The National tribune., 1910-10-06
THE WOMAN'S
RELIEF CORPS.
Mrs. Belle C. Harris National Pres
ident Business of the 18th
Annual Convention - Many
Presents Made - Election of
Officers.

The 2sth Annual Convention of the
Woman's Relief Corps opened its ses-
Iions in st. Paul's NJ. E. Church. Allan
tic City, "Wednesday afternoon, Sept %,
at O'Clock.
The church was very prettily deco
= with flags and with the yellow
- banners of the various Depart
Above the head of the National
.~s mt, Jennie Iowa Berry, hung a
.nlsr ID yellow satin banner, inscribed
lettering: National Headquar-
~. r. c." 1t was fringed with
D. md made a very handsome addi-
-, the various decorations. The
r was too small for the very large
delegation, and it was necessary
TO open one of the Sunday School
rooms. The acoustic properties of the
church were about the worst ever. Half
the time the National President could
not be heard. and IT was only now and
then that she could hear on first trial
what member upon the floor wes try
ing TO say to her. The platform vas
only about three feet wide. with a row
of chairs standing against the pipe or
gan, and it was a brave woman, indeed.
who cared to perch ali day long on one
of those chairs facing the Convention.
3nfrequently during the session few
of the National Officers took their
places upon the platform, but, generally
speaking. they declined to sit there
The first meeting was an open one. and
the church was crowded both upon the
floor and in the galleries. The National
President was surrounded by every
member of her staff excepting the Ma
tfonal Chaplain, who was unable TO he
present.
The afternoon session with which the
National Convention, w. r. c., is usual
Iy opened, was instituted for the ex-
press purpose of receiving the greetings
of other fraternal organizations, the
many presents which Corps ard De-
partments bring to express their love
and esteem of their National Officers
and to hear the address of the National
President. This afternoon cession is
usually concluded with memorial ser
vice for the members of the Relief
Corps who may have passed away dur
ing the year. Unfortunately fraternal
greetings are conspicuous by their alb
sence. all of the ether organiZa lions
preferring to send them to the Conven-
ton proper.
The National President. Mrs. Berry,
called the 2Sth National Convention to
order with gavel presented to her
by Mrs Mary NJ. North, the head Cf it
being from the old Andersonville Pl ison
stockade and the handle from the field
of the battle above the clouds on Look
out Mountain. In the absence of the
National Chaplain. Mrs. Loduskv Tay-
~
Z. onal Counsellor. pronounced the invo-
ltion.s Miss Elder. of Mason City
wa, recited some patriotic selections
hich brought prolonged applause. The
idress of the National President was
then delivered. She read IL in clear.
penetrating tones in the midst Of in
tense silence. and her patriotic utter
ances were often applauded. The ad-
dress was "a simple review of the work
of the year, and those who UNDERSTAND
how the w. r. c. mas progressed under
the management Of its splendid Young
National President could readily see
that all of her energies and ambitions
had been centcrcd in the work for the
veterans and for their great Auxiliary
the W. r. G. So enthusiastic was the
audience that rising vote Of thanks
was given the National President in
appreciation Of her work of The year.
Reception of the National President.
Mrs Ida l.. Palmer, Past Department
President of Illinois, Senior National
Aid and herself a picture TO look at
heightened the picture by gatherings the
National Aids and Special Aids about
her at the front of the church imme-
diately following the address of the
National President. In the name of
those Aids, who had so Loyalty carried
out the wishes of the National Presi-
dent during the year, she presented TO
AlrS. iociIg HlaShlncent diamond ring.
The National President WAS much
moved by the presentation speech and
the beautiful gift, and responded in
perfect phrase, as she ALWAYS does
thanking them for the cleaning gift,
Memorial services followed the pre-
sentation, and taps were sounded by
a bugler.- 1t was nearly an hour before
the church was emptied, the members
of the Relief Corps having come from
The far corners of the United States be-
Eng desirous OF shaking hands with each
sther and renewing old acquaintance.
On Wednesday evening the National
President of the w. r. C. gave a recep-