The National tribune., 1899-05-11
THE RELIEF CORPS.
News and Gossip of the Great Au1il-
iary.
WASHINGTON AxD Alaska.

Mary B. Gardner, Press Correspondent,
Seattle. Wash, writes "The 14th annual
Convention of the Department will be
held in Seattle, June 20 10 "a, inclusive, IN
connection with Encampment OF the
GAR, S. of ", and ID. of V. ALREADY
committees from these different organlZa-
tions have met and begun preparations
for the entertainment Of the many ex-
Dectcd guests. A generally instructive and
pleasant meeting is anticipated.
"The Department during the IA years OF
its existence has never been in more
nrosnerous condition than now. While it
has not materially increased i'll the num-
her of Corps, vet reports from individual
Corps show an increase in members and
natriotism; also, of good work being done
along all lines.
yery fiattering, the flag work having given
n new impetus to our Order and helped to
increase it's membership and general ac-
tivity. So far as has been reported, Corps
united with Posts in Joint installation OF
their newly-elected officers, and ban
ouet followed.
"Our Corps in this Department have
responded loyalty to the call for an emerg-
ency fund, and have forwarded to the
National treasurer through our Depart
ment Treasurer sl16.a0, while quite n
numbe- of the Corps retained the amounts
rIised, feeling that the families OF our
own Washington boys who are doing such
brave work at the front may need as
sistance; and already, in some cases,
this has proven true. The money raised
and not forwarded amounts to S227.lS.
while attending to this we are not for
setting the boys Of '61 and '65' and their
dependent ones"
DEPARTMENT OF MASSACHUSETTS.
Mary ]. Parkhurst, Department Press
,.yritpC. sGTna hiGtpri. In
of April was celebrated by several Posts,
Corps, and other patriotic organizations in
Massachusetts. The union gathering
under the auspices of Post So, Of Leo
minister, on the afternoon and evening of
April IS was a notable event. Nearly
1,0)o people listened attentively to pat
riotic speecheS by the leading officials of
| the state organizations, Commander John
p Gilman, OF the GAR, sounding the
| KEYNOTE of the occasion as the first
sneaker, followed by Mrs. Robinson, De
nartment President, W.RC.; Rev. George
| n. Howard, Division Commander, S. Of
". Miss NJ. Lizzie Kimball, State Presi-
dent. ID. of ", and others. Corps 81
united with the Post, and rendered valu-
able help in the arrangements. Much
credit is due Past Commander Ames,
Chairman of the committee, who is an
energetic friend of the W.R.C., and feels
nro,,d of the fact that he was one of the
| advocates OF INC N'liDHdl
during the discussion in the National
Encampnlent in Denver in 1853.
"Corps 81, Belchertown, served dinner
April ID 10 the ex-Prisoners of War AsSo-
citation of Western Massachusetts at the
annual meeting, which was attended by
many veterans and prominent guests.
| "Post 80, of Beverly, was recently pre-
sented with a handsome silk regulation
flag by Mrs. Alice Il. NIillctt, President,
Corps 30, on behalf Of the Corps. A com
p,imentary supper and entertainment was
also given the Post on this occasion.
Corps 85, Needham, gave a reception
| IN the returned volunteers of the Spanish
| American war, April 20.
"a reception in honor of Mrs. Josephine
a. Burdick, Department President last
year, and the present Department Coun-
sselor was given by Corps 160, of Adams,
recently, when the spacious and beauti-
full Memorial Hall was filled with Posts
and CorDs from neighbOring towns. Mrs.
Burdicl was the recipient of valuable
gifts i'm appreciation of her long and faith
ful work for the veterans.
"The fair recently held by Hartsufl
Corps, of Rockland, will add 81, 400 to its
Memorial Hall fund. The Corps had al
ready raised over $1,000 for this purpose.
| "Mrs. Robinson, Department President:
Mrs. Gilman, Department Senior Vice
President, and Mrs. Going, Department
Junior Vice-President, have attended
many gatherings in the interest of the
work. and their presence is always ap-
preciated. They have numerous engage
ments for May.