The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-10-22
OUR NATIONAL CHAPLAIN.
cI,ra RartoD In.taII.d m Ro,aI styI


Clara Barton. President OF the American Branch
OF the Red Cross Association, having bren elected
National Chaplain Of the w.R.C. by ninth National
Convention, after her departure for the Pacific
Slope. her installation deferred until Oct 2
when she WAS installed by Past National President
Elizabeth Darcy Kline AT n brilliant reception
rendered her al the Occidental Hotel. san Fran
cisco. Besides representatives Of the Relief Corp'
and veterans Of the Grand Army Of the Republic
there was present full attendance Of uniformed
officers Of the United States Army stationed at san
Francisco in recognition OF Clara Barrnn's relation
to the Regular Army by virrHe Of her Office as
President Of the Red Cross Association.
Gertrude Gallagher, California's faithful CORE
spondent, who forwards an account, refers To the
happy coincidence which associates Clara Barton's
Initiation "a "A life honorary member Of the WR-C.
i'm 1876, and her installation National Chaplain
ga 1891 with san Francisco and Lincoln Corps In
this connection il Is Interesting to turn TO pages ~
aud 10. Proceedings Of Fourth National COnven'
ton. as follows;
INITIATION OF CLARA BARTON.
Mrs. II. J. Russell, Department President OF Call.
fOrniH, stated that there were many who desired
To bc initiated during the Convention. Objection
raised by National Senior Vics-fresideut Mrs.
Kline aud Mrs. :. A. Parker, department. Prrsi-
dent Of Massachusetts The National President,
Mrs. Fuller replied: This can only he done ny
vote Of Convention: but would state that an i'm
poTtant communication, or request, has been re-
ceivcd from the Grand Army Of the Republic,
asking that lady whom they all venerate aud
whom they all delight 10 hunOT-a lHdy who was
as familiar To them during tie war a. their moth
ers-Mi-s Clara Barton, be made "A member oil our
Order at this Convention, and await your action
ia TINS matter"
Mrs. T. Florence Barker. Pas. National Presi:
dent, moved that waive the regular order OF
business, and presented the following Te-Oluti IA:
Resolued That the fourth National Convention,
WR.C., invite Miss Clara Barton the veteran war
hnsRra
lug a member OF Order. not alone for her seTv-
ice a nurse, but la behalf Of the mothers, wives,
and daughters OF those who died ia Southern pris-
uns, where their only knowledge Of their dear
ones was secured by Clara Barton. who delayed
not for the smoke Of battle to roll away before
seeking lhe prisons and obtaining the complete
list uf those who died within its walls, now ON file
IN the War Department.
She said. :" hope We will extend every courtesy
ia our power 10 this woman, IS no has been hUnOTed
by the crowned heads OF other countries, anu 10
whom every cOmTAde la the GA. r. bows his head;
and who. though not knowing any OF US, bu,
through her faith In woman, alone stood by us
when we were trying To organize at Denver,
therefore move that Miss Barton be made "a mem-
Der Of our Order at this Convention
Mrs Annie WIttenmyeT. National Chaplain; 1T
was my privilege To know Miss Barton during the
Her peculiar one, and take
pleasure la seeOndinR the nomination
Motion carried.
FREEDOM OF THE RELIEF CORPS CONFERRED.
The National President, Mr. Fuller. announced
that the initiation Of Miss Clara Barton was the
first business iu order. Tire President Of Lincoln
COrr- San FTnuclscO Mrs. ssyTes. and her staff,
occupied the respective chairs. and conducted tho
services Miss Barton being initiated ia the usual
form. Mrs. Sherwood, Past National President,
explained the objects Of the Red Cross Association,
aud alluded tu the iron cross of Germany conferred
upon Miss Barton for distinguished services IN the
Franco PTussan war, stating thai Miss Barton was
the only woman who had been thus huuored. Mrs.
Sherwood desired that this Convention should Sc
cure an appropriate badge for IL ewIy.iuiiiaied
nv Mr. tltal Ilts
National Convention suspend Rules aud Regula-
tious and that "a badge Of National officer be pre-
scented Mis- Clara Barton. to which shall be sus-
pended red cross by yellow silk ribbon.
Motion carried unanimously by rising vote.
Moved by Mrs. Sherwood that a committee OF
three be apo nled To prepare "a distinctive badge
across the bar, in place OF tile word " President,
and the red cross suspended from the bar. Mrs.
Sherwood stated further that II was intended That
tie freedom of National Conventions departments,
und Corps be extenged Miss BARRON
Voted. motion Of Mrs. h. Florence Barker.
Past National President, that the committee have
full power. The hair appointed Mrs kHts Il.
Sherwood Mrs. T.. FloTeuce Barker, ard Mrs. Eliza
beth D'A. Kline "a committee To procure the badge.
Proceedings Fourth National Convention, pages
lZ5-l29.
OUR NEW NATIONAL CHAPLAIN.
As instructed by fourth National Convention,
the committee proceeded 10 act at once, and in
vested Clara Barton with badge Of pure California
gold, properly inscribed aud embeIlished with da-
monds. AT ninth National Convention the honor
intended WAS reiterated and certificate Of homo
rary membership ordered the recipient. Later she
was made National Chaplain by Il rising vote. The
installation account follows:
SAN FRAsCIsco. CAL, October, 1891
DEAR TRIBUNE. Lincoln Relief Corps, No. g.
Sau FrAnciscu, rendered n reception To Clara Bar
ton, National Chaplain. W.R.C. and President Red
Cross Association, on the evening OF Oet Ia the
paTiors Of the Occidental Hotel. The OCCASION was
rendered more Interesting by the ceremony OF in-
ziallnliun Elizabeth DA. Kline, Past National
President, being detailed by National President
Saunders To install tile distinguished guest Ma
tiunnl Chaplain, to which office shs elected al
| ninth National Convention. That Clara Barton
should bc Installed n her solemn Office In this
Of ran Francisco. aud under the auspices VI Linz
coin Corps. seemed riuguiaFly fortunate, since II
was here she WAS initiated by fourth National Con-
| veutiuu IA lss6, aud made lie honorary member
Of The National Association. invested with a badge
/ of Past National officer.
The rooms were beautifully decorated with flags
i aud "A band stationed tu tile hall pTuvid sweet
| music Above tile distinguished guest the
satin banner Of Lincoln Corps, aud lovely flower
were heaped la protusi0n before her. At her side
/ stood Past National President kinne, Mary T.
| AndcTtUn, President Of Lincoln Corps Mrs. Lem
mon, A. q. Ma-ellAr. Assistant AtJuant- General;
/ Judge A. J. Buckles Past Department Commander;
Col. w. X. Smedberg aud DIR. Htbbeli, Of tie Red
Cross Association. For nearly two hour. a stream
/ of ladies aud gentlemen poured past, anxious 10
i pay respects TO "a woman whose fame IS world
\ wide Following Tie civilians came military
organizations IN full uniform, the Veteran Guards
Far Oaks Camp, sons Of Veterans, Loyal Legion
| Lincoln Post, aud representatives OF other Posts
| aud Gen. Dimond y. g. g., and staff
la introducing Clara Barton, Col. Smedberg made
graceful speech. in which he roviewe eel her phiIan
| thropc The ceremony Of installation WA:
| then performed boy Past National President kinnG
| ia her usual dgutsd manner Oh the conclusion
| II which the baud struck up tie " Red, White anc
| Bloc" The response of the National Chaplain tC
| the honor conferred upon her WIS simple RnC
heartfelt. She spoke Of Use exceptional houo
| accorded her upon the Pacific Coast ON her frs
| visit la 1856. Of making her nn honorary mem bel
| Of Ile W.R.C. with tile hunors Of Pi.t NitiOnA
officer aud bUsiowing upon her Tie beautiful badge
which she holds one Of tie choicest gifts aIIc
hunOrs OF her lie To the coInrtdes OF the GA. X
| she said:
SOLDIER, turn 10 you inspiratIon and
| welcome your presence here Tonight - you have
/ welcomed mine. Thirty years ago you d1uneC
| your uniforms and shouldGred tile knapsack anJ
nIusket buckied tile sword la defense of 1
| laud imperiled aud Nation ia the thTocs of desc
| luton. You were young. full Of vigur and patriot
ism. and with the sturdy step Of the youthful war
| TiDr you marched To the rescue and to victory. A
| Nation saved was your reward. Under the sweey
| of your arms old institutions faded away, new
| forms aud new life succeeded. The world applaud
ed aud WAS glad, aud those whom you fought a,
enemies have come To regard you as friends, anC
hail you comrades aud brothers. and II in
yasion the lot Of this country to-day all wonlC
STAND under one flag. aud all would wear the
| blue. You were dOubly victorious II 10 be tTuI
that lie who defeats s enemy conaueTs once
but lac who wins him conquers twice The peace
ful. honest toll Of 3 years has proved value
your citizenship. aud while Autumn has frosted
The locks aud benumhed little the Elastic tread
you are still Father Abraham's 1000 % more anS
The Nation Is safe with its veterans at the helm
Soldiers, thank you for this Wait, and the homo
| of these uniforms tonight"
4 The National Chaplain conclude. her eloquen
] address with few words Of cong AtulAtion ~ til