The National tribune., 1895-12-05
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
terS---NOteS from Departments.
GAR. AND w.R.C.

Posts-Monument to Loyal Women.
Prominent Work and Workers for Fra
ternity, Charity and Loyalty.
COMMANDER IN CHIEFS ENDORSEMENT.
Gen. j. N Walker Commander-in-C Chief OF
the Grand Army of the Republic, follows the
example of Gen. r. B. Beath, who gave prompt
official recognition to the Woman's Relief
Corps the year it was organized, by special
mention in General Orders, as a duly author
lied auxiliary and therefore an important
factor in Grand Army work.
Coming from such a source, commendation of
the magnificent work which the 140000 loyal
women of the United States are doing to mako
vital the glorious principles of Fraternity,
Charity and Loyalty is particularly significant.
Not only by reason of Gen. Walkers position
as the head of that magnificent soldier organi-
zstion. the Grand Army of the Republic, but
because he is in himself the highest type Of
the American volunteer soldier, will his words
be cherished by tho devoted workers of the
Woman's Relief Corps, giving them new cour-
age and endurance and enthusiasm in their
glorious cause.
Section of General Orders No. 4, reads as
follows:
The Commauder-in-C Chief desires to call the
special attention of Posts to our great auxili-
ary, the Woman's Relief Corps, which has
proved by years of earnest, patient work that
its members are possessed of the same patriotic
fervor that animated the loyal women of the
land from 1861 to 1865 By their willing aid
and cheerful cooperation Post halls have been
frightened, the membership strengthened, and
the organization ennobed.
The Louisville National Encampment bav-
ing acted favorably upon resolution TO erect
a monument to the loyal women of the war,
the Commander in Chief has appointed Com
mittee to formulate plan, as follows: Ell
Terrence, Minneapolis, Mimi; S. S. Burdett,
Washington, ID. c.; A. NJ. Warner, Cincinnati,
o.; Washington Gardner, Lansing, Mich; Ira
NJ. Hedges, Haverstraw, n. Y.
On a recent occasion, then the work of the
loyal women of the war was the topic of con-
sideration. q memher of the famous Fighting
McCook " family, now n prominent divine IN
an Eastern city, lamented the fact that Amer
ica had erected no statue TO a woman save one,
and that s.atue Of Joan of Arc, and she
heroine of France from the misty ages.
He might have said that no statue had been
erected in honor of woman in the sense in
which q statue to the loyal women of the war
would be erected; for, while the monument
commemorative of soldier valor should be sur
mounted by the hero armed and equipped for
battle. the monument to woman's heroism
would he crowned with the angel Of the camp
and field and hospital. And while the bas-re-
liefs OF the soldier monument should show the
hosts contending and the brave boys holding
up the standards even unto death, those on the
woman's monument would tell the story in
stone of the devoted Army Nurses holding the
cup of cold water to the lips of the dying,
stanching the wounds of the victims of the
operating-table. aud writing the last letters
TO the loved ones at home.
ANOTHER STAMP REFoRMER
Comrade E. A. Housman. of Danbury. Conn.,,
proposes TO reform the Government postage
stamps. For the present two-cent stamp he
would substitute the Goddess of Liberty"
then he wonld have the Government issue q
mourning stamp in two shades of black, with a
portrait of Martha Washington. Just why the
=" Father of His Country" should be retired
aud the Mother of Her Country" put in
mourning he does not explain.
On the fve-cent stamp he wou1d put the
American flag, where everybody might have a
chance to lick it.
DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
The Department President, Eva T. Cook, of
Massachusetts,, in General Orders, No. z, an
nounces the following:
Consolidated reports Of Department Secre-
tary and Treasurer for the quarter ending
Sept. 30 contain the following statistics: Num-
ber of Corps, l6e; membership. 13,442; amount
expended in relief, Sl,548.76 turned over to
Posts, Sl,21l.54; estimated value of relief
other than money, S525.23
vacancy having occurred in the Office of
Department Counselor owing 10 the removal of
Clare H. Burleigh from State, Mary F. Knowles
is appointed Department Counselor.
Corps &C. East Cambridge, has contributed
$40 to the Department relief fund. The Corps
of Norwell, Lexington, Conway, and Sheffield
contribute TO the Soldiers Home donations
and Corps 81, Salem, 10 the fund for needy
Posts in the Sonth.
General Orders No. z. arc accompanied by
circular letter from the Memorial Fund Com
mittee, Mary q. Deane, Chairman, with De-
partment President Cook and the Past Depart.
men. President members, urging the Massa-
cbusetts Corps 10 build up the fund in aid of
the sick and afflicted. The letter says:
The blessings already conferred upon SOL
ders' widows and Army Nurses who, burdeued
with sickness and poverty, have no friends to
care for them except the Woman's Relief Corps
are an encouragement for us to continue this
grand work, knowing that every dollar ex-
pended from this fund is worthily bestowed.
Stated sums arc monthly distributed in sew.
eral cases, aud the gratitude ex pressed by those
who are dependent upon this allowance for
the necessaries of life touches our hearts, and
prompts us 10 more tenderly remember those
whose burdens seem greater than they can
bear"
Department President Cook urges upon
Corps the duty of specially remembering the
purposes of their organization at the happy
Christmas tide. She pleads for gifts for the
Soldiers Home, as well as for all those for
whom the season brings sorrow and suffering,
and says:
Let us remember them from our abun-
dance; show TO them and 10 their comrades that
from the depths of our grateful hearts we bless
them and appreciate the debt we owe them;
make this coming Christmastide one long to
be remembered by sending boxes of clothing
and delicacies such as is common to this festive
season. The season for entertainments, for
festivities is approaching. Open your doors
and invite in your friends, the public, that they
may see the good work we doing, aud give
US their encouragement and support"
DEPARTMENT OF MAINE.
DEAR TRIBUNE: Department President M.
Ant0inette Millett and Department Inspector
Hannah NJ. Small wisely appointed the Past
President and the Department Senior Vico-
President as Assistant Inspectors thus securing
thorough aud intelligent work Cordial recep.
lions were extended by all the Corps and the
inspection reports show the Corps hourishng
and doing good work.
Belle J. Palmer, Department Senior Vice
President, travelled many miles by stage and
private conveyance 10 inspect the Corps of
Aroostook County but no sacrifice s too great
for her where the interests of the W.R.C. are
concerned.
Past Department President Inzetta A. Small
inspected the new Corps Of Oakland, Brooks
and Unity, all organized within the past few
months; she found them enthusiastic and de.
ylSlng and means To gil the m