The Portland daily press., 1900-02-15
NATIONAL RELIEF CORPS.
Reports Made and Other Business al
Yesterdays Meeting.

The Department. Of Maine. womsn's
National Relief Corps. which met In this
city yesterday, u q part Of the National
Woman's Relief Corps, the largest pat
riotic organization OF women
In the world. The little band Of
earnest, loyal women which met In
Denver In 1888. and in the name
of Fraternity. Charity and Loyalty added
another woman's organization to those
who were already making the world
wiser and better, have In the years that
rave come and gone. grown into an army
of 10000. They have established corps
In every state of the union, except one.
and In all of tho territ ,ries and In the
District of Columbia.
The Organization has endowed and sup
ports National Relief Corps home for
the wives and mothers of soldiers and
dependent army nurses. 1t has founded
homes In Michigan, Iowa, Wisconsin,
California. Illinois, Indiana. Wisconsin.
Maine and Kansas. 1t founded and now
supports the memorial homo In Pennsyl-
vapia and secured legislation for the
founding Of home In New York and the
Industrial Training School for girls at
the Ohio Orphan Home. 1t has also
built memorial homes and monuments
in many other sections of the country.
The mestings vera held In Congress
hall. and were we'll attended. There
were about 100 ladies' present at the
morning session, aud In tho afternoon
this number was increased BY dity or
sixty.
The following report was submitted at
the meeting yesterday by Patriotic In
structor, Jeanie l.. Day, Of Gorham:
"Once again It 10 my privilege to report
the patriotic work of our order for the
year. While We have not carried out all
the year, our work will compare favora-
bly, with the work Of other years. We
find more teachers ntsrsst I'd in teaching
patriotism and the children more eager
10 learn about our heroes and patriots
At the present time we cannot urge too
much the teaching Of patriotism.
"Tne woman's Relief Corps has q sreo-
ial work to perform In teaching love for
the flag and loyalty to country. Through
their infiuenc, two Of our ititss have
made 1t law that the flag shall float
from svory sohool-house and public
building within their borders. May It
not be long before their sister states are
following the patriotic example Of I'LL
nois ant. Connecticut.
= Reports from 2s corps show that 100
school houses hoist the flag turing school
hours. 2s2 school rooms have flags. and
"a schools have the Declaration of Inde-
pandencs charts. Patriotism is taught
In oil. The Patriotic Primer 10 used In
many Of the schools. and 1853 schools
give the flag salute. National holidays
are observed by all. and histories are ap-
proved by the maiorlty-Montzoinery's.
Egsleston's. Barnes and MoMaster's
histories are all In use.
"For the work accomplished wish TO
extend my sincere thanks to the assistant
patriotic instructorswho have so faithful
ly carried ON the work assigned them.
In cl4sing my report ! wish to thank
you, Mrs. President. for my appointment
as Patriotic Instructor for this depart
ment. assure you l appreciate the
nontr con ferred."
A few days ago the scholars OF the
younger grades of the public schools of
Bangor were requested BY their tsaohsrs
to writ, hrie; compositions On "Our
Flag" which wonld be ssnt to the SEES
sions OF the National Relief Corps in this
city. Several of these compositions OF
Young America were received by this
officers Of the department yesterday and
read. The following is one Of the COM
p ,sitions: ''Many years ago George Wash
ington and few others planned the tag.
u sorgs Washington came to Betsey Ross
ana asked her to ssw the flag. Gen.
Washington decided to have six pointed
stars, but Betsay said that five pointed
stars would be more pleasing and her way
was chosen. A star and . stripe for
every state. Thirtesn stars and stripes
and now there are 10 states and stars"
During the SEES sions yesterday copies Of
the Ritual for Teaching Patriotism in the
public schools were distributed by Mrs.
Day.
The following report shows the present
condition of the national organization:
Number Of members, IA, $50
Expended in relief, SOL, 1876. 0s
Turned over to Posts 80, 126 Al
Relief other than money, 62,65S. IL
For National WomAn's Relief
Corps Home, s,794.77
Army NURSE outside Of the Home. los. co
National Headq ne rsers RELIEF, 100 %
For Memorial Day, 10, 500. 30
For Memorial Day In the South, 1,0as.OO
Expended for Spanish American
War, 59.2y7.T