The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-09-03

to Cite the Woma ans Relief Corps this property
if we would improve and care for it hereafter.
/ do not feel competent to make any recon-.
mendation concerning it until after you have
heard the report of the committee appointed
for that purpose
OFFICIAL VISITS.
/ have not been able to visit as many OF tho
Departments at their Conventions as / have de-
sired. The Past National President Mrs. Emma
r. Wallace, accomplished nuch good III the lsr
West by her visits last year, SO that TINS year
my presence Was not so much neeaeu, except
in social way, but the lack of time and money,
both combined, kept me east OF Chicago
felt that what time / had to give TO visiting
would be of more real use to tho Order If
spent il with colored Corps of the South. And
while pleasure called in one direction. duty set
up a stronger claim in another; so, putting In
clination in the closet, followed duty.
Whenever / have been inspecting Corps in
the South | have wanted to go to Key West,
hut the long distance from Jacksonville, cou-
pied with the extra expense, has kept me back
but this year i have visited the famous b. Z.
Lincoln Corps, of Key West, and l was well re-
paid for my trip. This Corps, out on an lsiano
where they only have two mails weeks
COMPOSED OF LOG bright, intelligent coiored
women, who thoroughly realize why they were
organized. They never have any dissensions
in their Corps, or a tardy and incorrect report.
In more ways than one they could teach us al
a lesson.
/ consider the Post in Key West the best ex-
emplifcstion of the word " Fraternity" extant.
Ii is composed of both white and c0iored COM
rades. the latter predominating. Gen. VIM.
DeLacy, formerly of Brooklyn. N. Y. has been
the Post Commander for the past six years.
Anyone knowing the comrads will appreciate
the kind of a Commander that Post is blessed
with. Genuine harmony prevails between Post
and Corps
There are two good earnest white Corps on
the west coast of Florida, at Tampa and st.
Petersburg, which visited, and the principles
that they maintain of devotion tothe nag gives
an atmosphere of loyalty to their surroundings:
! reinstated the Corps at st. Augustine, ana
can assure You that none Of these Corps In the
South drop behind when they can help 1t. Inc
freezing of the orange groves has killed All
kinds of industries in Florida, and LETT the
poorer classes without even the necessities OF
life. Pity them, my sisters, and have patience
with their isilings.
The Corps in Georgia are doing finely. There
has been Corps recently instituted OF az char-
ter members, IN the town or city OF fltzseraio'
Less than year ago the place was Forest
tirely of old veterans and their families, who
have gone there from Kansas Nebraska. and
other States west, where farming for the last
few years has proved failure. The Post ana
Corps are named Colony"
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
It is q hard matter 10 know where to begin
the subject of thanks, where all have been more
than kind. Commander-in-Chief Walker.
Adi't.Gen. Robbins and ms. Gen. Olin have
been ALWAYS helpful with kind words. that have
made me feel, should trouble come, l had IN
them q support as strong as the Rock OF
Chickamauga" As each National President
! feels the Commando in Chief that she has had
the honor to serve with is, by far. the hest, !
! fnd, at the end of my year, am no exception
| to the rule. While we might have been more
neighbory, had our offices been nearer each
other he can congratulate himself that what
| was my loss WAS his gain.
What shall / say to Massachusetts,? i find
| myself poor, even, In thanks, when the COM
rsdes of the Grand Army and the Woman's Re-
| lief Corps are to be mentioned. From the be-
ginning to the close of my administration
| have not had to ask favor of either organ.
| ization. They have stood by me Loyalty and
| lovingly, with hands outstretched to help me
over all the rough places, and TO fill each day
| with some kind act word that brought sun
| shine into my life. The reception given me on
| nv return from Louisville, in Faneull Hall, by
the Grand Army and Woman's Relief Corps o
| Massachusetts, will always shine forth as tint
| brightest spot in my whole life Tears I'LL M!
eyes and nv hand trembles when / write OF al
| their thoughtful kindness TO me In the pas
year. As they have given to nee, may it be re
turned to their hearts fourfold.
/ But Massachusetts, has been no more loya
than the other Departments of our grand or
ganization representing this country. From
| all have come helpful and encouraging words
and no opportunity has been lost TO :" lend
hand " in the good work in which We are en-
gagged.
With ali my heart / again wish to say t
every member of our Order. THANK you, m
dear" and may the choicest blessings Of beavel
and earth be yours for evermore
The members of my official family have bee
faithful good and true, always ready to will
ingy perform all the duties assigned them.
shall miss their bright, CHEEKY letters in th
days to come, but must resign myself to tn
thought that another Headquarters is bein
made cheerful and happy by another set G
officers of your choice. The new Treasurer hs
proved herself to be all that good office
should be-prompt and efficient. l believe n
organization ever had as good Treasurers as tn
National Womau's Relief Corps has had in il
l3 years of existence; know whereof speak
| for / served six years myself.
Ny Secretary has been the right arm of tn
administration, always patient and faithful
She has liehtened many OF the cares Of my Ollie
and the friendship begun many years ago h:
| grown stronger by our official intimacy, until
trust the bond, SO firmly welded together, wi
last until He who cuts the thread of life sever
the tie.
1t seems to me duty. after long experienc
in the details connected with our Order, froI
its very beginning. to emphasize, SO far as pc
sible, my grea. appreciation of the service
rendered by Comrade j. K. Dawson, Of Phil'
delphia, who has designed and made all oil
badges and Comrade L. b. Stillings, of Boston
who has furnished our supplies.
1t is fact not generally known that Con
rade Dawson has furnished gratutousy fl
each National Convention the handsome sol
venir badge of the National President for del
: gates which, as the Order has grown. has mao
a large item of expense. This continued gel
', crosby deserves our warmest appreciation.
= Every National President knows what Con
= rade Stillings has given OF his time and servic
: | to her administration which transcends by Fl
, | any monetary consideration. Although v
!. may begin with an "all-sufficient" notion th
!, | we are equal to the situation, we very soon FL
: we want the advice and assistance of 20,
= Father Confessor," which helps us all ov
many of the rough places in our administratio
Believing it for the best interests Of our Orde
recommend that this Convention express the
5 appreciation of the services rendered by the
g comrades, which money cannot buy.
n In spite of my being elected the 18th N
tional President at the 18th Convention,
the 18th day of the month and on Friday,
II serious fatality has happened to to Of
IS Order. We have had as few dissensions as al
Er = 4