The National tribune., 1909-08-12
WOMAN'S
RELIEF CORPS,
Address Of the National Presi'
dent-Report Of National Sec
retary.

Mrs. Mary L. Gilman has presented
to the officers and members OF the Zitn
National Convention her report IL
was, as might have been expected, a
splendid epitome of the years vast
work in the greatest patriotic organ
ization of women in the world. Mrs.
Gilman has given her whole time and
all her energy to the work OF her high
office, and it can be stated without fear
| of successful contradiction that the
organization has never been more pros
porous nor has its influence been more
widely felt than under her administra-
ton.
In opening her address Mrs. Gilman
said:
Not in all this broad land of ours is
| there a greater or a more pubilc-Spir-
| tied association of women than our
| Woman's Relief Corps. It's principles
are the purest and truest that ever en-
| tered into the heart and mind of wo-
man. To be President of the Woman's
Relief Corps one must possess the love
and confidence and esteem of her asso-
ciates."
She said that she had striven hard
during the year to justify their choice
of her as their presiding officer, and
that her address would give the ac-
count of her stewardship. In speak
| ing of the work Of the year Mrs. Gil
man stated that she was satisfied that
each National officer labored diligently
for the good of the Order; that at times
the duties had been difficult and irk-
some, but have been performed ably
and cheerfully, and with a spirit of de-
votion and self-sacrifice worthy of the
noble cause and of the loyal women
whose representatives we are.
Grand Army of the Republic.
|
| ization to which the Woman's Relief
| Corps is auxiliary, the Grand Army Of
| the Republic, she said that the past
year had been devoted to especial ef-
| forts to sustain Chief
Nevius in his noble task of securing the
reinstatement of suspended members
who are too poor to pay their dues and
| the mastering in of worthy veterans
who have thus far remained outside
the ranks thru inability to meet the ex
pense of membership. She had made
a special plea to the Corps and mem
bers to adopt the best and most prac-
tical way of helping the Grand Army
| in this respect, and has every reason
to believe that they have been met with
| satisfactory response. AS an evi.
dence of her special interest she rec
commended that the sum of $1,000 be
| presented to the Grand Army of the
Republic to be placed in the vested
| fund.
| Army Nurses.
| "The Army Nurses she declared
were fast passing away, and that soor
| they would be only memory to In
spire other American women to emu
late their virtues and to make like sac
rifices for liberty and humanity" She
stated that they were necessarily older
than the men they nursed, and in theil
4 Il frfx rrG
| from Congress the passage Of an in
lcreased pension bill, and felt sure thai
| their cause will command encourage
ment from our Order. She stated thai
in accordance with the custom of late
years 1t had been her pleasure to pre-
sent Christmas gifts to the Army
Nurses to the amount of S240.
| The National president spoke in the
highest terms of the organization Of
Sons of Veterans, and declared it was
our duty to encourage them.
10 THE future belongs to the sons o.
those comrades. To them must be in
trusted the fruits of their fathers la
bors, the upholding of the Government
the upbuilding of the Nation, the pros
peIity of its people and the perpetuity
of its Constitution. How can they bt
better trained for such than by asso
ciating together in such an organization
as the Sons of Veterans?"
She stated that their COMMANDMENT
Chief, Edgar Allan, Jr., had especially
honored the Woman's Relief Corps b.
the appointment of one of our prorni
nent members on his staff. 1t was ar
official courtesy highly appreciated.
Memorial University.
Mrs. Gilman commended the work o.
the Memorial University, of Mason City
Iowa, and reported that the Woman.
Relief Corps had made contribution
amounting to over $1,000 during th'
past year.
Daughters OF Veterans.
Mrs Gilman commended the friend
ly relations which had been established
between the Woman's Relief Corps anG
the Daughters of Veterans, and de
clared that they are the children of tn,
Grand Army to whom we are devoted
Memorial Day.
OF Memorial Day the National Presi
dent said that the beautiful sentimen
attached to that day has found lodg
ment in the hearts Of the people, no
only the Grand Army and allied organ.
lizations. but a vast number of public
and private societies, but the publ,
lgenerally observed the day. She espe
cially praised the work of the Woman:
Relief Corps in securing flags and flow
ers, funds and food to refresh the agint
veterans after their march to the GENE
Iteries.
of the Southern Memorial Fund sh,
said that the sum of S1,042.09 was paiC
to the Grand Army by the Nationa
Treasurer of the Woman's Relief Corps
AndersOnvilIe Prison Park.
The National President commended
the work of Past National President
II II