The National tribune., 1907-09-19
WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS CONVENTION.
The National Organization Meets and Hears ReposAddress OF
President Carrie R. Sparkin-Sver Jublee-Naonal Officers
EIected-FinanCes Full.

toga, Sept. II and IA, was one OF the
most successful in point of numbers
ever held. Mrs Carrie r. Sparklin,
National President, won golden opin-
ions for the manner in which she pre-
sided, the orderly procedure of the bus
mess and the dispatch with which 1t
was put away. 1t is probable that
there was never "a National Conven-
ton of the Womans Relief Corps
which had more visitors, and not one
was turned away, but every bit OF the
business of the convention was COM
pleted by midnight Friday, when II
often has gone over into the third day
and the third morning.
The presentation OF the Silver An
niversary Offering to the Grand Army
of the Republic was the principal topic
of conversation and of interest until II
haG been accomplished. This matter
had been talked over in Relief Corps
circles throughout the United States
for a whole year, and every member
of the National organization felt an
abiding interest in making the sum
Just as large as possible. AT a mag
nificent campfire held in SaIatoSa, the
presentation was made Convention
Hall was ere great biliowins mass OF
flags, the vast expanse above being
eanopied with cfoud-like effect OF
bunting star-gemmed over the blue
and reaching out in graceful festoonS
TO all sides OF the hall to meet the flag
draperies there. The hall was packed
to suffocation for the event, and while
there were 5000 people on the inside,
in at all. Upon the platform were
all the Past National Presidents
attending the convention, Including
the ranking President living They
were Mrs. Kate S. Sherwood. Sarah
E. Fuller, Emma Stark Hampton,
Emma r. Wallace. Flo Jamison Miller,
Harriet ]. Bodge, Mary L. Carr, Calists
Robinson Jones. Lodusky Taylor.
Sarah D. Winans, Fanny E. Minot, and
Abbie Asenath Adams. All the National
officers were in attendance upon the
convention; Commander-in-Ch Chief Rob
ert, Bruce Brown and his staff and
many prominent men of the State and
of the patriotic organizations, includ-
ing Past Commanders-il-Chief Tar
ner. John c. Black, Leo Rassieur. John
Kountz Wisert Goblin, Beath, Tor
rance, Wagner, Burdett, Stewart, Law
ler, King; Past Senior Vice Command
er-in-Chief John McElroy Harlan j.
Swift, Commander Department of New
York: Archbishop Ireland: Senator
McCumber of South Dakota; Bishop
Fallows; Mrs. Carrie r. Sparklin, Ma
tional President of the Womcn's Re
lief Corps, and her full staff of Ma
tional officers.
Gov Charles E. Hughes, of the En-
pire STATE, welcomed the veterans to
the confines of New York in an able
speech, and the village Mayor well
coined all to Saratoga. Hannah L.
MaXon. one of the wonderful orators
of the Woman's Relief Corps, and the
National Chaplain, responded to the
welcome for the Woman's Relief
Corps and Mrs. Elna B. Dalton,
National President of the Ladies of
Gr--n nj of the RanrThlic
sponded for the Ladies of the G. A r.
in eloquent terms. Other speakers of
The evening were Senator McCumber
Col Sterritt, Commander Swift, and
Archbishop Ireland. There was splen-
did music and singing, but the en-
tflusiasrl. did not reach its height until
the National President, Mrs. Sparklin.
all in white. with the appealing voice
and swift-coming smile of a girl in her
teens, stepped to the front of the plat
form, and in a few brief sentences
presented TO Commander = in CHER
a present from the Woma1's Relief
Corps, and inside OF it a check for
$4,000, the jubilee offering of the
Woman's Relief Corps to the great
organization to which it is auxiliary.
The presentation was greeted by long
lasting cheers and applause. Cen
Grown accepted the present with elo-
IGNhb ~ llic W NoiaiCi2 . l.CEiti
Corps.
Another presentation was silver
tea set with small table silver in sew
eral handsome cases to Past Com
mander-in-Chief Tanner. the custom
AIRY present to the Commander-in-Ch
from the National Encampment.
The address of the National Presi-
dent opened with the following touch
ing reference to the Silver Anniver-
sary:
1t must seem TO you as well as TO
myself almost incredible that a quar-
ter of a century has passed since u
handful of brave, energetic and patri-
otic women met in Denver, colo, July
25, 20, 1888, and at the request Of the
Grand Army of the Republic. through
fits Chief, Paul Van
Der Wort. launched into existence
their auxiliary, the Woman's Relief
Corps. Fifty-eight names were en-
crossed on the National Charter. +.
Florence Barker. one of the number,
being chosen our first National Presi-
dent.
Her own words will describe more
accurately than mine her feelings as
she assumed this responsibility: Fully
realizing the breakers ahead, ! felt like
strange pilot removed from the
harbor ] knew so well and placed in a
strange port, without chart or map.
only compass 10 guide me- Many
who were present at that first meeting.
among them E Florence Barker, our
beloved LiZaheth A. Turner, Mary Jew
EFT Telford and others, have crossed
the river and into that undiscovered
country from whose bourne no traveller
returns. Let us believe that. in the
silence of the recedIng world, they
heard the waves breaking on farther
shore, and felt upon their brow the
breath of eternal morning.
When hearts whose truth was proven
Like theirs, are laid in earth,
There should a wreath be woven
To tell the world their worth
Nearby is the battlefield of Sara.
toga, the scene of one of the most de.
cisive conflicts in the world. Its field'
and slopes covered with markers tel
too plainly the graphic story OF tht
conflict. To the north of the viliag'
lies Fort Edward, the scene of tn
massacre of the lamented Jane Nc
crea. A short distance away is Blood.
Pond, the scene of another great Rev
olutienary strife. its quiet waters Civ
Ing no sign of the terrible scene ther
enacted. Here. sitting in the SHADOW
of beautiful Mount McGregor. in i'm
agination we can almost live owe
again the days when we We're so anx
iously awaiting news from the bedsid