The National tribune., 1896-09-17
H0NORING TBEIR OWN.
The Grand Army Of the Republic Cher
ish Their Faithful Auxiliary


Formal Action Of 3Oth National Encamp-
ment, GAR, In Reahirming the Decisions
OF Past Encampments Authorizing the
Organization of Woman's Work in Their
Name-C0mmander-in-C Chief Walkers fo-
sition and Report of Past Commanders
in-Chief Unanimously Indorsed-14th Ma
tiOnal Convention Forward Thanks.
RALLY TO ONE BANNER.
Following is that portion of the address OF
Commander-in. Chief !. N. Walker relating to
| tho Woman's Relief Corps followed by the
| report of the committee of Past Commanders.
n-Chief mentioned in the address.
The action of the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie in this important matter is most timely,
| owing to the growing disposition of women
| connected with the veterans of the Union to
divide up into bands and factions, when by
| uniting under the banner intrusted to the
Woman's Relief Corps they might double their
| usefulness.
The unanimity with which the report of the
Past Commanders-in-Chief was adopted BY the
! Encampment shows how strongly our Grand
| Army comrades are thinking upon this subject.
| and how thoroughly they appreciate and ap-
| prove the work of the Woman's Relief Corps.
Besides founding Homes and maintaining
widows and orphans and Army Nurses, in-
| augurating instruction in practical patriotism
| in the public schools, aud compelling sacred
observance of Memorial Day and National
| holidays, the Woman's Relief Corps have taken
| mp the work on behalf of the Andersonville
| prison grounds, just turned over to them, by
| their own acceptance and by concurrence OF
| the National Encampment, from the Depart
ment of Georgia, GAR.
| Let all patriotic women who love the Grand
| Army and will enroll themselves where they
can do the most to honor them and their works
come under the banner of the Woman's Relief
| Corps
Come, and be sure of sisterly welcome, in
| the holy name of Fraternity, Charity and
Loyalty!
COMMANDERS ADDRESS.
In all of the duties and labor of the year the
Woman's Relief Corps, composed of the loyal
women of the land. has been our constant friend
| and helpmate. / desire to add my testimony
to that which has been frequently given by
others in this position to the loyal and efficient
| services of this noble auxiliary organization.
| Abundant in their special work of charity,
helpful in every field OF labor, full of patriotic
| enthusiasm and happy to share with Us the
labor and glory of our Grand Army life.
| 1t has been my pleasure during the past
| year to meet the National officers at Boston
and at many Conventions. / have heard good
of it from all quarters; evil from none am
| glad in this connection, to say word in ex-
| PLANTATION of our attitude toward other organi-
| cations of women who seek to be useful to the
Grand Army. To those who have or will give
attention to the record there can be no question
that the National Encampment held at Denver
| in 1883 gave recognition to the Womans Relief
Corps as our auxiliary, and that it has remained
silent in such action as 10 other organizations.
ThA bat hno offA dnd n
Woman's Relief Corps has called into existence
| other womens organizations, and these very
naturally have antagonized the older organiza-
ton in the affections of veterans, until we have
the humiliating spectacle of comrades who
4 fought for four years in the same file, and
whose comradeship had been cemented in 80
battles now, at this late day in life, ruthlessly
| torn asunder because their wives happened to
belong to different woman's organizations.
1t is human nature, and the Good Book de-
clares "that man will leave father and
mother and cleave unto his wife" so this state
of affairs will continue until the Encampment
shall take some action that will finally settle
the matter. Hoping to accomplish something
| in this direction, appointed a committee Of
| Eve comrades, composed of Past Commanders
| in-Chief, those who had passed through the
ordeal, to take up the question and see whether
harmony or consolidation could not be brought
about and the trouble stopped.
| This committee will report the result OF it's
efforts, which / trust has been productive of
| good, and that harmony in the work of these
organizations may be secured.
GRAND ARMY REPORT.
IVAN N. WALKER, Commander-in.C Chief,
| Grand Army of the Republic, Indianapolis,
Ind.
| COMMANDER: Your committee appointed to
take into consideration the consolidation of the
| various woman's organizations connected in
| any way with the Grand Army of the Republic,
have given the matter careful thought and beg
leave to submit the following report:
We find that in 1881 the National Encamp-
ment unanimously passed the following resolu-
| tons:
| Resolved. That we approve of the project OF
organizing National Woman's Relief Corps.
RESOLVED. That such Woman's Relief Corps may
use. under such title. the words Auxiliary TO the
| Grand Army OF the Republic"
But measures were not taken to put it into
| effect until 1883, and since that time the Grand
Army of the Republic have recognized no other
organization. The matter was thoroughly dis
cussed at the Denver Encampment, and the
question of whether loyal women should be ad
mitted to membership in the W.R.C. was left
open by them for year, then settled in the
affirmative by large majority. Your com
mittee realize that at times it is very embarrass
ing for the Commander. in Chief, also for De
partments and local Posts of the Grand Army, t
have two or more organizations working on the
same line, and feel we express the sentiments
of all that they should be united.
We heartily concur in the statement of Com
mander Lawler, in his address to the Goth Ma
tional Encampment, in which he says:
II believe that if there were fewer organiza
tions, and all working along the same line
there would be better results and more work
accomplished for the veterans of the war. II
unity there is strength. / believe, judgin,
from what have seen. that there ought to b,
but one soldiers and sailors organization, ant
that the Grand Army, one woman's organiza
ton, and the Sons of Veterans; these three, al
working together, will accomplish more thar
We can if we scatter into SO many diferen
ORDERS"
Acting in sympathy with the above, Will
We DO not desire to compel, we strongly urg'
that all should come under the banner of tn
Womsn's Relief Corps and that the Crane
Army of the Republic and their faithful au xii
larry move forward in their great charitable
work for relief of our suffering comrades an,
those dependent upon them.
Respectfully submitted
]. B. ADAMS, Chairman;
THOMAS g. LAwLER,
A. w. WEIssERT,
MATT II. ELLIS, Committee.
RELIEF CORPS REPORT.
The action of the 30th National Convention
on the report of the Commander in Chief wa
read to Convention by the Chairman of tn
W.R.C. Committee of Conference with tn
GAR; the report was adopted and the Com
mittee given rising vote of thanks, which