, Mrs. Julia Roberts: Mrs.