The National tribune., 1894-09-13

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SARAH c. MINK, NATIONAL PRESIDENT.
of the United States are committed to patriotic
| teaching through the efforts of your repre-
sentatives.
| The COMMANDMENTS Chief and Adjutant- Gen.
| eral fully approve of the advanced position of
| the Womans Relief Corps in joining the Ma
| tional Council of Women.
PATRIOTIC TEACHING IN THE SCHOOLS
The 18th National Convention emphasized
Sec. of Art. 3 Chap. 1, in Rules and Regula-
| tions, by decisions 80 and 81: That we urge
| each member OF the Woman's Relief Corps to
| adhere strictly to the patriotic teachings Of our
! Order, and endeavOr TO inculcate lessons of
| loyalty and patriotism among the young IN the
communities in which they live"
The time was ripe for this portion Of our
work to be enforced; for the American people
are arousng as never before to the fact that the
children of our foreign population must be edu-
| Gated in public schools TO become loyal
citizens of this Repu blc and to reverence our
! flag, the proud ensign of this Nation for III
| years. The American flag has never been
traied in the dust by foreign or domestic foe.
| Wherever it has foated TO the breeze in every
sea and upon every land, it has been welcomed
by all people, of all nations, as the inspiration
10 humanity, to society, to the attainment of
equal rights. Let the old flag speak to the chill.
dren in the schools from one end of the land to
the other. Let this symbol utter the voice of
freedom upon every festive occasion. The flag
salute has been IN operation in many schools,
particularly when the principals and teachers
were members of the Grand Army or the Won-
ans Relief Corps. Believing we should adopt
one form Of flag salute to be taught and urged
by cur organization. | appointed a committee
Of seven, representing seven Departments, to
consider uniform exercise and report to this
Convention, of which Mrs Julia S. Conklin is
Chairman.
FINANCES.
When / assumed the responsibilities of the
office of President, it was with the knowledge
that the finances would be subject which
would require earnest considerations and care
full management would be necessary to success
fully carry on the work, which had SO increased
in magnitude.
Had / known the exact condition, fear
would have shrunk from undertaking to pilot
this ship through the threatening breakers.
| When the Treasurer balanced her books Sept 80
1893, there Was but $l46.93 in the general fund,
which was the basis on which began my years
work. As stated to you by my predecessor, the
statement Of our financial condition given at
National Convection is based upon the reports
OF June 81, which closes the official records of
the year; but from that time until the follow
ing Sept. 30, which closes the quarter. expenses
at headquarters are accTung, Convention
bills and salaries OF officers are to be paid
and all other necessary expenses met render
ing 1T fact sometimes lost sight of that the
amount in the Treasury reported TO Con vention
is not the amount turned over to the incoming
President. If we viii bear this in mind we
Will consider more carefully every action which
will call for an increase Of expenditures. /
have endeavored throughout the year to care
iulIy count the cost OF every step before taking
il. 5
By economy and careful fnanciering. together
with the valuable experience of the National
| Treasurer In ordering supplies. and watching
every point where penny could be saved to
the Order. we are able TO present a cash balance
IN general fund, instead of an Indebtedness,
such as seemed to threaten us at the outset
We have retrenched in every way possible
and feel justified in saying we have safely
passed an imminent crisis. We have a cash
balance in general fund. June 30 1894 of
SZ,157.27, and our usual stock of supplies on
hand.
RELIEF FUND.
In the early Fall and Winter many pitiful
appeals Tor help came to me, some of which |
referred TO Presidents of Departments from
which they came. To others / was compelled
to give my personal attention and investiga-
ton. Here l was again confronted with no
| money In the relief fund. Consequently the
manner in which worthy cases might be aided
became study, which resulted in again call
ing upon Department Presidents for small
contribution from each Department relief
! fund, the aggregate of which would establish
a National relief fund. was deeply touched
! by the quick response TO this request for in a
few days after sending the letter Massachusetts,
responded with $25, which was Immediately
! followed by donations from all other Depart
ments that were financially able to do So
OF the sum thus obtained $50 was distributed
! by Mrs. Harriette l.. Reed among the colored
soldiers families in Beaufort and Hilton Head
s. C.. who were sufferers from the tidal wave
which swept all of the earthly possessions of
| the inhabitants of these islands into the
/ sea, and left thousand dead on the sands.
| Fifty dollars in two installment has been
! sent TO a veterans widow in Delaware to
/ enable her to receive treatment in hospitaI.
| / have personally drawn $50. out of which
sent Sl27S to Mrs. Colgan, Hampton, Va who
| had advanced this amount for veterans
widow TO pay house rent and transportation
10 her home in Pennsylvania. 1t has been my
! privilege to assist in small sums many deserv-
ing cases, which could not be passed by, for
they were merltorious appeals, many of them
| in person.
Headquarters relief fund is again cstab.
lished thanks TO the Department Presidents
and their Councils, who came so nobly to my
assistance. We require Corps and DEPARTMENTS
TO have relief fund. There should also be at the
| uIeposai Vi bbS National PRESIDENT fuud from
which she can draw if her heart and Judgment
| feel the necessity in isolated cases.
| ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Words TAIL me to express my appreciation of
the strong Endorsement of the Woman's Relief
Corps by Commander-in- Chief Adams and Adj't-
Gen. Mech. Wherever they have visited En-
campments they have proven their loyal in
dorsement of the Auxiliary OF the Grand Army
OF the Republic by coming into the Convention
oil the Woman's Relief Corps. aud by their
voices and presence have encouraged the work
and inspired our members to undertake greater
| tasks. In every possible manner they have