The National tribune., 1902-10-16
LADIES OF THE GAR.
The 18th National Convention an Enthusi-
astic and Successful Meeting.

The Ladies of the Grand Army of the
Republic held their 18th National Con
vention in Washington, and most en-
thusastic and improving Convention it
proved to be. Never in the history of the
organization have it's members been so
encouraged and uplifted. When the Ma
-ional President, Mrs. Emma Wall, rap
ped her gavel for order in the auditorium
If the Lutheran Memorial Church, on
Thursday morning, Oct. 8, she faced 200
lelegates, more than have ever greeted
my other National President of the Ladies
If the Grand Army of the Republic.
The gavel fell exactly at $3.50 4. M, and
Drayer was offered by the National Chap
ain, Mrs. l.. G. Brainard, of Buffalo. The
'inging of America followed, and the Con-
he day, the first thing being to seat the
'arious delegations, which took up most of
5he morning. Then visitors began to ar
rive. Gen. Torrance, Commander-inC Chief,
md Mrs. Torrance called, the former to
,xtend the greetings of the Grand Army
If the Republic to the organization which
,laims to be its blood KIM and Mrs. Tor
'ance because she is fond of all patriotic
,rganiza tions of women.
The next callers We're the Army Nurses.
rhe Chairman of that committee was
Mrs. Emiley WOOdley, of Philadelphia,
who was known to the old soldiers as
Mother" WOodley. They came to extend
he greetings of the Army Nurses. Very
shortly afterward, Mrs. Margaret Ray
Wickins, Past National President of the
Noman's Relief Corps, came from that
Convention to pay the respects of the
Woman's Relief Corps to its sister Or
;anization. Mrs. Wickins made most
enjoyable little speech, and was received
With honors.
A committee of six Ladies of the G. A.
r., consisting of Mrs. West, of New York:
Mrs. Hagur, of Illinois; Mrs. Durgan, of
illinois; Mrs. Roach, of Pennsylvania; /;
Mrs. Porter, of Indiana, and Mrs. Clut-
ter, of Oklahoma, was appointed by the
National President, Mrs. Wall, to make
the rounds OF the other organizations that
we're holding meetings to extend the greet
ings of the Ladies.
Calls were also received from the La
lies of the Union Veteran Relief Union,
from the Ladies of the Naval Veterans
md from the Daughters of Veterans.
At l o'clock a delicious lunch was served
to the Convention members in the parlOrs
Of the church, which had most beautiful
decorations of flags and cut flowers. The
lunch cOurtesies were presented to the Ma
ional Convention by Mrs. Emma Allyn
Hawkes., President of U. S. Grant Circle,
Washington. This Circle has made all the
Preparations for the National Convention
If the Ladies of the Grand Army of the
Republic, even to raising every dollar of
he money for the purpose.
The afternoon session was given over to
.cports for time. The address of the Ma
;ional President coming first. Mrs. Wall
expressed her gratitude and pleasure for
Ill the messages and words of sympathy
which came to her during the long weeks
If confinement after her injury, and said
hat these had lightened the burden ap-
Dreciably. Of the Order. she said that
there had been growth all along the line
md that the Ladies of the Grand Army
If the Republic were stronger in every
State of the Union than they had ever
been before. The States in which the or
ganizatiOn is strongest are New Jersey,
PENNSYLVANIA, California, Kansas, Hi
lois, Ohio, Oklahoma, New York, Ken
lucky, Iowa. Massachusetts, Nebraska,
Minnesota, Colorado, Indiana, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Virginia, Washington, Mis-
souri,, Wyoming, Oregon, Mississippi, <and
Louisiana.
The Circles under National jurisdiction
are located as follows: Vermont, Rhode
Island. Georgia, Idaho, South Dakota,
Delaware, New Hampshire, Maryland,
Utah, Washington. District of Columbia,
North Dakota, Connecticut. Arkansas.
Tennessee. Alabama, and Maine.
The National Secretary, Mrs. Anna
Dyke Leanard, stated that the organiza-
ton now numbered $4,000 members in
good standing, with an apprecable in
crease in the honorary memberships. All
honorably discharged soldiers of the war
Of the rebellion may, on proper investi-
CATION, become members of the Order.
Fifty-two new Circles have been added
during the year.
The National Treasurer, Mrs. Annie
AIichenor, reported an excellent condition
IF the treasury, and no liabilities. Over
$4,000 have been spent in relief work
during the past year.
The reports of the other officers were of
ike encouraging nature. Those who rem
iered an account of their stewardship
we're National Senior Vice President, Mrs.
Ella Holloway Waggoner, Sacramento,
Cal; National Junior Vice President, Mrs
Jennie b. Hormell, louisville, KY; Ma
tional Counselor, Mrs. Eta Lee Toby, Lo-
gansport, Ind; National Chaplain, Mrs
l.. G.. Brainard, Buffalo, N. Y; National
Inspector, Mrs. Maria Denison, Topeka,
Kan; National Press Correspondent, Miss
Ella u. Wade, Topeka, Kan.
On Memorial Day, according to the re-
ports of the National Chaplain, many
thousands Of graves were decorated, and
during the year the little flags of the Or