The National tribune., 1900-04-19
MASSACHUSETTS, W.R.C.
Report Of the Department Trsss Core
spondent

| spondent.
! EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: "To stand n
the head of over $4,000 women banded togcthc
TO care for the veterans and their dependent one.
Of the civil war is an honor may well be prouC
of" These were the words spoken by Mrs
! Angie A. Robinson, Department President in hcl
| address TO the members of the 2lst Annual Con
| vcntion of Massachusetts Woman's Relief Corps
1t may be truly said Mrs Robinson and her co
| workers need have no regrets in looking over III,
years work, for they entered heart and soul int
| the work and the result was n grand success
| The relief work performed by the Corps through
| out the department has been Il work of love as
| well duty. Calls for contributions 10 the vaTi
| Gus funds have been cheeriully forwarded. The
sum of S7,4649l has been expended for direct
| relief SlOO29. 10 turned owe: 10 Posts, and 81
7S2 80 in relief other than money making grand
total of $50, 276 40 expended for the veterans and
their dependent ones.
| Every year sees greater interest manifested
in and more time and thought devoted 10 the
Memorial exercises IN our public schools The
our Order in Massachusetts took part in the
services and exercises of Memorial Day.
One hundred and sixty four Corps attended
Memorial services on Sunday; 29,35O soldiers
graves were decorated; flowers were furnished by
| 100 Corps; memorials to unknown dead were pre-
pared by 13O Corps; refreshments were served by
| ii0 Corps the expense incurred i'll connection
with these ObscrvanccS is reported as 81 ,Si6. 80;
16, 1876 children took part in the exercises of the
day, besides the thousands in all parts OF our
| State who had special exercises III our public
schools 256 graves of Revolutionary soldiers were
decorated; six of soldiers OF 1872; 81 OF those of
| the Spanish American war; nine Of Army Nurses;
| and 231 of Corps members. with many others
mentioned but uncounted; 102 Corps contributed
| S2OS.S5 for Memorial Day in the South" that
amount being more than one fourth of the entire
| amount reported by our National W.R.C.; good
| record for Massachusetts.
Mrs. May \. Hicks Department Inspector, said
the reports OF Assistant Inspectors were very en-
couraging, showing more interest in the ritual
lStic work, large amount Of relief work done, and
| in every case perfect harmony between Post and
| Corps.
Patriotic instruction being another important
feature of our work clip the following from tho
report of Emily T. Ward, Department Patriotic
| Instructor:
81 might fill pages with the patriotic work which
has been reported by letters but 10 those who have
| raised money for flags. Patriotic primers. lnde-
pendence charts portraits of great men. pictures
of historical events, who have planned patriotic
contests, who have encouraged the children TO
earn their own flags who have with dcliCacy and
tact made their visits 10 the schools suggestive
and helpful to the teachers and schOlarsto 10 all
these say, you have not done your work for this
Journal but that the schools in your community
might be richer i'll all that stimulates and hallOwS
the love Of country in the youthful mind you have
been power for good in your own town or city;
you have elevated the standard OF the Woman's
Relief Corps.
There are many Corps in the State who have
not been able TO do so much No less patriotic
they make hard struggle for their own existence
whose members are scattered over n large tcTrl-
tory, where there are no public COnyeyanccS: who
cannot take up the flag work because their mum
berS are few; but their relief work is nevcr neg
ccNu, ana no veteran or veteran : idHntlN Is lett
TO suffer want while these noble women live to
minister to their needs. All honor to these strug
CLING Corps. Let us measure their patriotism
not by what they have failed 10 accomplish, but
by what they would do if they could TO such
let me quote the words of Assistant Patriotic
Instructor Of one Of our larger Corps: Our pa;ri
otto work has Ccntercd mainly III fulfilling the
true principles OF our noble Order by caring for
the needy ones"
She also said: 'If we never know Just how many
scholars in our schools salute the flag, We may
rest assured that in patriotism Massachusetts
still stands at the right of the line"
The work Of the Sons Of Veterans and Daueh-
ters of Veterans is fully appreciated, and their
relation with the Department very harmonious
The various branches of relief work have been
faithfully attended to during the year Com
mittceS have been thorough in their work. and
have chcerfully responded To all demands. The
work done at Department Headquarters is truly
wonderful. -Four meetings Of the Department
Council, and 81 committee meetings have been
held at Department Headquarters during the
past year and $1,000 General Orders. circulars,
documents, etc, have been mailed The callers
numbered several thousand All this takes the
time Of the officers, but everything moves along
like clockworls in this busy hive OF industry, and
visitors are always welcome and receive cordial
greetings. Mrs. Robinson and her faithful
assistants have laborcd most earnestly for the
advancement of the Order have given honest,
faithful service, and exemplifed the grand prin
ciples OF Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty
The following is list Of officers for 1900: Pres,
Mary /. Gilman, Corps 63, Roxbury; S. Y. p,
Maria W, Going, Corps 80, Charlcstown; j. V. p,
I,'i'a' IL ''pS lItds.i
Sarah +. Fuller, Corps B. East Boston; Chap.
Deilah S Davis, Corps 20, Palmer; Sec, Mary
f. Elliot, Corps 81, Somerville; Ins, Katherine
+. Sullings, Corps IS, Dorchester; Counselor,
Angie \. Robinson Corps II, Worcester: /. and l.
Officer. Elizabeth p. Sawyer, Corps %, New Bed
ford Patriotic Instructor Marie j. Kendall. Corps
80, Gardner. Executive Board, Fannie NJ.
Jones, Corps 81, Somerville, Chairman; Clara II.
B. Evans, Corps 81, Pittsfeld: Sara f. Cain,
Corps 102, East Weymouth; Julia \. Hamilton,
Corps 80, Athol; Alice VI. Goddard. Corps Z,
Brockt0n. BETSIE c. SAMPSON, Department
Press Correspondent, Whitman, Mass