Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1911-07-29

showered upon them from all sides,
the ladies of Sedgwiek Woman's Re-
lief corps, No. Is. celebrated its goth
anniversary on Friday evening in
hall, where the exercises We're held,
was filled with members of the corps,
of Sedgwick post, No. /. G. A. R., the
Citizens corps. and SedgWick camp,
No 4, Y. S. W. Y. and there was a
good number in the corridor.
American flags had been used eff
fectively for decorative purposes at
the windows and on the platform
where the officers of the corps We're
seated, and behind which was a BAN
Address of Welcome.
Following a selection by McCord's
orchestra at s O'Clock. Rev. Joseph F.
Cobb offered the invocation and Pres
ldent Harriet l.. Kinney delivered an
address CT welcome. After another ex-
cellent number by the orchestra, Mrs.
WillRm Grove delighted the audience
witty an exquisitely rendered soprano
sole, Because, to which she was forced
to respond with an encore. Miss Eliz-
abeth Grove was accompanist.
History of the Corps.
In a most interesting paper. Past
President ]. Amelia Stetson recounted
the history of the corps tracing it
from its founding up to the present
time, as follows
At 3 o'clock, July %. 1886. after
several preliminary meetings. thirty
four women met in Grand Army hall
for the purpose of organizing Wo-
mans Relief corps. Mrs. Mary J. Dy-
er, department president; Mrs Mary
E. Roberts, department instituting and
installing officer. and Mrs. Fannie E.
Hosmer, counselor were present, and
opened the meeting. The officers were
chosen during the afternoon. followed
by a supper.
At o'clock public instaua ton of
the officers was held. Mrs. Mary E.
Roberts being the installing officer.
Interesting addresses were made by
the department officers, also by Com
mander ]. Herbert George and several
other members of Sedgwick post
After organizations and best wishes
for the new society. Sedgwick Wo-
mans Relief corps. No. 16, adjourned
to meet again in two weeks. and we
have been meeting twice a month ever
since.
There are now fifty corps in the
state of Connecticut, with a member
ship, March 81, 1911, or 1878.
There were three corps in Connee-
ticut on July 25 and 26, 1883, when the
National Woman's Relief corps was
organized in Denver. Col.
The Department of Connecticut Wo-
l, 1884.
The object of the organization is
to aid and assist the Grand Army of
the Republic and their dependent ones,
TO perpetuate the memory Of our heroic
dead in the sacred observance of Me-
mortal day and to inculcate lessons of
patriotism and love of country in the
communities in which we live. Our
motto is Fraternity. Charity and 10y
atty Any loyal woman of good moral
character is eligible to membership in
the Woman's Relief corps
We have had 271 names on our roll,
the number now being 127.
Sixteen of the "a charter members
are still members here.
We have had "a presidents. 10 are
still with US.
We miss many dear, familiar faces
who will not meet with US again.
In February. 1898. we entertained
the department convention, serving
meals in the Grand Army hall, and
holding the meetings in the Universal
list church
We celebrated our tenth anniversary
on July %, 1896, with a reception and
entertainment in the Univefsalist
church, followed by refreshments in
the vestry of the church.
April 1. 1898, Sedgwick post moved
into it's present quarters and We have
all felt an added interest and pride in
helping to make the house as nice as
possible.
Every year we have contributed
many comforts to the soldiers home
at Noroton, representative going
there on the day known as Soldiers
Home day.
February /, 1906. a Woman's Relief
corps home was opened at Cromwell
for veterans and their wives. giving
us another object for which to plan
and work.
This corps has been honored by hav
ing one department president and sew
eral other department officers.
Many times we have enjoyed the
open meetings and other social gath
erings of Sedwicl post. Citizens corps
and Sons of Veterans, sometimes be-
ing entertained and at other times
entertaining Twenty five years have
passed and the future lies before Us.
If there has been success, all have
their share in it.
After an orchestral selection. Mrs.
Grace Manning gave the recitation,
How Rubie (Ruhinstein) Played, in
her inimitable manner.
Commander Hovey Spoke.
Commander Henry Hovey of Sedg1
wick post was then introduced by
Mrs. Kinney and his speech was we'll
directed and greeted with much ap-
plause. A good deal might be said
about the work of the corps, and its
history Is fuH OF GOOD deedS ana 10y
atty, an object lesson to all the ladies
in the land. and the commander eX-
pressed his hearty congratulations.
His admiration for the Woman's Relief
corps was strengthened by the fact
that posts all through the country say
that We're it not for the w. r. c.
they would have gone to the wall years
ago You have upheld the principles
and have been loyal and helpful to the
post, financially, socially. mora ~ and
in every other way. In closing. he
suggested that the male portion of
| the audience arise and give three
| cheers for Sedgwick Woman's Relief
| corps and they were given with VIII.
General Aiken Praises.
! Gen. William A. Aiken was the next
| speaker and he brought felicitous
greeting to the corps. eongratulating
I the ladies on their splendid work. The
! survival of SO many of the corps pasi
| officers he considered remarkable.
| Abiding brief1ysto the days of 1885
| and contrasting it was the present, he
mentioned that his pleasure was sc
great at the recent action of the presi-
| dent in regard to an important ma
/ tional issue that he sent message oil
congratulation to Washington. Or
| Thursday he was greatly surprised and
| pleased to receive a letter signed By
| Mr. Taft, himself expressing the chiel
executives pleasure at the receipt Of
| the message.
! 1t is natural the general said. thai
| old men should be fond of "Reminiscences
| forgetting the future and sometimes