The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1913-05-30

We're removed and their services were
gladly accepted. In almost every
town and county throughout the state
the women of Iowa earnestly coop
Grated in the humane sanitary work,
and sanitary fairs were held at which
large sums We're raised through cor
dial work and from generous contri-
buttons from the county organiza-
tions.
Woman's Relief Corps.
The Woman's Relief Corps, auxil-
larry to the Grand Army of the Repub-
lie dates it's birth as national order
to July %, 1868. General Order No. II
of commandments Van Devoort,
issued at Omaha. Nebr.. under date
of May 1, 1883, converting the Grand
Army of the Republic in seventeenth
annual encampment, at Denver, Colo,
December 25, 1883, contained this
clause.
"V. The representative Of Womah's
Relief Corps and auxiliary societiea
of the Grand Army of the Republic
are cordially invited to meet at Den
yer, and perfect a national organiza-
ton, and if possible agree on uni
form mode or system, of procedure
throughout the country / pledge the
noble women who compose these So
cieties that they will be warmly greet
ed and given all the encouragement
possible"
In circular issued December 16.
1882, and in General Order No s, is
sued February 1883, and in all his
campfire and reunion speeches, the
COMMUNICATIVE had specially rec
commended women's work in the
Grand Army, referring comrades to
recognized leaders in the work, in
Guiding Mrs. E. Florence Barker,
president of the Union Board Won
ans Relief Corps, Boston; Mrs. Kate
B. Sherwood, president Forsyth Post
Auxiliary, Toledo, Ohio and editor of
Loyal Woman's Work in the Nation
al Tribune, of Washington, D. c., as
among those from whom information
could be secured by comrades desir
ing to form auxiliaries. Others special
ly mentioned were: Mrs. A. NJ. Saw
yer, president of Woman's Relief
Corps, Portland Maine Mrs. Laura
McNier, president Of the, Loyal Ladies
League, Camden, n. j.. and Mrs. En-
lily Thornton Charles, editor of The
Veteran, Washington, D. C. General
Order No. s contained the following.
XIV The commander-in-c chief is de-
lighted to learn that the loyal women
of the land are forming auxiliary So
cieties everywhere. The grand work
done by these. organizations is worthy
Of the highest praise, The iWoman's
Relief Corps Of Massachusetts, Is
hereby particularly mentioned on ac-
count of the work they have done and
their perfect organization. The presi-
dent OF the same Mrs. E. Florence
Parker, Maiden, will be happy to fur
nish information"
The recommendation offered by
the commander-in-chief introduced
comrades to the ladies named, anc
-lup TSSulI was ludb p6LMtSH Tic
months of December 1882 end July
1889, hundreds of letters were answer
ed and instructions sent out, Mrs.
Sherwood alone, during the winter
and spring of 1883 writing over 500
letters and aiding in the organization
Of over 100 auXiliaries, scattered
throughout the country, from Pennsyl-
yania westward The necessity of
national organization was attested by
the eagerness manifested by the com
tions of the commander-in-chie The
auxiliaries working in the early days
of the agitation were independent or
ganizations working under different
plans, some make one class of ladies
eligible for membership while the
members are debarred by other corps
on account of their non-elligibility.
The discussion of different plans was
carried on by means of correspond
ence and finally common ground
was agreed upon. The Toledo. Ohio
corps was the model Of the pioneer
independent organizations which had
done efficient and harmonious work
since March Is, 1878 and had been
instrumental in starting the indepond-
ent movement in the west
Al the come-tcgether meeting of
the ladies'. Mrs. Kate Brownlee Sher-
wood of Toledo, a pioneer worker in
auxiliary interests offered the follow.
ing resolution:
RESOLVED, That we organize our
selves into National Womans Relief