The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-03-15

as wen rs inclination, and her grand
father was revolutionary solder. Her
mother had four brothers and her father
three in the civil war and Mrs. Wright
was brought up in an atmosphere OF
patriotism. She was born in Hastings,
and with the exception Of a few years
spent in Fargo before her marriage, she
has always lived in Minnesota
The president of a society that counts
Its members by the thousands cannot pc
an. idle woman, and, though Mrs. WrlghI
has held the office little over a week, she
is already familiar with Its needs ana
duties. During the summer she Will en-
deavcr to visit the district encampments
and personally come in touch with the I'LL
ferent corps in the state she mas, per
haps, as wide an acquaintance Win Inc
W. R. 10. women Of Minnesota as any
woman in the order. Iney are Ia ~ g.
with her executive ability and tact, anu
her election was assured from the hrst.
The Minnesota Organization.
The Woman's Relief Corps of Mime
sofa was organized in the fall OF 1852
few months after the national oig % 10
tion was perfected at the G. A. H. ma
tional convention in Denver L. M.
LANCE of Marshall, past commander OF
the Minnesota G. A. R., was Instruments
in the formation of the new order ana the
first CORDS was established IN Wortnlns
ton, Mimi, under the nanne u o'oNos'A -
Relief Corps, No. l.
The first work OF Stoddard Corps was
but a promise Of what the loyal women OF
the state would do for the old soldlders
and their families An Engl1shman, WIZ
had fought all through the war, was nv,
ing In the town with his family Oh small
children, He had been unfortunate. anu
The children needed food and clothes.
The subject was mentioned at an early
meeting of the corps and the energetic
women packed several boxes, marked
them with the name of the famaly, ,anc
one night enlisted the services OF re"
men. who helped them load the boxes into
q sleigh and drive out to the poverty
stricken home. The boxes were thrown
into the yard and the philanthropic won
en- drove back to town. The old. soldier
and his family never knew where tnf
needed help came from, and the Wome1
found their reward in the children, nov
warmly clothed, who Chartered on tn
present that had come to them so mys
teriously. .'r
"The w. r. c. is a secret order, bu
the only secrets OF Importance are tn
names OF those to whom relief is given,
laughed a prominent W. r. c. woman
"a committee is appointed In each corp
to look up needy cases and no one outsld
the corps knows who they are" D..
The w. R. C. is the only purely charita
bile society In the world that neve
spends cent for charity but devotes mil
Hons to relief. There Is nice dist1nc
ton between charity and relief that salve
the feelings of many an old soldier
is the only auxiliary to the G.. A. p. an
other patriotic organizations are know
as allied orders. 1T is semi military !
character and is provided with password
and other essentials to secret order.
The meetings Of the corps through. tn
state are to the country women what
,r-rcrr trh sinh n -a-l
often the only social and intellectus
amusement that they have and they driH
miles through heat and cold to be pres
ent Through the programs the shy, diff
dent women acquire confidence to spea
In public, their horizon broadens and tt
corps develops more than loyalty in i
members.
Qualifications for Membership.
ANY loyal woman is eligible for men
bership and a candidate presents h.
name to the membership committee. In
moral character is the only bar, and Il
members are from all conditions Of lif
The woman of wealth and the laundre
often belong to the same corps and wo
side by side. They are practical wom'
who belong to this order and their Wo
is along practical lines.
Since 1883 the number Of corps in Mi
rfesota has grown to ITO with a membe
ship OF over $500. '. Over $4,000 is spe
every year in relief work and the sum
raised penny by penny through entertai
ments, card parties and other affairs
addition to money the order furnish
iellies and delicacies for the Soldier
Home and provides the rocking chail
cushions and other home, comforts +
the veterans. Each member brings
penny to each corps meeting for the Su
shine fund which is used to buy fowe
4 for the sick. -
When needy case is brought to t