Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1895-02-01
THE RELIEF CORPS.
.Denartment Presidents RECON-
mendatiOnS.

The standing of the Order---Mrs. Della
Needhnm of Rutland the New Presi-
dent
The Relief corps opened in regular Or
der. and much of the time wednesday
forenoon was devoted to reports OF depart
ment officers and other routine business.
Mrs. Alice Henry. the department presl-
dent. after cordial greetings, spoke OF Jhe
small growth of the past three years,
which was secured only by the addition OF
new corps. The loss from suspensions
was especially large, due IN part, the presi-
dent thought, to inetiicency OF corps treas
urers With one exception the most cor
! dial relations between post and corps III
this department has existed. This eXcep-
/ ton was at Barre, where the feeling OF sew
eral wears between Crandall Relief corps
! and the post of which it is auxiliary culmi-
/ mated in a certified vote of the post asking
/ a revocation of the corps charter. The
president urged upon corps officers, par
| ticularlv corps presidents, the sacred duty
of studying how best TO cultivate cordial
relations with the post, remembering
/ that the great fundamental idea Of our or
| ganization is to be an aid to the post and
! their comrades" C.. j. Ormsbee corps
wasIinstituted at Brandon, the 2Sth inst,
with 70 charter members making % corps
/ in the department. ut IS grateful
thought to me that in all the sisterhood OF
/ states our little Vermont stood tlrst OF all
/ in proportion to membership in the tribute
her loyal women sent to kiss into blossom
the quiet resting places of those who sleep
under the sad pines or amid the everlasting
plains of the Southland. 1t is the best
l,,, no pnQ
| cheney of our department chaplain that of
all the land her report came first to national
| headquarters, with every corps reported
| Mrs Henry spoke in tender terms of the
! Grand Army and told the members to re-
member "that our chiefest aim is their aid
| aud helping: that to us on such profess
| sion they have accorded the highest honor
which is ours-to be called nearest the
| Grand Army of the Republic.
! The president spoke approvingly OF the
work of the Sons of Veterans and of the
| life of the inmates of the Soldiers Home,
| the national convention, and other matters.
| closing with the injunction that there be
/ cultivated in corps intercourse and work
/ the principles Of fraternity and charity in
! the broadcast and most comprehensive
meaning. Mrs. II nry made important
| recommendation as follows:
/. That the vote adopted 10y the last
/ convention that the department contribute
/ the sum of 500 annually to wards the sup
/ port of the National w. c. T. L. home be
| rescinded
.. That the salute to our flag be taught
/ in all the public schools where it has not
/ been adopted, and that corps officers exert
| all their influence possible to have this
/ done,
/ 3. That the department pay the eX-
/ penses of the presiden. to the national
convention
4. That the salaries of the department
| secretary and treasurer remain at SO each.
>. That only 80 copies of the journals
| of this convention be printed.
6. That whereas it has been customary
! to provide at each national convention a
! ribbon badge for department badge, at
an expense usually Of $50 or more, that
the present metal badge with ribbon, etc.
used at the last national convention, be
adopted as the permanent badge of this
department.
| :. That the department be by the in
| coming president divided into five districts
and that the duty of visiting each corps in
| such districts at least once a year, to in
struct them in the ritual and the princi-
!
| president. senior vice president. junior
vice president, senior aide and chaplain
! That the travelling expenses OF such officers
when making such visits be paid by the
treasurer from department funds.
S. That credential cards be furnished
| free to corps and distributed to them in the
last quarter of each year by the depart
ment secretary.
The report of Melissa c. Lee, the de-
! partment treasurer, showed completely
| the financial transactions of the order.
| The total receipts were Sl547.6j. including
| S224.2S from the past treasurer and S1323.
81 from all sources during the wear. The
/ total expenditures We're S12SS. 06. leaving
cash on hand S259.99, which with supplies
on hand worth S94 "a makes the total as
/ sets of S354.53.
! From the Report OF Emma {. Henry