Mower County transcript., 1907-06-05
tried to look cheerful while their

tried to- look cheerful while their
brothers marched away to the war.
These women are now organized
as the Women's Relief Corps and the
Ladies of the Grand Army, and to
them great credit is due for the pa
triotic work they are now doing, and
the assistance they are giving to the
Grand Army Post to which they are
auxiliary s~..,-
The Women's Relief Corps num-
bers upwards of $4,000 and are
scattered throughout our Republic,
and they are still growing in num-
bers. The stronger they are, the
better for the Posts to which they
are attached, and but for their as
sistance many of our Posts would
have to surrender their charters.
During the early years of the war,
1t is said that Mrs. John A. Logan
was acting as president of an organ
ization of loyal women in Washing
ton, who were engaged in raising
means to supply the sick and wound
ed soldiers, and she invited Mr.. Lin
coin to address the meeting. Mr..
Lincoln said, II am not schooled in
the art of complimenting women, but
will say that if all the good things
that have ever been said of her, by
all the orators, poets and historians
of all time, were laid at the feet
of American womanhood today, it
would not compensate her for what
she is doing for the sick and wound
ed soldiers of the war;" and if that
was true then. it is pre-eminently
true today.
The Woman's Relief Corps has
! interpreted for the world the work
of our Divine Master, of whom it
was said that "He went about doing
good"
There is no organized body of
| women in. the world today that
equals the Woman's Relief Corps.
You, my comrades, can never forget
the vast amount of helpful work done
by these loyal women, and from the
time of the birth of their organiza-
ton, the Woman's Relief Corps and
the Grand Army of the Republic
have worked hand in hand, and for
, single purpose.
| To them belongs the credit of plac-
ing on the grave of every Union SOL
dier, known to lie in a Southeren
cemetery or on Southern soil a flag,
| Gin Acknowledgment of what he died
to save
! The w. R. C. originated the Gus
tom of placing flag on every school
house, as well as in every school
room, and for the past twelve years
this organization has owned the
grounds where Andersonville prison
| was located,-a spot which they hold
as a sacred trust in perpetuation of
the memory of the 10000 brave men
who died there.
Comrades and Fellow Citizens:
Our duty for this occasion is per-
formed, and we rejoice in the fact
that this day, in every part of our
broad country, in every valley and
churchyard and cemetery that holds
|, hero's resting place, willing feet
and loving hands have brought some
tender memorial of the love they
bore for the soldier dead.
Comrades and wives, and lonely
widows, children and patriots and
sympathizing friends, all, have unit
ed in this loving service.
"Sleep on, comrades, NO long roA
or rafting fire on lonely picket-iine,
can ever reach your ears" or call
you from your silent resting place.
Your tents are pitched on another
shore. You will never again report
for duty among men.
But you and l, my fellow citizens,
cannot linger at this sacred shrine.
"Lffe's duties we must meet again.
but as we go from this place to as
sumo those duties, may the sacred
memories that have met us here to-
day prove an incentive to renewed
pledges or loyalty and patriotism. as
we go marching on to the glorious
destiny that awaits our united coun-
try.