The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-02-27
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National HeadQuar-
terS---NOteS from Departments.
MOTHER MASSACHUSETTS,

and Chooses a Daughter of the Revolu
ton for Standard Bearer-A Little Laugh
ter by the way-The Vermont Convention
A Love Feast-Old War Days and Livel.
New Days.
sIxTEENTH ANNUAL CONVENTION.
Odd Fellows Temple. in the old spindle towr
of Lowell, Mass, marked goodly gathering o
representative women of the old Common
wealth in 18th annual Convention assembled
There was a large assemblsge of Nations
and Department officers on the platform, in
GLIDING National President L. A. Turner, whoI
Department President Eva T. Cook brought
down the gavel and declared the session!
begun.
The address of the Department President
was very able, covering every department o.
| Relief Corps work, and the reports of all off
GERS were complete and encouraging.
The financial summary showed total ex
penditure for relief work in cash Of $S,6S7.24
estimated value of donations. 81, 654.06; turned
over to Posts, $9,26553. Grand total for re-
lief, $13,341.3O
Convention delegates were more than pleased
over the admirable arrangements made fol
their comfort by President Mary E. Ofutt, Of
Corps SO, Lowell, and her able assistants, and
| from start to finish the sessions were fall oil
| by Convention in honor of Lincoln's Birthday.
Past National Chaplain Mary L. Knowles,
accompanied by Department Senior Vice-Presi-
dent Helen A. Brigham aud Department Inspec.
| tor Hattie Bray, bore the greetings of the W.R.C
| to Department Encampment. and were royalty
| received.
Department Commander Thayer, in reply,
| said he hoped the Woman's Relief Corps would
always stand shoulder to shoulder and hand in
| hand with the Grand Army of the Republic.
Past Department Commander Evans, Past
| Department Commander Hersey, and Com
mander Soule brought greetings from the En-
campment. In his eloquent remarks the
Chairman spoke strongly for the bill now
| pending in the Massachusetts Legislature to
| provide burial for soldiers widows.
Through Mary Z. Knowles, Department
Counselor Department President Cook was
presented fine gold watch and chain from her
| associate officers.
Past National President Sarah E. Fuller read
the punning tribute to Massachusetts, women
which follows, and National President Turner
| and Past National President Barker, whose
| motto was Work" as issued in her first Gen.
eral Orders; and all the Past Department
Presidents except Mesdames Goodale, Parker,
ana Bnrielgh, were there 10 pass upon Inc
fidelity of the descriptions.
James A. Garfield Corps, of Lowell, through
| its founder, Annie NJ. futile, presented a mag
nifcent bouquet TO the National President, and
a testimonial was voted Maggie Hutohins,
Chairman, Department Relief Committee for
her efficient services OF tho year.
Mary G. Deane, Chairman of the Committee
OH Memorial Fund for Soldiers Widows made
an interesting report OF receipts and expendi-
lures. Through the fund six women had had
their burdens lightened during the year, four
of whom were Army Nurses.
Eva Z. Cook, the retiring President. was
voted a testimonial, to be procured and pre-
scented by Hattie A. Ralph, Mary L. Knowles,
and l.. A. Turner, committee.
Sarah T. Fuller was unanimously reelected
Department Treasurer. Corps 3, of Boston,
followed with presentation Of flowers. Be
sides the numerous offices, National and De-
partment, she has honorably filed she repre-
scented East Boston on the Christian Com
mission during the war. ter
The election resulted in the unanimous
election of Helen A. Brigham. Department
President; Emily l.. w. Waterman, Depart
ment Senior Vice President and Josephine A.
Burdick, Department Junior Vice-President;
Abbe 7. Usher Chaplain, and Sarah A. Fuller,
Treasurer.
Members of the Executive Board are Flora A.
Smith, Colrain; Hattie A. Bray, Lynn; Angie
A. Robinson, Worcester; DorcAs II. Lyman,
Brighton; Annie NJ. Warne, Waltham
Soldiers Home Committee: Emma b. Lowd
S. Agnes Parker, NJ. Susie Goodall.
Memorial Fund Committee: all the Past
Presidents; Mary G. Deane, Chairman.
The officers were installed by National
President Turner. Lou Stuart Wadsworth
was given a vote of thanks for patriotic work
Benjamin +. Butler Post gave handsome
reception at Memorial Hall to the Grand Army
sd Lii 1.14 L,lI rs.,.-t IL.
ception and welcome by Mayor Courtney
there were addresses by Past Commander-in-
Chief Adams, Commander-in-C Chief Walker
National j. and /. Officer Mason, Department
President Cook. and others.
The Relief Corps Campfire in Huntington
Hail. Department President Helen A. Brig
ham presiding, was the closing feature of Re-
lief Corps Convention. The National Presi-
dent Department Commander Darby, and
numerous distinguished officers, GAR and
W.R.C occupied seats on the platform and
participated in the exercises of the evening.
The principal topic was the teaching of pat
riotism in the public schools and demand
that correct histories should be furnished the
children.
MASSACHUSETTS PRESIDENT
Department President Helen A. Brigham Is
a native of Cohasset, and daughter of Capt
Loring Bates, who as Wreck Commissioner
and Submarine Contractor was stationed at
Fortress Monroe, where he was engaged in i'm
portant work for the Government in the war;
Hc recovered the guns Of the gunboat White
hall, sunk by the Merrimac and raised the
steamer Greyhound, Gen. Buffers dispatch
boat, which was sunk at the mouth of the
James River.
President Brigham's great grandfather served
with distinction in the Revolutionary war.
Her grandfather served in the war of 1912, and
was brother Of DIR. Joshua Bates, at one time
President Of Mddlebury College, and Chaplain
of Congress under the Administration of the
first Harrison.
She is the wife Of Franklin ID. Brigham. SD
Mass, who was in the Red River expedition
and the siege of Port Hudson. and ut her present
home. Hyde Park, she is leading spirit in So
cial circles as well as in church. charitable. and
Relief Corps work and the Daughters of the
Revolution. She is Past President of Tim
othy Ingrahm Relief Corps. 35, and has occu-
pied many important positions in the Depart
ment. serving last year as Department Senior
Vice President.
LITTLE LAUGHTER BY THE Way
Past National President Kate Brownlee
Sherwood. in response to an invitation to be
present at Convention, contributed the follow
ing, introducing the names OF Department and
National Presidents which Massachusetts has
given to the w. re:
!" little nonsense now and then
Is selished by the wisest men,"
SO said the poet; so say
A little laughter by the way
May make woman's toll more light
And silt the sunlight through the night.
have been thinking, sisters dear
That IL is just little queer