The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-12-31
THE RELIEF CORPS.
Gleanings from National Headquar
ters---Notes from Departments.
THE YEAR 1897.

kEISsoelvVttS HUH AVpOA suVusbs
THE YEAR 1897.
Group OF Songs in Memory OF Three Friends'
Sarah C. Mink, Col Thomas l.. Barker
ana Capt. George e. Lemon-Journai Oh
18th Annual Convention, With Portraits OF
Past National President Lizabeth "A.
Turner and Fast COmmanders-in-Chie
Fairchild and Walker.
WELCOME THE NEW YEAR!
Many and grave are the problems before US
for the year 1897. Problems of National I'M
port to be solved; problems OF State, OF the
municipalities of which we are part; PROB
lens affecting our friends, our families ana
ourselves.
Civilization grows more complex year by
wear. individuals, we are told. grow of less
importance !. associations of individuals greater.
Our own part in it all is not what it once was !;
we are puzzled and know not what is expected
of Us.
Whv should we be puzzled? And why
should there be a doubt? What we call USE
less agitation is life. 1t is the individual ex-
pressing itself through the whole. Something
is wrong: of this we are all sure. how snail
it be riehted, is question upon the~solutlon
that we have left the plane of morals and are
thinking only of what is expedient and OF Sec
ondary moment?
Can it be that we need new baptism in the
fountains of Americanism indebted! lhen
let us take plunge in it and come up rosy as
the morning for the new duties that are press
ing upon us.
the oppressed are looking to US for heiping
hand Aud not in our own land alone. -out
from lands that have heard the voice OF liberty
and are struggling to be free comes chorus VI
voices waking US from the sleep of the sluggard.
Perhaps what we all need most OF all IS
reiteraton both in thought and action IN SONG
and speech and legislation. OF the foundatioh
truths of our Republic, the give and take OF
free civil Governments Governments OF the
people, by the people, and for the people, which
Lincoln had in mind when he spoke on great
public occasion as follows:
The world has never had good definition
of the word liberty, and the American people
Just now are much in want of one. we All oe-
clare for liberty, but in using the WORD we 90
not mean the same thing.
with some the word liberty may mean iof
each man to do as he peases with himself ana
the product of his labor. while to others the
same word may mean for some men to DO as
| they please with other men and the product OF
| other mems labor"
| It is not difficult to determine which Lin
celn characterized as tyranny and which I'D
| erty. 1t is not difficult, in this light. to know
where our duty lies. Welcome. then, the new
wear and the part we shall have in it.
In this goodly land of ours there should be
| no want: no women and children crying for
bread II we do our duty the time will come
when there shall be none. Haud n-hand and
heart to heart let us 20 bravely forward, fol.
| lowing the old flag of fraternity, equality, and
| the Golden Rule.
| SONGS OF THREE FRIENDS.
BIZ Kate BropnIee Sherwood.
| With the closing month of the closing year
three noble friends and patriots and public
| benefactors have finished the work which was
| given them to do and gone on before at the
| Masters bidding. OF a group OF friends to
| which the writer was brought in closest touch
by the union of the Grand Army and Re-
| lief Corps these three were among the mosl
honored aud beloved. They are Past National
| President Sarah c. Mink. COL Thos. L. Barker
18th N. e., and Capt. George E. Lemon, 122tt
N. Y. founder and publisher of The Ma.
TIoNAL TRIBUNE.
| Volumes might be written in praise OF wha
all three have done to secure the rights of the
veteran soldiers and their dependents aud t.
yitalze the work Of the Grand Army OF thu
Republic through linking with it the earnes
workers of the Woman's Relief Corps and ~
carrying forward the glorious work III which
both are engaged.
Il was during the administration Of Sarah G
Mink and her ardent ad vocacy OF the cause
that the Womans Relief Corps became the Ma
tioual propaganda of patriotic teaching. IL wa
Col. Thomas l.. Barker who introduced TIT
| resolution int the Department. Encampmen
of Massachusetts,. GAR. recognizing the he
lief Corps as 40 auxiliary, an action which
ultimately led to its recognition by the Ma
tional Encampment.
TWAS Capt George E. Lemon who, when re-
covering from grievous wound received il
battle while serving in the Army OF the Poto
mac established the first claim and pension
agency at the National Capital, an agency. hicl
was instrumental in securing justice to hun
dreds of thousands of his disabled comrades ant
their dependents; who established The Ma
TIoNAL TRIBUNE and opened the first news
| paper columns to the work of organizing ant
carrying forward the Woman's Relief Corps.
All we're my friends. and loved and h0nore
them. Had the fortune of an Aston or Van
derbilt would not have funds enough TO brin
| flowers from the four winds OF heaven to piac
above their caskets in adequats memorial Of
ferings.
l place instead upon these pages dedicate
to fraternity. Charity and Loyalty, handfu
of thoughts inspired by gratitude to God for a
they wrought for perpetual union aud exaiie
patriotism. Their value, if such they hav'
rest in the fact that they are unpurcbassble
and that each voices the tribute of friend
friend.
The poem in memory of Col. Barker We
read at his funeral services, which were hei
Sunday. Dec. 20, at the Massachusetts, Soldier
Home of which be was the Treasurer.
SARAH c. MINK.
) Daughter Of Revolutionary sires.
Peerless ia stature, and in honor dighk
, | Priestess who kept the sacrfcial fires
, Upon her country's affairs glowing bright;
. Large In her charity, scorning aSwrong.
Clothed ia sincerity. in honor strong;
In thought fraternH In temper kind,
In deed magnificent elste of mind;
l She proudly grasped the standard Of the free
And held II proudly while her country . yous
7; Around II rallied. shouting for the free,
: Unfettered triumph Of immortal truth.
COL. THOMAS L. BARKER.
| He loved his country ~ he loved his God!
| The mountains where his boyish footsteps trod !;
The boundary plains that westward link the sea
), The lakes. the mounts the flower. spADKlcd leas;
, | The pleasant pipes Of peace, the ylvan nook.
| The sound of luics and Tyres the open book;
: The laughter of the children, all kind things
| That fitted DER his PATH that sang on wings;
The valiant dead, the high. triumphant thought,
THE toer at his task, the task love-wrought.
To gentle peace his spirit stiune
| As Summer sym phony TO singing June;
J. | But from best joys he ever turned sn ear
u | The bugies Of holy cause TO hear;
+ And with unstinted measure all ho gave
O The Union and the flag he loved to save.
- | Sweet freedom claimed him as her own and now
:. She lays her crown upon his sleeping brow.
a CAPT. GEORGE Z. LEMON.
q Pure patriot, generous friend! A last fareweli
!. A last farewell until we meet again.
" Where Gods perennial gardens ward swell,
y Beyond the limits Of our human kent