The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1893-11-16
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
ters---Notes from the Departments
PRACTICAL THANKSGIVING.
The National President Urges the Relief
Corps to Increased Activity on Behalf of
Soldiers aud Their Families.


Soldiers aud Their Families.
THANKSGIVING AND TRANSPORTING.
MANY follow Jesus to the breaking of bread
but few to the drinking Of the cup Of his passion
So said that good old saint, Thomas q
Kempis, and said it in all truth as We must
severally and collectively confess.
When all goes well we are joyful and filed
with gratitude that such signal blessings have
come upon US. When things go i'll we are full
of murmurngs and complaints. When We can
discharge our boundon duties at no great sacri.
fee of time. OF money. or comfort, or clothes.
we are cheerful and complacent and charitably
disposed. If our bounden duties must be per-
formed at the cost of physical comfort, or the
loss of those Injuries and pleasures upon which
our hearts are set. we are sullen and complain
ing, and the currents of human sympathy are
frozen in our hearts.
This is neither good philosophy nor good
religion. " Reverence the gods and help men,
said the good Roman stole. Marcus Aurelius.
Pure religion and undefiled before God the
Father" said the good Christian apostle, is to
visit the fatherless and widows in their attic
ton"
ulo lc iisHb 1tNibBs tui5 10
new every morning and strengthened every
night; incumbent alike upon the richest and
poorest, though from one class may aow great
temporal gifts and from the other spiritual
benefactions only.
1t is a mistake that one must be prosperous
in temporal things in order to discharge his
bounden duties WELL A smile is better than
silver and hearty handshake better than gold
to a man who is suffering the inconsistencies
that is nigh unto death. The more respondent
those around you the greater reason why you
should be placid and full of encouragement.
One must give according to that which he
has. but give he must. There is no other thank
Offering acceptable unto God or to men. Give
thanks from your gamers and your stores,
from your hearts and home affairs, this Thanks
giving. 1903
"There are thousands of veterans Anu their
families suffering in our cities and towns"
writes q comrade high mp in the counsels of the
Grand Army. Seek them out; do not wait for
them to apply. They are your own kith and kin.
Multiply your thanksgiving By putting song
of JOY into the hearts of the sad and suffering.
Suppose the times are hard, that through the
operations of imperfect human laws the good
gifts showered so lavishly upon our land are un-
equally divided, is that any reason why you
should give up heart and hope, and invent
poor, fimsy excuses for failing to do your part
in ameloration of human woe, in the proper
acknowledgment of the manifold mercies Of
God?
All the more reason why your brain should
be clear, your purpose immovable, your heart
Astounding in all sweet charities, your life be
spent in unselfsh deeds. your soul be satisfied
with the bread of heaven, which comes unasked
to him whose VOWS are held inviolate.
One Of the vows taken by each member of
the Wornan's Relief Corps, and reiterated at
every regular assemblage is:
ITO assist such Union veterans as need our
help and protection, and to extend needful aid
to their widows and orphans; to find them
homes and employ ment and assure them Of
sympathy and friends"
Let this VOW be kept in the letter and spirit.
To keep it in letter and in spirit is perpetual
thanksgiving, even though it take you beyond
"the breaking of bread" even to the drinking
of the cup of his passion" The pangs one must
suffer in fulfilling bounden duties are but the
breaking of the cords that bind the soul to carnal
things.
The National President in her latest General
Orders is careful to call the attention of Corps
to the need of greater efforts the coming Win
ter on behalf of those in whose cause We are
enlisted. After long, weary months Of enforced
idleness, thousands and ten of thousands enter
upon a long and dreary Winter, lily suppl led
with food and clothing and the fuel required
in a severe climate like ours.
All the Soldiers Homes, thus early in the
season. are full and no further admissions can
be considered. All our Soldiers' Orphans
Homes are overcrowdcd. and little children,
fstheress and motherless out in the cold cry
ing for bread. In the wards of our great Cities
in Obscure country places, in the savannas of
the South, on the prairies of the West. in the
watching for the help that is slow 10 come.
Let us help them all; let us help one another.
Let Us. rejoice that we live in a free land a
land of peace and plenty; land of rivers and
brooks and fruitful plains and valleys; land
whcrc.no great epidemics ravaec our homes; a
land Christian in hope aud anxious Of accom-
plislment.
Let us give generously. as God gives; not of
our poorest, but of our best. His sunshine Is
never second hand. His rain is never measured
by the pint. His fruits are perfect fruits, and
his grains hang full and golden.
GIVE GENEROUSLY.
Better no gift than niggardly gift. The
dear little boy Of that unfortunate eomrade
likes a whole suit. neat and clean, as well as
does your own happy boy. That sweet little
girl has eyes that sparkle as brightly over q
pretty new frock or bright ribbon az do those
of the child at your knee.
That brokendown old soldier, cropping
YEARLY along, once wore as blue blouse, With
as bright buttons and walked with as firm q
step, in the days before he fell in front OF the
enemy's ramparts, as your fine college cadet is
wearing to-day. DO not give to them your
poorest gifts. Give goodly gifts. as unto the
Lord, the maker and owner of US all.
THE BUGLE-CALL.
By Kate Bro,ohtee Sherwood
Bugler, bugler what shall you blow
Over the haTvests and over the snow7
Children crying. 20. give 10 us bread
Widows are anguishing their dead;
Pity them, buglcr pity and blow
Blessings aud boupties wherever you go.
Bugler. bugier where shall you lead,
Into the mansions OF money and greed,
Into the psrlors where pleasure is king,