The National tribune., 1899-03-02
THE RE4IEF CORPS.
News and Gossip of the Great Auxil-

! iary.
| Much praise is due Mrs. Mary A. Sillo-
way for the present prosperous condition
| of the Minnesota Department. Last
| March, when the Department was strug-
Cling under a debt of over $500, she as
sumed the duties of Department Presi-
dent. The consolidated reports of the
Secretary and Treasurer show that during
the year the Department extended cash
relief to the amount of 81 ,042. SO; relief
other than cash to the value of 81, ,420.12,
besides turning over to the Posts OF the
Department 1880, and donating SIS to
the Soldiers Home. There remains in
the treasury small sum.
Press Correspondent Emma B. Knight,
lnavale, Neb., writes: "The Department
of Nebraska is prosperous. Not very
many new Corps have been organized,
but all the old Corps have received many
new members, and the reports will show
a decided increase in membership.
Department Headquarters have, by
means of correspondence, circulars and
General Orders, succeeded in keeping In
touch with all the Corps. Our Depart
ment has been foremost in raising an
emergency fund for our, soldier boys
of the Spanish American war. Yet, we
never forget the old soldier. He has not
been neglected.
so far as we know there is not ripple
of discomfort in the Department. Ihe
flag work has brought many into the
Corps. All the Corps that have reported
are pleased and satisfied with their IN
spectors, thereby proving that the AS
sistant Inspectors were wisely CHOSEN,
and that the Department Inspector is the
right woman i'll the right place.
"A majority of the installation services
reported have been similar; that is, Post
and Corps uniting, and, after installing the
officers, having banquet; and all seemed
to have enjoyed it very much. The re.
ports that are coming in now all speak OF
open meetings of Post and Corps, with
doors open to the public.
Our Department Patriotic Instructor
prepares a program each month Tor THESE
| meetings. advising the Corps to follow the
| program as nearly as practicable, chooS
| ing their own songs and making SuCh
| changes as seem necessary.
Department Secretary 5. Nevada here
| lord, of YanlltOn, S. D., writes: I'VE are
very much alive out here, and doing work
| in all the lines of W.R.C. We number 4S
Corps, with a membership OF 1,1s2. we
| are increasing in members, which is graft
! flying to us as a Department.
Il would like to tell you of one noble
little Corps, numbering seven, all OF whom
are near 80 years of age, with one ex-
ception The Treasurer is 10 years Old:
What do you think of that for courage and
patriotism? The best part of it is they do
more relief work according to their num-
bers than any Corps in the State.
"Our Corps, through the Department
officers, sent StO0 to the boys in our pres
ent war; also, several hundred dollars
worth of supplies. So you see we are not
sleeping. We have no new means OF
keeping up interest, but we have ener-
petc officers and members, ana tnat is
all that is needed
Press Correspondent Lucia NJ. Harvey,
Rockford, H., writes: &c. J.. Nevius Corps
closed the year with very Successful
bazaar, which cleared about 81 900. The
election of officers resulted in the Selec-
tion of very capable set OF women;
though it would be hard to find set Of
officers anywhere i'm big, hard working
Corps 1 who would not do good, faithful
work.
THE Corps at its last meeting indorsed
Mrs. Sophie X. Spaulding, Past Corps
President, for Department President OF
Illinois. She has served her Corps sue
cessfully for four years as President, and
has a wide acquaintance with W.R.C.
women over the State. Mrs. Spaulding
did not wish to be announced as can
didate for Department President until
after the Endorsement OF her own home
Corps had been given her; nor to bring
forward her candidacy too early in the
year, as she thinks il not loyal to the
Order to retard the work OF the year by
too early announcements, thus turning
the attention from our higher and more
important aims.
Corps has received recognition in the
past to be sure, but no resident member
has ever been given an office Of executive
importance, though it is the largest Corps
in the State, raises the most money for
the Department, has unquestiOned ability
in its memters, and !ovalest devotion to
W.RC. interests everywhere