The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1896-02-27
W0MAN'S RELIEF CORPS
OPENING or THE .iNNUiL SESSION
IN lrERIDEN.

IN AERIDEN.
Tho Presidents Report-other Reports.
soldiers' Home Duy--Distlnguished Wis.,
itors-Last Nights Brilliant Reception.
Meriden, Feb. 26.--The annual en-
campment of the Women's Relief corps,
department Of Connecticut, opened in
this city this morning and will continue
through tomorrow. The president,
Mrs. Florence L. Hayden of this city,
in her report referred to the fact that
this was 1.-THE fateful thirteenth" en-
campment OF the department. The de-
partment had not increased very much
in membership during the year. No
new corps had been organized, though
an effort had been made to organize one
in Bridgeport, where there is none, with
out success. There had been many sus-
pensions also. The last quarter showed
an improvement. The relief work has
gone on we'll both in the order and out
side. Liberal contributions for .Jane
Haynes, an insane girl whom the corps
has taken care of, have been received.
She advised the appointment of COM
mittee to look into this matter and de-
eide whether it was advisable for these
contributions to be continued.La year
$194.49 were given, SOS being raised by
contributions. The, report spoke of
the improvements which had been made
in the Soldiers home.
Resolutions from the board and sign
ed by Gov. Coffin were read as part
of the report. The president said she
had been requested to suggest that Sol
diers home day be changed to the sec
ond Wednesday in June, as the present
day was also the W. C. T. U. day, which
many corps members wanted to attend.
In reference to Memorial day she re-
ported that she was glad to find the
children taking unusual interest in the
exercises of the day.
The report from the National home
showed that it was in fine condition
under the management of Mrs. Bur
leigh, and that there were now fifty
inmates.
The report of the secretary showed
that there had been a gain in new mem
bers of $50 and loss to the order of
$780, so that the actual increase in mem
bership was one The total membership
Of the order is now 2,S05.
I The receipts for the year We're 81, 4S0,92
and the expenditures were $1,955,01 leav-
ing balance of $525.91.
The distinguished visitors here are
Mrs. Wallace Of Chicago, past national
president, known as the Little Moth
err of the corps, and Mrs. Reed of Bos-
ton, national secretary. Mrs. Florence
L. Hayden was presented with dia-
rnond ring by the presidents of the corps
of Connecticut, a picture by her staff
and handsome gold pin by the exec
utive board.
Mrs. Charlotte Z. Wright of New Ha-
ven reported that the flag ritual has
been introduced into some of the schools
with success. The report recommends
that the flag be flown from school
! houses only on anniversaries of patriot
ic days, but that flag be always kept
in sight within the school rooms. The
suggestion is made that the corps give
It's attention to the back country
schools, as there is where the neet
of patriotic teaching lies.
r. d. p. Mrs BODICE spoke very feel
ing1y of the present illness of Pas
Department President Mrs. Jennie e
w. Smith of Winsted, who had at
tended every convention for the pas
eight wears. The committee on greet
ings. Mary e. Whittlesey of New Ha-
ven. (chairman), Lottie L. Hewitt, Han
nah ]. Barber. Ellen Day and Laura
case was instructed to send the greet.
ings of the convention to Mrs. Smith
All of the $50 people in the hall stood
lin when the years record of deaths
was read off,
shortly before 1 O'Clock the conven
finn adjourned for dinner. which wa.
served in the BANQUET hall up stair.
ind sr the direction of the local Relic
corns. The ladies who waited on tn
tables were: Mrs. George Bockius. Mrs
TT v Parker Mrs. George Shepard
Rrrs r w Harvey Mrs. s. s. Hooper
Mrs George Rockwell. Mrs. S. A
snoi+b Mrs a. n Higbv Mrs r.. Hie