I cannot close my report without extending to the past and present Department Instituting and Installing Officers of this administration my most sincere appreciation of their merited promptness and ever genial correspondence.

The National President, Secretary and Treasurer are especially entitled to fraternal love, for the patient and unselfish manner in which they have assisted in conducting the work of this office, by giving quick decisions and prompt answers to necessary demands and numerous correspondence. For all with whom I have been associated the past year in the discharge of the duties of this office I cherish the truest regard, and trust that the future may define years of continued friendship, mutually wrought for the highest aims and advancement of our loved Order.

Respectfully submitted, in F., C. and L.,

SUE A. PIKE SANDERS,

National Instituting and Installing Officer.

Since the Department of Relief was transferred, by Eighth National Convention, to the National Relief Corps Home, the work of the chairman of this committee has been light. Nearly all business of the year has been transacted by the Secretary, to whose report your attention is called.

Though the fate of the Army Nurse bill was really settled. adversely, in Congressional caucus, long before Eighth National Convention, yet every effort was put forth by your committee, at the last session of Congress, to secure favorable action.

We determined that nothing on our part should be left undone, and that if defeat was made certain the fault should rest with Congress and not with the National Pension Committee. The Secretary will give you the result of her efforts at Washington.

It is the opinion of this Committee that the Army Nurse bill, in its amended form, should be kept steadily before Congress until success shall crown our efforts. Honorable defeat is better than hopeless surrender, and a cause so just must ultimately triumph if the Relief Corps does its duty in creating a knowledge of the services of our Army Nurses and in pressing their recognition upon Congress.

The warm, manly, patriotic support given the Army Nurse bill by many Senators and Congressmen, irrespective of party, is a

grand tribute to woman's work and a public recognition of the Relief Corps which may well encourage us to persevere.

The outlook for general pension legislation the coming Congress is not encouraging, owing to the low state of National finances; but much may be done in individual cases. To this end the following

resolution is offered:

Resolved, That the Pension Committee shall be instructed to prepare individual pension bills for Army Nurses in need, who have proof of services, and press the same at the next session of Congress.

Respectfully submitted,

KATE B. SHERWOOD,

Chairman Committee.

I have the honor to submit my report of the work of this office during the eight months of my service as Secretary of National Pension Committee. When, during the latter part of October, 1890, the honorable position was tendered me by the National President, upon recommendation of the chairman, Kate B. Sherwood, because of a vacancy caused by the ill-health of Secretary Sarah E. Fuller, I hesitated somewhat before assuming the responsibilities and duties, for several reasons. But upon assuming my duties I found that the work of my predecessors, Gertie E. Rogers and Sarah E. Fuller, had been so faithfully performed, so systematically arranged, the details so carefully looked after and facts so well established, that in the very beginning the path was well mapped out and the way comparatively plain. The comprehensive, well arranged Army Nurse blanks, and the large substantial RollBook and accompanying Index Book, compiled by the secretaries preceding me, formed a complete set of records which furnished all needed information, and I had only to continue to build upon foundations admirably planned and securely laid. Early in December, the National President issued a set of blanks which were sent to the Department Presidents of the several States, requesting their co-operation in securing additional names, if any such there should be, and verifying those already in our possession; and thirty new names were returned to us. Letters which have been received

asking for aid and assistance have been forwarded to Emma B.

Lowd, member National Home Board.

So much had been done during the previous year by Secretary Fuller in behalf of the Army Nurse bill, that it was hoped the bill might pass during the last session of Congress; and in December our Chairman instructed me to go to Washington and do what lay in my power to promote its interests. The prospects were less favorable than during the previous year; pension legislation was less popular and all pension matters were at a comparative standstill. Determined to do all I possibly could under the circumstances, I went to Washington and spent more than a week endeavoring to do something to further the work. Clara Barton of our committee, always ready to identify herself with anything that can help a sister woman, gave of her time and her influence and made me her guest during my stay in the city, lightening my labors and lessening my expenses because of her faithful love and devotion to our Order. I spent some days at the Capitol interviewing members of Congress from the various States and trying to arouse their interest in the bill. While all heard me patiently and promised me all assistance in their power, they gave me but slight encouragement. As the Journal of the Eighth National Convention contained a copy of the bill with all previous legislation, I distributed copies among those whom we hoped would help us; but my efforts were unavailing, and the Army Nurse bill was not enrolled upon the statute books of our country.

ARMY NURSE CERTIFICATES.

In the report of the Chairman pro tem of the National Pension Committee of the Seventh National Convention, Sue A. Pike