Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-10-06

societies together to establish national or
ganiZation, and to encourage the spread
and growth and scope of their work I am
satished that no post is thoroughly equipped
and armed in behalf of our noble order I'M
less 1t has worked hand and hand with it.
a band of the noble women of the land"
representatives OF the patriotic organi-
cations OF women of sixteen states, met In
Denver, the delegates numbering fifty-one
Massachusetts was represented by a band
or energetic women, who had organized
State Relief Corps in that commonwealth
as early as 1869. They had Ladies Aid
societies., auxiliary to posts as early as
1867. There were kindred organizations in
Maine, Illinois, New Hampshire, Ohio and
Connecticut. The fifty-one women gathered
IN Denver very soon perfected an organi-
zatlon, adopting for their rule of action
the rules of the Mas sa chusetts state Wo-
mans Relief Corps" These rules recop-
nized loyal women as eligible to member
snip: mat Is, women who were and are
loyal 10 the flag, and have never given aid
or comfort to the enemies of the Union. All
the other aid societies and patriotic organ
lZatlons or women, confined their member
snip 10 the relatives Of some one who had
served IN the MON army from 1861 to 1868
BY reason of this one rule. many of tho
ladies disagreed with the majority and
withdrew from the convention on the
ground that the membership of an aid to
the Grand Army of the Republic should he
confined to those near and dear to soma
soldier. The ladies representing the New
Jersey department refused to accept this
e clause and withdrew in body OF the
ttty-one delegates thirty five-voted to admit
loyal women. while sixteen voted against
It, Mrs. E. Florence Barker Of Maiden, Mass
was elected national president; Mrs. Kate r
sherwood OF Ohio, national senior vice presi-
uent; Mrs. E. X. Stimson of Denver ma
tlonal Junior vice president: Mrs Sarah E
Fuller Of Boston was appointed secretary
and Mrs. Lizabeth A. Turner of Boston.
treasurer. All but Mrs. Stimson have since
not
the order.
The Grand Army was far from unit in
lndorslng the organization Of the Womans
Keller Corps. There were many. though
not quite majority, Of the Denver encamp-
ment who objected to the injection of the
feminine element, and stated so openly.
me majority, however passed resolution
IN which they declared: I'VE cordially hail
the organization of National Relief Corps
and extend our greeting to them We re-
turn our warmest thanks to the loyal wo-
men of the land for their earnest work sup
port and encouragement and we bid them
God-speed' in their patriotic work"
Known as "Sister Paulina."
Commander-in-Chief Van der Voort for
his splendid support of the Woman's Relief
Corps. before and after organization, was
made an honorary member of the national
organization, and was known to the mem
bers as "Sister Paulna," When General
Van der WORT died in Cuba, July o. 1902,
there was genuine mourning among the pa
triotic women of the order, and the char
tiers Of the Woman's Relief Corps through
out the country were draped in mourning
by order Of the national president.
Gen. Robert B. Beath. who was elected
communicated chief of the Grand Army Of
the Republic at the Denver encampment
was an excellent friend to the new and
struggling order, and in his annual address
| the following year at Portland said that the
| Woman's Relief Corps was much further
| advanced in organization In Its one year of
| life than the Grand Army was in the same
| length Of time. He further remarked that
| those comrades who had doubted the Wis
dom of recognizing the Woman's Relief
| Corps officially would find that the organi-
zation was most efficient and active in It's
great work. There were yet doubters, how
| ever. and 1t was not until the national or
| ganization was celebrating its NTH year in
| national convention that the national en-
campment Of the Grand Army of the Re-
| public ordered special committee to fur
mulate a resolution indorsing the big or
/ ganization with Its IS 600 members and Civ
ing 1t the right to be known az the only
auxiliary Of the Grand Army Of the Repub-
Nc. This resolution was offered In The
twenty-nrst national encampment then