The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1907-06-07
Grand Work Done by WOm-
ans Relief Corps.
GREAT HELP TO THE NEEDY
An Organization That Has Accom-
plished Much For Old Soldiers
and Their Widows.
From Saturdays Daily.

From Saturdays Dally-
One of the grandest of women's or
CARNATIONS in this vast country is that
noble band which goes to make mp the
relief corps-the auxiliary to the Grand
Army of the Republic. The general
public little knows the great amount OF
labor of love these women perform IN
their quiet way. They do not go about
with a brass band heralding the kind
acts that relieve the great many suffer
ers and the unfortunate who would
otherwise be in continual distress.
For the information of many who
may not understand the object and AIMS
of the organization a sketch OF ITS ms
tory and purpose might not come amlss
at this time
During the Civil war many relief So
cieties sprang up in the north and west,
and, after the close of hostilities, when
sick and manned soldiers returned, I'M
able to work OF care for them loved
ones, the ministrations of the loyal
women continued, and not only was the
veteran cared for, but his dependent
ones as well.
In 1883 a number of societies were
still in existence, and pursuant to
call of Paul Van Der WORT, command
er-in-chief of the Grand Army of the
Republic, their representatives as
sembled i'm Denver, and were organized
into what has grown to magnificent
proportions, carrying on its rolls more!
than l55, 900 patriotic women. The best
women of the land, in all walks OF life,
have considered it an honor to be en-
rolled under the banner whose. motto IS,
Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty. The
streams of bounty of the order have
flowed through many channels to reach
the one great end and more than $3,OOO-
600 have been used in relief since its
organization.
The aims and objects of the Women's
Relief corps are:
To specially aid and assist the Grand
Army of the Republic, and to perpetrate
the memory of their heroic dead.
To assist such union veterans as need
our help and protection, and to extend
needful aid to their widows and orphans.
To find them homes and employment,
and assure them of sympathy and
friends. 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.
To maintain true allegiance to the
United States of America: to incnlcate
lessons of patriotism and love of coun-
try among our children and in the com
munities in which we live; and encOur-
age the spread of universal liberty and
equal rights to all.
This organization was the first to in
troduce the salute to the flag in the
public schools and make the observance
of flag day general, by preparing and
carrying out simple programs.
There are two salutes to the flag
taught in the schools, and one for the
older scholars being. Il pledge allegiance
to my flag and to the republic for which
it stands; one nation indivisible, with
liberty and Justice for ALL
The other is taught the younger pu-
pills, and is: 81 give my head and my
heart to God and my country; one coun-
try, one language and one flag"
The Woman's Relief corps is an in
corporated body and owns much valu-
able real estate. Andersonville Prison
park belongs to the order, and, under
the skillful direction of Mrs. Elizabeth
A. Turner chairman of the committee
having the grounds in charge, has been
made to blossom as the rose. Deeds
have been given several states for plats
of ground which to place monuments
in memory of sons who lost their lives
within the enclosure. while confined as
prisoners during the Civil war. The park
is the mecca for loyal people every year
and especially upon Memorial day.
The finances of the Woman's Relief
corps are in splendid condition, the ma
tional treasury reporting that on Aug.
lS. 1906, there was a balance of S3.l3l
in the Andersonville fund, $1,000 in the
Southern memorial fund, $209l in the
emergency fund, and $l7,O38 in all
funds. There was received for the Cal
ifornia sufferers $5,332l0. Expended in
relief last year and on Memorial day,
S207 $685.. The number of persons
assisted was 39,l0l. There are $500
corps i'm the order The total expended
since the organization is $3,O57 ,44497