Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-26
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED
Mrs. Annie W. johnson President Of the
Woman's Relief Corps
Other business Of Importance at the
Annual Convention Last Eveninr
-Personal Notes OF Interest.

The second session of the seventh annual
convention of the Department of the Poto-
mac w. r. c. was called to order in a. A.
r. Hall last evening at o'clock by De-
partment President Mrs Anna M. Hamil-
ton, and prayer was offered by the chap
lain, Mrs. Mary M. North. The officers
present were as follows: Department
president. Mrs. A. M. Hamilton; department
s. V. p. Mrs. E. c. Months; department j.
V. F.. Mrs. Ruth E. Roberts; department
secretary. Miss Maria L. Jordan; depart
ment assistant secretary, Miss Ruth Hamil-
ton; department treasurer. Mrs. M. NJ NC
Clure; department chaplain, Mrs. Mary NJ.
North; department counsellor, Mrs. J. W.
Turner; department Inspector Mrs. Anna
A. Peck: department !. and l. officer, Mrs.
Susie NJ. Rose; executive board, Mrs. Alice
Burgess. Miss A. v. Thompkins, Mrs. A.
G. Dickerson, Mrs. E. J. Fordham, Miss f;
A. Chase; past department presidents, Mrs.
Joanna w. Turner, Mrs. Ida v. Hendricks
MRS Susie M. McCabe and Mrs Indiana
Cowling.
The committee on courtesies, Mrs. E. A.
v. Anderson. Mrs. NJ. s. Gist and Mrs.
Helen Durfee, escorted COMMANDMENT
Chief of the G. A. r. Ivan N. Walker. De-
partment Commander Marion T. Anderson
received by the department president, Mrs.
Anna Nj. Hamilton. When the word was
given to salute there was a flutter of hand
kerchiefs like q snow storm all over the
hall Commander-in-ChiefW walker address
ed the convention in a happy manner re-
ferring to the bravery of woman at .he
front and in the desolate homes during The
war. He said it was an inspiration to look
into the faces of 80 many women and
know they were working for a noble cause.
Commander Anderson said: Il am glad
to have the opportunity Of bringing my
chief before this convention, for now he
can go home and say the Department of
the Potomac W. r. C. is second to rone.''
Comrade Janney discoursed upon the pa
triotic teaching of the women and said: Il
am glad your committee on patriotic teach
ing is doing such effective work. 1 hope the
time will come when the changing bell will
not be heard, but when the flag floating over
the building will call every child to rally to
the school house" Short addresses were
also made by Messrs. Burst of Indiana, Jas.
McCabe and others. After the visitors had
been decorated with the convention badge
they were escorted out by the committee,
and the regular order of business was taken
up.
Reports and the Election.
The chairman of committee on presidents
report. Mrs. Eliza Naylor, reported favor
ably the following recommendations: That
the per capita tax be raised to 10 cents per
quarter; that the W. r. c. retain its men,
bershp in the District Federation of Wo-
mems Clubs. and the convention elect a
representative and director; that, as RULES
and Regulations" red book and ritual had
been revised time and again. SO that they
are perfect code of laws for any depart
ment, the rules of the order and bylaws
made in 1888 be rescinded. Upon motion
the contention adopted the report.
Mrs May A. Eldridge. for the committee
on senior vice presidents report. reported
favorably. and the convention adopted it.
Miss Lillian Norton reported favora5ly
upon the secretarys report Mrs. Katharine
McMongle upon the treasurers report, Mrs.
Ida V. Hendricks upon the chaplain's and
counseior'S reports, Mrs. G.. n. Lacy upon
the inspectors report. Miss Carrie Brook
field upon the insttuting and installing Of
ficers' reports, Mrs. J. Emma Evans upon
the report of the chairman of the employ
ment committee, and all were adopted
Other chairmen reported, and the conven-
ton unanimously adopted their reports.
ton of officers. Mrs. Annie W. Johnson
was elected president: Mrs. Bessie Boone
Cheshire. senior vice president; Mrs. Georgi
ana Chambers, junior vice president; Miss
A. V. Thompkins. treasurer; Mrs. Florence
Hcwells, chaplain: Mrs. Julia A. DOney,
delegate-at-large; Miss a. Merritt. delegate.
The executive board, alternates to the
tional convention in st. Paul. are to be
elected tonight, and other business trans
acted.
Convention Notes.
The president of the Department of
the Potomac, w. r. c., was too young dur
ing the late unpleasantness' to have any
war record" but that her family was in
tensely loyal Is shown In the fact that she
had five brothers In the Union army at one
time, and she evinced her loyalty. after the
war. by marrying a veteran who bears a
scar received at the 'front.'
Miss Bessie Boone Cheshire of Potomac
Corps lived near Chicago during the war,
and worked with the Northwestern Sanitary
Commission. She is now president of her
corps.
The department Junior vice president, Mrs.
Georgia A. Chambers, is the treasurer and
representative of her corps Q-afayette), in
which she has held the highest office.
Maj. Dickerson, who lost limb in the de-
Tense of his country. Size Is an officer of
Wimodaughsis and a prominent member of
Burnside Corps.
Mrs. Caroline N Lacy, the wife of Capt.
G. W. Lacy, was one Of the youngest
nurses belonging to Miss Dix's staff, but
she took hold of the work In hospitals like
a veteran, and many wounded hoy in
blue was helped on the road to recovery
by her care and skill. She has held the
highest Office IN the gift of Burnside Corps,
and has been its secretary several times.
Mrs. Alice Burgess is the wife Of Archi-
bald Burgess Of Lincoln Post and the Old
Guard. She has been senior vice president
OF the department, and the past year
chairman OF the executive board, where
she rendered excellent service.
Mrs. Georgia G. Balm is the wife of an Of
ficer who served through the war. She Ia
past department treasurer, and is noted for
her accuracy and good Judgment. She rep
resents Burnside Corps.
Mrs Indiana Cowling is a good worker
in her chosen field, her associates have
long known her worth. and she was hon
ored at the fifth convention with the high
est office in it's gift. She is a member Of
the Unity Literary Club.
Mrs Katharine McMonigal past presi-
dent of Burnside Corps, was with her hus-
band, who was colonel of his regiment and
for some time judge advocate general, six,
months at Nashville.
Mrs. M. NJ. Mcclure is another one who
was at Nashville, and endured many hard
ships in the early days of the war
Mrs. E. A. Chambers Is member of Far
raGut Corps, and Is hard worker. She
saw service at tho front during the war
She is an ardent temperance worker, and
belongs to the w. G. T. u.
Mrs. Thacher is chaplain of George H.
Thomas Corps. and delegate to the con-
vention. On her mothers side she was re-
lated to the late Rev. F. H. Smith, the
author of MY Country, IT'S of Thee" She
is quiet, unobtrusiye woman but when it
comes to hard work she is to be depended
upon.