The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-09-13
W0MAN'S RELIEF CORPS.
Loyal Women Meet in Eighteenth Annual COnven=
ton in Chicago.
ATTENDANCE LARGER THAN EVER BEFORE.
Address of the National Presden-Rpors Of Other National
Oficers-SociaI Features of Officers.


I hand rests heavily on the men who
! fought the fight, proved their faith by
! their cndeavor," and silvered heads, bowed
shoulders and worn faces tell an Der true
| tale OF shortening days for the defenders
of The flag. They had with them on the
trip their children and their children 5
| children, stalwart sons and daughters,
manly youths and pretty maidens, who
sang gay little love songs and home bal
| lads. Then, leaning on the bent shout
ders of some veteran, sweet-voiced girl
| would lift her rich melody in .'Tentins on
| the Old Camp Ground" and as it tiOated
| ont over the ripping waters, the brave
| old soldiers took up the refrain and chant
ed ''Tcnting tonight, tenting tonight, tent
ing on the old camp ground" sob i'll
each voice, an ache in each heart. Then
someone would start John Brown or
Marching Through Georgia" and how
the grand old marching tunes would
gather volume and vigor as hundreds upon
hundreds caught thc widening wave
Of sound, till the very heavens seemed to
respond with IN echo. Best of all, these
old boys love the songs that speak of the
dag, and the Union Forever" Rally
Round the Flag" "Star-Spangled Ban
ner," and Wrap the Flag Around Me,
Bows" were favorites. No Nation on
earth ever loved the flag as Americans
&c. Nc flag that ever iloated has had as
loyal, loving defenders as dear Old Glory.
OPENING SESSION.
Il was q vast and interested audience
that National President Harriet J. BODICE
faced when the gavcl called to order the
18th National Convention at 1870 o'clock
Wednesday morning. \ solemn hush fell
as the National Chaplain invoked the Di-
vine blessing, and then it was good to
hnpr tho rich ynluIp.. of Snitpl tho fa
miliar words of America kissed the
ra-e-rerfumed air, tossed here and there
as it was by the silk salute flags of the
Woman's Relief Corps. There seemed 4
million of them as they flashed under the
sunlight tilterins through the stained glass
windows.
The President called about her the Ma
tional officers and National Staff, and
VIXEN the last note of America" had died
away introduced them to the audience.
They were: National Secretary Charlotte
4. Wright, New Haven, Conn; National
Treasurer Isabelle II. Bagley, GAINESVILLE,
Ohio; National Senior Nice-President,
Libbie G. Baer, Appleton, Wis; National
Junior ticc-President, May Evans, Walla
Walla, Wash: National Chaplain, Mary
II. Brown, East Providence, X. l.; Ma
tionai Inspector, Melissa Caylor, Mobiles
vile, Ind; National Counselor, Lizabeth
A. Turner, Boston, Mass; National In
shutting and Installing Officer, Abbie A.
Adams, Superior, Neb.; National Patriotic
Instructor, Alice I. Bordwell, Saltwater,
Mimi; Executive Board, Mrs. Charlotte
]. Cummings, Pennsylvania, Chairman;
Mrs. Minnie ID. Morgan, Kansas; Flor
ence ii. Gates, Vermont: Lucinda A.
Scott, Missouri, and Jennie Ball, North
Dakota. The only living life member of
the Board, Past National President Sarah
L. Fuller, of Massachusetts, was unable
to be present. The National President
introduced these members of her staff with
evident pride, paying fitting tribute to
them in the work of the year.
The Board of Directors of the National
w. r. G. Home were next called to the
platform and introduced. After the death
of Mrs. Annie Wittenmyer, who was
Chairman, Mrs. Charity Rusk Craig was
elected to that office. Her associates were:
Agnes Hit, Secretary, Indianapolis, Ind;
Flo JamisOn Miller, Monticello, Ill, and
Sarah D. Winans, Toledo, Ohio, who was
the vacant place on the Board.
The Andersonvile Prison Board was
then presented Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner,
Of Boston, Past National President. being
Chairman, and Mrs. Sarah ID. Winans,
Of Toledo, Ohio, being appointed TO fill the
vacancy left by the death of Mrs. Witten-
myer. The ether members We're: Calista
H. Jones, bridIOrd, VI, ana Mary Il. ii.
gladden., Baltimore, MI.
Miss Clara Barton, who had Just then
come upon the platform, accompanied by
Mrs. Ellen II. Musscy, was introduced
and greeted with prolonged applause and
waving Of flags.
The women who received an ovation
that was inspiring came next. They were
nine Past National Presidents-Mrs. Kate
Brownlee Sherwood Ohio; Mrs. Elizabeth
n 1 ('nEf.r,,i,.
Stark Hampton. Mich; Mrs. Charity
husk Craig, Wisconsin,; Mrs. Margaret
Ray Wilkins, Kansas; Mrs. Emma X.
Wallace, Illinois; Mrs. Lizabcth Turner,
Massachusetts; Mrs. Agnes Hit, Indiana;
Mrs. Flo Jamison Miller, Illinois. The alb
sent ones We're the beloved Mrs. Sarah f.
Fuller, Mass; Mrs. Sue Pike Saunders,
Illinois, and Mrs. Mary Sears McHenry,
Iowa. The Convention received this no
table body of women with wild enthusi-
asm, cheering andswaving their flags and
even tossing flowers upon the platform at
their feet.
ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT.
Immediately following this last introduc-
ton many of the States sent to the plat
form such quantities of flowers that the
stage began to look like a tropical garden
The first business of the Convention was
the presentation of the Presidents ad-
dress, which was strong document
bristling with vigorous recommendations
Among other important recommendations
was one that the Department and Corps
service books be revised TO date, so that
they will conform with Ritual and Rules
and Regulations and with the flag work,
which they do not do now. She also rec
commended that some plan looking to the
union of all women's patriotic organiza-
| tons be formulated. The recommends
| flDD that Seamnl fn touch