The National tribune., 1907-09-19

10 pOSleT1ty the record OF their NOPE
sacrifice and devotion for their coun-
try's honor The grass now cuvers the
old prison pen rs if in a vain attempt
to hide from sight this dark blot in
our Nationals history.
This once barren wilderness,
through the efforts Of the Woman 5
Relief Corps. has been made to bios
all time a grand monument to our or
der. Hundreds annually visit THIS
beautiful place and the National Gene
terry near by, sacIed to the American
people, and many comrades iournes
hither to anoint with tears aud cover
with flowers the last resting place of
some one dear to them and who was
their 'comrade in arms in the great
struggle of 81 to 90. Five different
States have erected beautiful Elonu-
ments within the old prison pen, and
in the National Cemetery where lie
these sacred dead. and several other
States have erected monuments to the
memory Of these heroes who preferred
death 10 dishonor.
THE name of Andersonville will viv-
| idly call to mind our beloved Liza
beth y. Turner, whose efforts trans
formed this spot into Il veritable flower
garden. Her chosen life work was
the beautifying of this once barren
wilderness where. to use her words,
| Every grain of sand bears a sacrifice.
There, surrounded by flowers planted
by her own hands. the mecking birds
filling the air with music. she laid
down this work. and entered the 'Eter-
nal Paradise
Il regret very much my inability to
accept Mrs. Turner's urgent invitation
| to visit Andersonville when she made
! her last official visit there in April
last. 1t was my privilege and pleasure
when at her home in New Britain,
| Conn. to so plan that she might have
every care and comfort possible in her
there. At her request j authorized her
| friend, Mrs. Delilah S. Davis of Massa-
chusetts, who is a member of our or
der, to accompany her and render her
| every assistance possible, which she
did most accepLably. When Our Liz
abeth passed away, Mrs. Davis made
every arrangement necessary and ac-
companied the remains 10 New Britain.
The thanks of the entire order are
due Mrs. Davis for her faithful serv-
| ices.
Grand Army of the Republic.
This Jubilee Convention would not
seem complete unless mention We're
made of our % years service
as auxiliary to the grandeSt orga MIA
ton in the world, the Grand Army of
the Republic. 1t has always been our
aim to carry on our labor of love in a
manner rejecting credit on them and
ourselves as well Steadfast and loyal
have they been to US and equally
staDch and true have we tried to be
to them.
Year by year their ranks are thin
Ging, and ii behooves us to be ever on
ne alert for their comfort and pleas
ire. When another quarter of a CEN
| Try has rolled away few will remain
IF that once mighty host, and our
golden anniversary Will only be n sad
reminder of the happy days when we
were working hand in hand and heart
to heart with our soldier boys OF '61
to '65.
AS ! visited the various Depart
ments AMI attended many of the
Grand Army Encampments, in talk
ing with the comrades and many
prominent in the work. the thought
was forchly impressed upon me that
now Is the ;sme when we should prove
ourselves 70 be the worthy auxiliary
of the Ciaad Army of the Republic.
Sons of Veterans.
Eve would be remiss in our duty
did We not say a word of praise in be-
half of this worthy organization. Dur
ing the past year we have received
many faro-s and courtesies at their
hands. 1t should be the duty and
pleasure OF the members of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps to assist in every
possible way the organization of new
Camps and by word of encouragement
awakening greater interest in those
already Instituted. The thanks of this
administration are hereby extended to
them for tAeir thoughtfulness and
kindness shown at all times
Memorial University.
1t was my privilege TO visit Memo
rial University and CLOSELY ayaunipp its
financial standing as well as its needs
for the future. / found DIR. Walter
Patton, the President of the University,
willing and anxious to assist me to
thoroughly inspect, not only the build
ing, but al books and records pertain
ing thereto.
"It is my belief that with the help
and encouragement of our order for
another year, Memorial University
could be free from debt and placed on
a paying basis. / further learned that
of the 09j students admitted to the
institution two-thirds of the entire
| number had been sons or direct de-
scendants Of veterans of the civil war;
and only such could receive free schol-
arshiDs to :lc university, and / recon-
mend that the Woman's Relief Corps
continue to financially assist Memorial
University the coming year.
AT the 24th National Conyen-
SioiI, iNih HI NIflH,
the committee appointed to meet a
committee from Tennessee in regard
| to the monument to loyal women. in
their report to the convention made
the following recommendation. which
was adopted: That next year being
| the 25il anniversary of the Wo-
mans Relief Corps. every member
| of this O der be asked TO contribute a
silver Offering to this fund In ac-
| cordanoe with this decision. a call was
made through General Orders No =
/ for contributions. and the result will
be told in the National Treasurer's re-
port. l am in hearty accord with this
movement, and trust that the time will
soon come when a monument com
memorative of the loyal women will
be erected.
Patriotic Iustruction.
| During the past IA years the
| Woman's Relief Corps have been az
lively engaged in the work Of patriotic
teaching, and wonders have been ac-
complishsd all along this line. The
past year has been no exception 10 the
previous ones Volumes coiild be writ
ten on this subject which would show
the efforts accomplished in this par
Ificular branch of our work
''The custom adopted of presenting a
flag to school where Department;