The National tribune., 1896-04-16
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar-
ters---NOteS from Departments.
FOURTEENTH NATIONAL CoNvENTION.

/ to-~NHS-Nsho-'
| Growth of the Woman's Relief Corps since
Their Second Annual Meeting, Held IL
Minnesota Twelve Years ago-A Phenom
email Record of Woman's Patriotic Yea
| and business prise-Arrangcmcnf;
for the Meeting in ST. Paul.
TWELVE YEARS OF PROGRESS.
Twelve years ago, coming July "a, the Won
ans Relief Corps, Auxiliary to the Grand
Army of the Republic, held its second annual
| Convention in the City of Minneapolis. Ihi:
| Convention marked the close of eventfu
year, as then and there was proven the fact that
women could work together tremendously and
with order and system, in great National bodies
A year before, at Denver, the Woman's Relief
Corps had been formed as National associs'
ton, with about 40 charter members, and the
Union Board, embracing Relief Corps organiza-
tions in Massachusetts and New Hampshire, as
nucleus and model, behind it.
National President Lizabeth A. Turner was
the Treasurer, and came forward with an array
of facts and figures to show how, between Sept.
5, 1883. and July 10 1884, l55 Corps had bccn
instituted in "a States with Departments in
Is States, on capital Of faith, banked by hope
and increased by charity.
Departments reported for tho year 1883, '9.,
10 in all, as follows, Massachusetts and New
Hampshire coming in with the Union Board +:
Kansas. Feb. 6, 1884; New York, Feb. Z; Illi-
nois, Jan. 30; Ohio, Jan. 30; Connecticut, April
] Michigan, April 2; Nebraska, April 2; Maine,
June Il; Pennsylvania, June 1S; Wisconsin.
June %: Colorado, June &c: Iowa, July 8. In
diana, July 6.
Detached Corps were reported from CalifOr-
mia, Dakota, New Jersey. Nevada, Minnesota.
Oregon, Missouri Vermont, Virginia, and WASH
in2ton.
Commenting upon the achievements Of tho
year, National President +. Florence Barker,
in her annual address, said Our compass.
pointing 10 work, faith. and love-the trinity of
the Woman's Relief Corps-which has wrought
this measure. full of the heart-work of woman.
commends itself to your favorable consdera-
tion."
Net receipts reported by the National Treas
urer, beginning with $40 membership fees at
Denver, $423l35: expenditures. Si.l26ll (;
cash on hand, Sl0524; total assets. 81, 65223 /;
liabilities $l35.96; balance TO new account,
$l,5l6.27.
So much for an account based on faith. banked
by hope and increased by charity. OF course
the National Treasurer did not state that for
many months the business of the W.R.C was
transacted on her own personal credit but for
this the reward will come later, is coming. has
come.
National Secretary Sarah T. Fuller reported
expenditures for relief for the first aud second
quarter Of 1884 as S3,37470; so it will be seen
how early the W.RC began 10 settle down to
business or this upward of ome-half came
from Massachusetts,. organized Feb. II, 1872
and reporting ~ Corps and 2,202 members, or
about one-thiri of the total estimate.
al (nn nroli6r m
large plans for the future of the w. re. and il
there that measures were set on foot TO
provide relief fund, National and Depart
mcnt, and 10 have the W.R.C. memoraiZe
Congress no: only to ittingy provide for the
widows and orphans of soldiers. but 10 grant
an honorable pension 10 every woman who
gave her best services, her dearest hopes, for
the salvation of her country and the care Of
the men who fought their conntry's battles"
So much for the results Of one year OF the
WRC.-a year whose results were commended
by COMMANDMENTS Chief Robert S. Beath In his
address before the Grand Army Encampment.
And now. what shall the harvest lie when again
the National gathering of the W.R.C. Is held IN
the beautiful State of Minnesota. Let the re-
ports of 1895 furnish basis for 1896.
The official report submitted by National
President Emma X. Wallace 10 29th National
Encsmpment, g. r.. based on returns from 81
Departments. with detached Corps in ii States
and Territories gave the number OF members
in the Relief Corps in good standing as 1896;
expenditures for relief Memorial Day, Army
Nurses. National Relief Corps Home and like
purposes, s188 1884; total relief since organi-
cation, in 1885, Sl,20l, S90I9.
Number of persons assisted in 1894 %. &c.,
653; balance. in Corps relief fund. S693i0.35;
balance in general fund, $l3S, 6299l. Total as
sets in hands OF National Treasurer, $1l ,Sll.Gl;
liabilities, none
At the same ratio of increase the officers OF
14th National Convention will report to 30th
National Encampment An aggregate of $4,000
members. with expenditures of $200,0 900 for re-
lief, making a grand total for relief raised and
expended in Is years of upwards of a million
and half.
And then think Of the Homes founded and
supported by legislative aid, of monuments
built halls furnished. and patriotic teaching
introduced into the schools, upon which no
monetary value can be fixed and some idea
may be evolved concerning the tremendous
success Of the W.R.C. aud Of its value rs auxil-
larry TO the GAR.
NATIONAL CONVENTION NOTES.
Headquarters of the Grand Army and the
W.R.C. have been established at the Ryan
where. OH Monday afternoon. COMMANDMENTS
Chief Walker and staff will give reception TO
soldiers aud citizens.
Tuesday afternoon the ladies of ST. Paul will
give tue representatives OF the w. h.t. ana other
patriotic associations OF women "a drive through
the city, and in the evening all unite in a re-
ception at the Ryan.
On Wednesday the Grand Army will parade
and on Thursday morning Encampmen opens
though it is hoped Convention may hold an
earlier session.
JUNIOR RELIEF CORPS.
The organization of Junior Corps, ], Broken
Bow, Neb., has lecn mentioned in THE Ma
1roSAL TRIBUNE also the fact that the patr;-
otto little girls constituting its membership
were piecing quilt for the Nebraska Soldiers
Home
But the best OF all has not been mentioned.
and that is the fact that these little patriots
have put themselves under the direct batron.
age OF the National officers OF Grand Army and
Relief Corps and have been cordially welcomed
by both.
The officers Of Junior Corps arc: Pres Znn
Grant; S. V.P., Nettie Rogers; j. V. p, Vernie
Blair; Chap, Rosa Blair; Treas, Fern Wheeler:
See, Heda Grant; Guard, Louie Painter; Con-,
Mary Smith; A. c., Minta Painter; ]. o., Net
tie Rogers.
Eligibility is based on personal loyalty. the
tional President of the WRC.. Lizabeth A.
Turner, is only loyal woman" the letter
written by the Secretary Of Junior Corps must
be specially gratifying. The Secretary says in
the course Of her letter:
Now, know yon will wonder who we are
Some OF our members do not have any friends
in the Grand Army Relief Corps, but they
are learning fast TO love and honor the old sol.