The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-02-22
THE OLD GUARD.
Fifteenth Annual Convention, Department
Massachusetts,.

Fifteenth Annual Convention, Department
Massachusetts.
The Peoples Church, Boston, was filed with
a notable body of women when Department
President Emily L. Clark brought down the
gavel on the morning of Feb z and declared
the 18th annual Convention, WR.C., duly
opened for the transaction of business.
On the platform were seated officers OF De-
partment, Past National Presidents Barker and
Fuller, Past Department Presidents, and Past
Department Presidents of New England De-
partments, while in the seats of honor were
seated National President Sarah G. Mink and
National Treasurer Phillips.
Following devotional exercises Department
President Clark read unsatisfactory adj
dress, setting forth in explicit manner many
gratifying facts concerning the growth, prog
ress and status of the banner Department Of
Massachusetts. The morning was given up to
the consideration of reports, appointment Of
committees, presentation of National officers
and visitors and the reception of an official
delegation from the Grand Army bearing the
greetings of Encampment.
Lizabeth A. Turner, Chairman of the W. R.C.
Committee on Greetings to Encampment. re-
ported an enthusiastic reception, and read the
official reports of the Grand Army, paying
glowing tributes to the work Of the Woman's
Relief Corps.
Comrades Evans, Goodale and Burleigb, rep
resenting the Encampment Committee, de-
livered happy complimentary addresses. The
usually witty remarks of Comrade Evans were,
however, tempered by his statements that 499
Massachusetts veterans had been mustered out
by death last year.
SOLDIERS HOME HENNERY.
An interesting and entertaining report was
that OF Lizabeth A. Turner on the Soldiers
Home Henuery." This report showed that
S1Q6 "a had heeu contributed for he
of hens, and the Corps in Beverly had sent
$l.25 Tor the support of the family of hens and
chickens it had sent. There were contributed
80 hens and three cockerels. Mrs. Barker,
who made the motion at the last annual meet
ing of the Department which set the ball roll
ing in regard to providing this useful aid to
the hospital and the Home itself in Chelsea,
said that the generosity of the Ladies' Aid
Association in providing the henhouse. and the
generosity of the Corps, had in this case pro-
vided the Home with property valued DIT 200.
as we'll as providing nourishing food for the sick
in the hospital and the inmates of the Home.
GREETINGS AND RESOLUTIONS
Greetings and kilograms were received from
Armila A. Cheney, National Treasurer; Eliza
beth Darcy Kinne, of San Francisco, National
Counselor; Past Department President Jones,
of Vermont; and Kate B. Sherwood, Past Ma
tional President.
NJ. Susie Goodale, Chairman OF Committee
on Presidents Address, reported recommends
tions concurred in. Approved by Convention.
the principal recommendations being as fol-
lows:
That no form Of written instructions be sent
to Assistant Inspectors, as in former years.
That the exemplifcations be continued and
that they be more in number rather than less.
That committee of three, of which Sarah
E. Fuller shall be Chairman, be appointed by
this Convention to arrange for the second Re-
union during the coming Summer.
That the per capita tax be increased from
eight cents to 10 cents per quarter.
That 5000 be transferred from the Soldiers
Home fund to the Invalid Veterans fund, to
be used for special purposes in connection with
the Soldiers Home,
On motion of Emma B. Lowd, Past National
President E. Florence Barker was elected
Chairman of a committee to draft resolutions
to be presented to the National Convention
in regard to the Woman's Relief Corps Home,
and her associates elected to the committee
were L. A. Turner. Sarah E. Fuller, Anna K.
Day, Emma B. Lowd, Emily Clarke, and II.
Susie Goodale.
NATIONAL OFFICERS PRESENTED.
National President Sarah c. Mink was intro
duced, and received warm greeting. Her
remarks were brief, but to the point. She said
that she had many pleasant impressions of the
Convention. Massachusetts, had always been
a loyal supporter of her acts, and she felt
grateful for the many expressions of loyalty
and good cheer which had come from this
Department. The first official report which
reached National Headquarters was from the
banner Department" and Massachusetts was
always prompt in response to calls for aid.
National Secretary Phillips, and Fanny ].
Minot, President of the Department of New
Hampshire made graceful little speeches, join
ing in the congratulations of the hour
The Committee the Memorial Home Fund
reported that it deemed it inadvisable to hold
bazaar this year, as proposed, in aid of the
Home. Many offers of building sites have
already been received, and 81, 38796 has been
received from the Massachusetts Corps for that
purpose.
Comrade b. Reed Wales, Secretary of the
Munroe Monument fund, was introduced and
stated that the $43 donated by the Convention,
while gratefully received was not needed, as
the GA r. had completed the fund earlier in
the morning.
INSPECTORS REPORT.
Department Inspector Emily L. Waterman
reported the number of Corps instituted during
the year. 9; number of Corps lost during the
year, A; number of Corps inspected, 157; num-
Der of meetings held during the year, 1922;
number of members in good standing, 1880
gain, 1856; number of Corps with Treasurer's
work properly performed and books correct
Isl; number of Corps having a relief fund,
1856; amount of money in relief fund, SIG, Cos. 80;
amount expended in relief, 1922. CO; amount
turned over to Posts, $50, 8S919; total amount
of money expended in relief from relief fund,
$l7,1I6S7; amount of relief other than money,
$2141.54; total relief, including food, clothing
and money, $I9. 258.41; amount expended for
members not relatives of soldiers, from gen.
eral fund, $441.22; expended for the Soldiers
Home, $95S.68; number of Corps contributing,
112; expended for Army Nurses, $253.71 num-
Der of Corps contributing. 81.
The claim of Army Nurses upon the relief
fund was discussed, and the opinion of the
Department President concurred in. This
opinion was that the Army Nurse was "a vet
eran" and soldier in all that the titles i'm
piled. 1t appeared by the discussion that a
great deal of money expended in relief had not
been credited to that department owing to this
misunderstanding, the general fund having
been drawn upon instead of the relief fund, in
some Instances for Army Nurse work.
Marmaduke Bowdoin, of Louisville KY. was
then introduced and made an eloquent address,
extending the Inequalities of the city and
State to the National Convention of 1895.
DEPARTMENT OFFICERS 1894.
Only partial reports of Conventions have
reached THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, but a gem
eral summing up of the reports and business
transactions of 18th annual Convention, as
well as of receptions and Campfres shared
jointly with the Grand Army, will show this |
to have been one of the most successful in the
history of Massachusetts Conventions. The |
officers, elective and appointive installed are as
follows Pres, Glare Ii. Burleigh, Athol; S. "
p, Eva T. Cook, Gloucester; ]. V-P., Helen