The National tribune., 1893-07-13
LADIES OF THE GAR.
Something About the Aims and Objects of
this New Organization.

4
| this New Organization.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Please allow
me small space in your columns in the inter-
| est of the Ladies of the Grand Army of the
Republic Department of Ohio. This Order ia
composed of mothers wives, sisters, and daugh-
tiers of soldiers sailors, marines, who served
honorably during the late rebellion, and all
Army Nurses. Comrades are admitted to full
or honorary membership, and are entitled to
| speak ali subjects before the meeting, but
| have no vote, nor can they hold an Office.
| The objects of the Order are to unite
with loyalty 10 our country sisterly love
and affection for each other; to honor the
memory of our fallen heroes; to perpetuate
and keep forever sacred Memorial Day;
to aid all sick and distressed soldiers, their
widows and orphans; to see that the friendless
orphan is provided with good home; to see
that all children and youths obtain proper edu-
cation in the true history Of the country and
in the principles of loyalty and patriotism.
The Ladies of the GAR are not an auxiliary
Of the Grand Army Of the Republic Every
honorably- disehsrged soldier and his family
may become members of the organization.
They part of the Grand Army. They
are organized not for the purposes of relief and
charity solely or mainly. They have faith
enough in the loyal men and women of Amer
lea to believe that when charity is needed for
the old soldiers it will be forthcoming, and in
q measure that will meet all necessities. The
noble loyal women who furnished supplies for
the Christian and Sanitary Commissions, and
so grandly supported them in every emergency
during the dark days of our country's need,
will not fail, if called on, to provide amply for
the needs of the soldier and his family. The
soldiers are not, as class, paupers mere than
Others and do not need, more than any other
class, great National charitable organization
for their especial benefit. They do, however,
desire the sympathy and fellowship which can
come only from trial and suffering borne in
common. They need encouragement and help
in other than material ways. This the Ladies'
of the GAR. are well fitted to render, since
they are bound to the soldiers by ties similar to
those which bind the comrades of the Grand
Army. While the husbands fathers and broth
ers were at the front, enduring the hardships OF
the camp and the prisOn-pen, or the fire of bat
tie, their wives, mothers, and sisters at home
passed through trial and suffering, and endured
the hope deferred which made the heart sick.
They are, therefore, more in sympathy with
the soldiers than il is possible for others. It is
this sympathy and encouragement, rather than
charity, that the veterans of the GAR need,
and while they furnish material aid to the
destitute among them, the Ladies of the G.AR-
can minister to their deeper and holier needs.
This organization is National in its charsc-
ter, Mrs. Carrie V. Sheriff, of Allegheny, Pa,
being the National President, having some 90.
600 members in its ranks. Of this number
about 200 are found in Ohio
At the last Convention In Hamilton, O., there
were as representatives, and elected for the
coming year Mrs. Annie E. Riggs, of Columbus,
o., as their Department President. This Order
is growing very rapidly. and is not antagonis-
tic to any soldier organization, but is friend
to all charitable societies whose mission is one
of love, fraternity. fidelity charity, and patriot
ism. A new Circle was formed at Bucyrus, O.,
on last Monday evening by the Department
President with % charter members; besides,
quite number of comrades were obligated.
The Circle was named Gen. R. B. Hayes,
whose name will ever be cherished by every
soldier, for in him he always found . friend.
Any information regarding this Order will be
kindly furnished by the Department President.