Evening star., 1898-09-07

| TO the families OF those left behind. Inc
Christian and sanitary commissions did a
work that will ever be remembered by the
| weary veteran. Women enlisted to 80 10
\ the front and serve as nurses in the hospi-
| tai. inspired to do that work by their earn
estness and enthusiasm for the Union.
| This was the foundation of the patriotic
| work now being done by those organiza-
| tions which were created at the close of
| the war.
The Women's Relief Corps is composed of
| women of the families of veterans and
| other loyal women who have reached the
| age of sixteen years. 1t is an auxiliary
| to the Grand Army of the Republic, as
| slsting that order in the work of perpetu-
| ating the memory of the heroes dead and
| OF aiding all needy veterans and their fam
| lilies.
1t was organized in July, 1sSS, with the
| approval of the Grand Army of the Re-
public, which authorized the of the
name, the first organization being formed
| in Massachusetts in 1879. 1t was formed
or various soldiers aid societies, which had
| existed since the close of the war. This
| organization is composed and ofiicered ex-
| clusfveiy by women. 1t has secured the
erection and endowment of numerous
homes for veterans. their wives and meth
ers, and dependent army nurses. 1t orig
mated and forced into law in many states
legislation compelling the use of loyal his
| tories, and the placing of the American
! flag over every school house. In the earn
! estness of its work, and the extent of its
| charity, 1t has no equal among the wo-
| ficH OI lNe WOrlG. II mas
| expended through its own organization and
| assisted the G. A. r. post in the relief of
| distress to the amount of s1,2i9, ,214.61, and
assisted 40,5l3 persons. The membership Of
! the organization is 5000.
| Among the works of this national organi-
cation was the erection of building as a
| national home at Madison, Ohio, a
| shelter for the wives, mothers of soldiers
| and army nurses who needed q home in
| their declining years. In many states
| homes have been established especially for
| the benefit of those residing within the
state.
| The Annual Reports.
The reports from all over the country,
| which will be submitted to the convention,
| are full of interest. That of the Depart
| ment of the Potomac will say that 1t holds
| a unique position in the galaxy of the de-
partments In that while others represent
| states of wide area, it has all its corps
within the ten miles square of the District
| of Columbia, and all within thirty minutes
ride of the national capital. All the corps
| but one are in the city of Washington.
Headquarters are maintained within the
business section of the city, and are open
every day in the year, except Sunday.
Many calls for help are received and re-
sponded to, for veterans come from every
| part of the Union to look after pensions,
| and often are in distress, but here they
find a helping hand.
The organization of the department was
| effected July %. 1870. with Mrs Johanna
ago a committee, composed of Mrs. Char
| lotte Kibbey. Mrs. Mary NJ North and Mrs.
| Eliza Naylor, succeeded in having hill
! passed by Congress granting annual
| the 123 school houses of the Dis
| trict- This same committee. 1t sets forth,
| introduced the flag salute in the schools.
| In, 1882, when the national convention was
| held in Washington, Mrs. Ida V. Hendricks,
who was then department president, was
elected national senior vice president.
There has been a decided increase In the
| membership during the past year. and
there are now nearly seven hundred men,
| bers in the nine corps.
| The department president is Mrs. Anna
A. Peck; department secretary, Mrs. Julia
Mason Layton, who is serving her fifth
| term; department treasurer, Mrs Gladys
L. Thompson. Mrs. Thompson is also one
of the national aids, and Mrs. Mary NJ.
North of the department corps is chair
| man of the national press committee. The
department during the year gave in re-
lief $S60.OS, and has in bank nUc.eus for
a home.
The Work of Relief.
synopsis of the reports to be made
from other departments is as follows:
California and Nevada organized Feb
Tuary 20, 1885, has Go corps. with
membership of 1881; relief extended dur
irg last year, 81, ,6S63S. Colorado and wy
| oming. organized June p. 1881. has now 43
corps. with a membership of 1909; ex-
pended in relief last year, ST, 1851. Cen
nectcut organized April l, 1854; amount
of relief given last year, S.051.6S. Idaho,
organized June II, 1895 has now corps,
with a membership of PA. Illinois, organ
lied January 80, 1854, has now 236 corps
and 1916 members. Last year there was
raised for relief the sum of Sl2 13S. ~, and
since the organization of the department
more than SlO0,VU has been expended in
that direction. In1iaDa, organized SeDtcm-
Der IL 1884, has 1Sj corps, with a
membership of 1893; expended in relief
last year, s7,SST.S3. Iowa, organized July
s, 1884. has now 239 corps, with S.47S mcm-
bers. Kansas, organized February g. 1874.
has now 213 corps and G.I96 members; eN-
pended in relief last year S5,o1259. Ken
lucky, organized September -, 1859. has
now IS corps, with a membership of 5S5;
expended in relief last year, s5o5.56 Louis
lana and Mississippi, organized March 2S.
1898, has now - corps, with a member
ship of 1i1; expended in relief last year,
81, ,l34Go. Maine, organized June IL, 1881,
has now 80 corps with 2U91 members; eY-
pended $4,000 in establishing home for vet
Grams and dependents. Maryland, orgaI.-
lied June 2. 1887, has now 10 corps, with
membership of 6,5; expended for relief last
year, S6IS94. Massachusetts, organized
February l.. 1879, has now Ia corps. with
a membership of Ia, 6I5; expended last year
for relief. SIG 1868. Michigan. organized
April =, 1854, has now 80 corps with
membership of S,212; expended last year il
relief. S7,0T052. Minnesota, organized No
vember 2S 1884, has now 102 corps, with g
membership of 3,12l, and expended in relief
March 4, 1885, has now So corps, with
membership of 1893; expended in relief
last year, s., 15I36. Montana, organized
April 10, 1898, has now corps, with 271
members: expended in relief last year,
S369. 9.4o. Nebraska, organized April - 1884,
has now 142 corps and 3.S14 members; ex-
pended in relief last year, 81. $50 81. New
Hampshire, organized October p, 1850, has
now II corps and 4,097 members; expended
in relief last year, outside of home sup
ported by it, S2,522.lJ New Jersey, organ
lied May q, 1885, has now % corps. with
membership of S95; expended in relief last
year, 81, ,422 IL. The department also has
well-appointe1 home for soldiers in Hu .son
county, New Jersey, which is cared for by
the Womens Relief Corps and the G. A.
r.; expended in relief last year, 81. I221l.
New York. organized February Z, 1884 has
Eow 2tS corps, with a membership of S,612;
expended in relief last year. s9,3l253.
North Dakota. organized April 3D. 1890, has
now 20 CORPS with 541 members; expended
last year in relief, S2ti5.52. Ohio, organized
January 30. 1854. has now 304 corps, with
4 men. bership of 10.354; expended last year
in relief, S14,3T6.55.
The especial pride of the Ohio w. r. c. is
the Home for Orphans of Soldiers and Sail
ors at Nenia. Oklahoma, organized May