NAME OF CORPS. No. of Corps. LOCATION. CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF INSPECTOR OF DETACHED CORPS W. R. C., FOR THE YEAR ENDING OCT. 1, 1890. (SHOWING CONDITION OF DETACHED CORPS). —Continued. 24 Va. 46 Yes Yes $1.50 $1.00 Yes: $57.60 $120.95 $75.00 75 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 2 Richmond, 10 7 3 Norfolk, 66 38 10 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1.50 3.00 Yes 11.57 144.75 .00 Yes Yes No 6.00 Yes 4.30 Yes Yes 1.50 3.00 Yes 4.00 26.00 .00 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes .00 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 5 Princ's Anne, " 18. Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1.50 3.00 Yes 15.02 239.81 .00 Yes Yes No Yes Yes Yes 6 Eastville, 83 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes 1.35 3.00 Yes 6.11 38.05 31.00 Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes In the foregoing table of Detached Corps, more have been reported than legitimately comes within the Inspection Report; but as the detailed information is given nowhere else, I have inserted it here that all may know what relief work is being done by the Order in its entirety. Allow me to call the attention of the Department Presidents to the fact that they should send early to the National Treasurer for blanks "Form E," as National Inspector does not issue those blanks from her headquarters. Much expense and time will be saved and much anxiety avoided if Department officers will take notice of this. I trust this Convention will give careful attention and find it in their hearts to adopt the revised Inspection blanks. They are concise without being cumbrous and sufficiently cover the ground. The invariable kindness of the National Secretary and National Treasurer, their letters of encouragement, when worn and racked with pain, the ever ready and helpful hand across the seeming troublesome places, fills my heart with thankfulness beyond expression. To you, Mrs. President, I am deeply grateful for the trust imposed in me and your unvarying forbearance and loving kindness. I bring you the garnered sheaves, not in such completeness and perfectness as we could wish, but hoping that the whole fruition of your administration may not have suffered for the garnering. May the work of our Order laid down by the officers of 1890 and 1891 march steadily on to greater victories, and every member of our Order be united in our triple bond, applying to ourselves and our work the tremendous truth spoken by one of our age, "To individual faithfulness and the energy of the private conscience has God committed the real history and progress of mankind.” Respectfully submitted in F., C. & L., ELLA POWELL, National Inspector. REPORT OF NATIONAL INSTITUTING AND INSTALLING OFFICER. DELAVAN, ILL., June 30, 1891. HANNAH R. PLIMPTON. Madam: National Secretary, W. R. C. In compliance with the Rules and Regulations of our Order, I herewith present a consolidated report of the various Department Instituting and Installing Officers, together with the work of this office, for the year ending June 30, 1891. Having heretofore considered the National Installing Office more for compliment than work, when asked by the National President to assume the duties of the office, it was accepted with considerable reliance, unmindful of the demands upon time and judgment or the responsibility assumed. Had duties been confined to the reports and correspondence of the Department Instituting and Installing Officers, they might have been easily performed; but when numerous letters began to accumulate from Provisional Departments, detached Corps, comrades from the South and far West, colored comrades who loved our Order and desired its extension among their loyal women, and sisters who, though filled with patriotism, shrank from sacrificing social position to assist us (for in some sections it means this to ally themselves with anything pertaining to the Northern soldier), it became necessary to turn to files and records that would define duties, and to seek guidance from the work and experience of the past. Rules and Regulations were found very meagre to meet the present requirements, and very little was on file upon which to base the work. The extending of the work year after year made it apparent that more system was needed to conduct its affairs in a satisfactory manner; hence, by permission of the National President, the following circular letter was formulated and sent to all persons applying for instructions or charter, and an endeavor has been made toward a systematic outline of work, which, it is hoped, may be a starting-point toward a compléte system: HEADQUARTERS NATIONAL I. AND I. OFFICER, W. R. C., I. AND I. CIRCULAR, I. The following information is given for the benefit of Posts desiring the formation of Relief Corps, auxiliary to the Grand Army of the Republic. II. All loyal women (this means those who have not given aid or comfort to the enemies of our Union) who have attained the age of sixteen are eligible to membership without reference to relationship to the soldier. Carefully note Sections 1, 2 and 3, Art. II., Chapter I.; also Art. IV., Chapter I., of the Rules and Regulations of the Woman's Relief Corps. III. Applications for Charter must be made on regular blanks furnished free by National Headquarters and obtained of the National I. and I. Officer. IV. Applications for Charter must not have less than ten (10) signatures of women eligible to membership, and must be endorsed by the Commander of the Post applying for Charter. V. Upon receipt of application duly signed, accompanied with the Charter fee of $5.00, also $13.70 for supplies (necessary to organize a Corps of 15 members), an officer will be detailed to institute the Corps and install its officers. VI. All supplies must be paid for in advance. VII. No names will appear upon the Charter excepting those who are present and obligated at the time of institution. VIII. Instituting officers are requested, and expected, to write very plainly and spell each name carefully and correctly on regular institution blanks, and forward two copies to the National I. and I. Officer, who will then, and not until then, have their Charter duly engrossed and sent to the Corps. IX. All Corps must bear the name of the Post to which they are auxiliary. X. The membership fee shall not be less than $1.50. This includes a badge and copy of Rules and Regulations. XI. Be very careful to select the best possible element for Charter members, that you may have able and zealous hearts and hands to advance the work of the Woman's Relief Corps. XII. After the Corps is legally organized, the officers will be elected and installed under the direction of the Instituting Officer: not before. XIII. In States having no organized Department of the Woman's Relief Corps, the National President may detail a comrade of the Grand Army to institute the Corps where no member of the Order is within reasonable distance. XIV. In making application for Charter please state whether the applicants are white or colored. XV. The following is a list of supplies necessary for organizing a Corps of fifteen (15) members: One dollar and fifty cents ($1.50) must be added for every additional applicant. XVI. The following blanks are furnished free to detached Corps : — XVII. Please read these instructions carefully and understandingly and forward all communications relating to the above to SUE A. PIKE SANDERS, National I. and I. Officer. MARY SEARS MCHENRY, National President. |