The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1895-02-27
Mrs. Mary H. Mayberry, on behalf of the
visiting members, responded as follows:

Mrs. Mary H. Mayberry, on behalf Of the
visiting members. responded as follows:
MEMBERS OF DAVID MCINTOSH CORPS No 90
In knowing your President, feel as If knew
you ALL and l would | had the art OF saying
beautiful things, that l might more httiugly
thank you for the kind welcome you have given
to us, not alone in words, but in deeds
The zeal and enthusiasm with which you have
from the very first taken hold of this convention
proves that quality and not quantity make the
standard OF Corps, the same as it does in 9TH
er precious gems
You invited US to come. We are here.
You have received us with open hearts and
homes, for the mystic letters w. R c. make US
all sisters.
May the dear Father bless each one. and the
bond that binds US, heart TO heart, strengthen
by our meeting
Again, in behalf OF Dist 13, thank you.
In the evening Arcanum Hall was filed to
the walls with Corps women, G. A. r. mem
bers and guests. The Mcintosh Drum Corps
gave two ro sing exhibitions of the voice of
the Martial Muse after which the Fire v
was called into formal being by Mrs. Cowles
After prayer by J. B. Russell, the Male
Quartette sang "The Flag Without Stain y
Then came the Address of Welcome by John
Meharg, as follows:
In the name and on the behalf of the La
dies of the w. r. Z. and members of McIn
tosh Post, 1 extend to our visitors present d
hearty and cordial welcome. 1t is no mere
formal matter when | say we are glad tC
meet you here. But we desire to express
what we feel, Il real genuine satisfaction and
pleasure at your presence with us tonight.
Atone time Burns WAS called on unexpect
edly to give a toast at table. He responded
promptly; in the following lines:
"When Deaths dark stream ferry o'er,
A time that surely shall come,
In heaven itself I'll ask no more
Than just a Highland welcome"
At this point, as a matter of form, my duty
might be considered ended. But | assume
the right of adding few words.
We have in the country great many Sc.
cret orders, beneficial or social in their char.
acter. Nearly all of them have some merit
Some more than others. They each have
some reason for existence. But there is not
one of them that has a reason for existence
equal to the q. A. r. The others, as Il rule(
are composed of persons having but little in
common outside OF the lodge room. The
membership in the Order is the only tie that
binds them together. And we have known
that in many instances to be very loose a
tie in name, that don't bind; fellowship in
name and not in fact. But the G A. Il. has
much in common outside of mere mem ber-
ship. We all wore the blue, 10 begin with
all marched under the flag. We all held up
our hands and SwOre allegiance to the flag,
and to follow where it led, let the road be to
victory, defeat, or death. We shared the
tolls OF the march, the horrors of the battle.
field, the camp, and the thousand IncIdents
of military life. Most of us know by eXpe.
rience what a hospital is, too. We have
ground our teeth smooth Oh the same kind
of hard tack, ate with greedy relish and in
tense satisfaction our greasy ratlonS of bacon.
This was the name these articles were called
III the CommissaryS requlSitlon, but were
not heard or used i'll the common parlance OF
the camp.
We have shared each others joys and
sorrows, as we'll as each others blankets.
We have drank from the same canteen. 1t
did not always contain milk; sometimes il
had in it buttermilk. These are ties not
readily forgotten. They are associations
almost sacred. These are some of the rea-
SONS for the comradeShip i'll the G. A. r.
and they are true of no other Order ON earth
The soldiers ought to be united in com.
mon bond of fellowship and fraternal union
for mutual companiouShIp and assistance,
to see that no Comrade shall ever be forsaken
or his seed begging bread.
No higher temporal mission was ever com
mitted to the keeping of Il body of ladies than
to take part i'll the good work and mission
of the q. A. r.
The Woman's Relief Corps had its coun-
terpart durIng the war, III the Sanitary Com
find "a worthier place in the Soldiers Munu-
ment at Cleveland than those placed there
to the memory OF the Sanitary Commission
of Northern Ohio.
L know something of what this body of
workers accomplished. During the SIX
months that the Army of the Cumberland
was at MurfreesborO, following the battle of
Stone River, aud preceding the ChiCamauga
campaign, l had been detailed several times
to go to the Sanitary Commission for sup
plies, and never came away empty handed.
More than three-tOurthS of all the sanitary
supplies that came into my hands or fell
under my observation, bore the brand and
and familiar mark OF the Northern Ohio
Sanitary Commission. | remember writing
home at the time what afterward was pub
liShed i'll the papers, that | was satisfied that
Northern ONO furnished more valuable SAN
Itary supplies, to the Army OF the Cumber-
land, at least, than all the rest OF the United
Stttes put together, and believe it yet.
This was part of the work the women of
this town and other towns III this part OF the
State, did at that time. And the daughters
of the women of those days are engaged now
in d similar worthy cause, by continuing to
render assistance to the same old soldier.
The soldier did not enlist Il speculation.
He did not hIggle over how he WiIS to be
paid, as the bOudhOiders are DONG now :;
whether he was to receive his pay III coin or
gold. He did not see much OF either article
especially gold. He took what he could get
whether The greenoackS were at par or away
below, and was thankful. And those who
got out with an unpertorated cutlcle were
profoundly pleased. Though the purse was
lean, the heart was light. They were rich
only in one thing-a soldiers honor.
g For gold the merchant plows the main.
The farmer plows the manor;
But glory is the soldiers prize,
The soldiers wreath is honor"
But glory and honor don't buy meat and
not =
the bank Orthe store. Thousands of the SOL
diers at the close of the war were poorer
than they were when they enlisted. To help
these tile WOmen's Relief Corps was formed.
No body of women has higher or grander
mission. They have done untold good; and