The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-05-12
Woman's Relief Corps.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The work
of American women in the great war for
the preservation of the Union was that Of
relief. Relief on the battlefield and in the
hospital. for the wounded and the sick. re-
lief for the wives and children, widows
and orphans of soldiers.
Soldiers Aid Societies were organized
from New England to the farthest West,
which were the greatest sources of supply
for the Christian and Sanitary Commits
sions, formed for the collection and dis
trbution of hospital and sanitary sup
plies. Millions of dollars were raised and
expended, and thousands of lives were
saved through the direct agency of the pa
trotic, loyal women of the North.
With the disarmament of our armies fol-
lowed the dissolution of our Christian and
Sanitary Commissions, and the formal
closing of the wOrk-roOmS of the Soldiers
Aid Societies.
Our returned heroes were received with
Joy. and with the full confidence that the
country which they had saved would full
fill its promises to provide for their neces-
sities A decade passed: a financial
crisis was on the country; disappointments
began to make cruel ravages in the vet
| eran ranks. Hundreds of orphans cried
for bread. Hundreds of widows went out
seeking work, and there was none. The
G.. A. r., organized at the close of the war
to promote Fraternity, Charity and Loyal
ty did its utmost to aid unfortunate COM
rades and their dependents but the or
ganza ton had no source of replenishment
for its treasury. Then it was that the
loyal woman answered again. Here am II
to the call of the men who saved the
Nation. Massachusetts and Ohio took up
the work: the former under the name of
the w. II. c.. the latter that of Post
Ladies' Aid Societies. in 1S7S-'79, and the
workers have increased in numbers and in
fiuence to the present time. These so
cietes united in 1888 in a National As
ISOLATION at Denver, Colo, under the name
of "NNoman's Relief Corps. Auxiliary TO
the Grand Army of the Republic" The OBJ
jects of the w. r. c. are First. To espe-
cially aid the G. A. r. and to perDetuate
the memory of their heroic dead Second.
To cherish and emulate the deeds of our
Army Nurses. and of all loyal women who
rendered loving service to our country in
her hour of peril. Third. To maintain
true allegiance to the United States of
America to inculcate lessons of patriotism
and love of country among our Children
and in the communities in which we live"
1t should be considered an honor to any
loyal woman to be a member of this So
ciety, National in character and scope of
work. Many new features of the work
are being introduced to meet the changing
needs of the times. but nothing which
alters in any respect the objects for which
it was founded. 1t is educative. patriotic.
fraternal and charitable That there is
great need of patriotic teaching admits
of no argument. The last report of the
Bureau of Immigration of three-quarters
of million added to our population dur
ing the last year. more than 20 per cent
heing of the iliteracy of Italy. Austria
Hungary and Russia, is subject for
serious consideration. and should demand
the closest attention. not only of our law
makers. but of every American citizen 1t
is more true to-day than ever before that
Eternal vigilance is the price of liberty"
for in a country like ours the Government
can not be more honest. more just. more
exalted than the people who constitute it.
Patriotic and humane teaching is to-day
no small part of the work of the w. II. C..
Bands of Mercy are formed under its
auspices systematic nlans of work are out
lined by national officers for TIE use and
guidance of all Corps. and TODAY the W.
r. c. stands for more of education in the
making of good citizens than any o-eani-
zation in our land.-DELE TAYLOR. Presi-
dent Corps 40 Albion Ind