REPORT OF NATIONAL PRESIDENT, WOMAN'S RELIEF CORPS,

TO THE

COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF, GRAND ARMY OF THE REPUBLIC.

Gen. WHEELOCK G. VEAZEY,

DETROIT, MICH., Aug. 5, 1891.

Commander-in-Chief, G. A. R.

Sir and Comrade: I have the honor to report to you and through you to the Twenty-fifth Annual Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic, the condition and work of the Woman's Relief Corps for the year ending June 30, 1891. We have twenty-nine permanent Departments, six Provisional Departments, and twenty-two Detached Corps with a total membership of 117,058. Local Corps are established in every State in the Union but one (Alabama), and in all the Territories except Indian, Idaho and Alaska. We have also one Corps in Montreal, Canada, auxiliary to Hancock Post, G. A. R.

Amount expended in relief and turned over to Posts

Balance on hand in the National and local treasuries,

$114,164.69

489,452.19 168,870.13

This statement does not include the "Balance on hand" in Department treasuries or the property occupied by the "National Woman's Relief Corps Home." The latter has been increased by a unanimous vote of the Ohio Legislature, at its last session, appropriating $25,000 for an "Ohio Cottage."

Allow me, as the representative of the National Woman's Relief Corps, to congratulate you and the Grand Army of the Republic upon this Silver Anniversary of your organization and the grand record of its work during the twenty-five years of its history, and assure you of our continued desire to assist in carrying forward the principles of Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty.

Respectfully submitted,

MARY SEARS MCHENRY,

HANNAH R. PLIMPTON,

National Secretary.

National President, W. R. C.

LETTERS OF ACKNOWLEDGMENT.

(See Page 162.)

DETROIT, Aug. 15, 1891.

To His Excellency, Gov. JAMES E. CAMPBELL, Columbus, Ohio:

Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you that the Ninth National Convention of the Woman's Relief Corps, by a unanimous rising vote, passed a resolution thanking you personally for your approval of the bill passed by the Ohio Legislature appropriating $25,000 for the erection of a cottage on the National Woman's Relief Corps Home grounds. I am further instructed to assure you, and the members of the Legislature of Ohio, who have so generously assisted the organization in their work, that their gift will be faithfully and conscientiously used for the purposes for which it was bestowed; and it is earnestly hoped that other generous, loyal States will follow the glorious example of Ohio.

In their behalf I assure you that, as a comrade tried and true, and as the Governor of Ohio who approved the bill conveying such a princely gift, you will be welcomed by the officers and members at any time it may suit your pleasure to honor them by a visit, at any future National Convention. I am, with great respect,

Yours cordially and gratefully,

ANNIE WITTENMYER.

Hon. E. J. CLAPP, Thompson, Ohio:

DETROIT, MICH., Aug. 15, 1891.

Dear Sir I have the honor to inform you that a resolution has just passed the Ninth National Woman's Relief Corps Convention, by a unanimous rising vote, thanking you for inaugurating the movement in the Ohio Legislature for an Ohio Cottage on their Home grounds at Madison, Ohio. They appreciate your broad and generous conception of their needs and the methods of meeting these needs, and they honor your wise and masterly management of the bill in their behalf, which secured such grand and glorious results to the National Woman's Relief Corps Home.

I am instructed to assure you, that the gift your zeal and energy has secured will be faithfully used for the purposes for which it was intended.

It will give the officers and members great pleasure, if at any future National Convention you will honor them by a visit, and give them an opportunity to thank you in person. I am, with great respect,

Yours cordially,

ANNIE WITTENMYER.

Hon. A. H. McCoy, Calcutta, Ohio:

DETROIT, MICH., Aug. 15, 1891.

Dear Sir: I have the honor to inform you that a resolution by a unanimous rising vote was passed by the Ninth National Convention, thanking you for your able and valuable aid in the Ohio Legislature, in behalf of the appropriation by that body of $25,000, to build an Ohio Cottage on the grounds of the National Woman's Relief Corps Home at Madison, Ohio.

I am instructed to assure you that your efforts are appreciated, and that your confidence in the zeal and integrity of the Woman's Relief Corps has not been misplaced, but that this princely gift will be carefully and conscientiously used for the purpose for which it was designed. It will give the officers and members of that body great pleasure to welcome you into their National Convention at any time you may in the future be able to honor them with your presence. I am, with great respect, Yours cordially,

ANNIE WITTENMYER.

DECISIONS OF THE NINTH NATIONAL CONVENTION.

1. That Paul Van Der Voort and Clara Barton shall be carried perpetually on the roll as the only honorary members, and certificates of honorary membership be prepared for them.

2. That $2,000 be voted from the General Fund and placed in the National Woman's Relief Corps Home Fund.

3. That on the receipt of the election returns, the National Secretary shall forward to National Chaplain a correct list of names and addresses of Department Chaplains and Presidents of Detached Corps.

4. That Assistant National Inspectors charge only for actual expenses for traveling and entertainment while on duty auditing Department books.

5. That Department Secretaries use the large sheets, "Form C," hereafter known as "Form E," for consolidating Corps reports, to be kept on file at Department Headquarters, and place the totals of this report on the "New Form C," to be forwarded with "Form D" and the per capita tax to the National Secretary. "Form E" will hereafter be obtained from Depart

ment Treasurers.

6. That the National per capita tax be restored to two cents per quarter.

7. That the National President be allowed, by and with the consent of National Council, to issue appeals to Corps through General Orders, for relief in cases of great national need. Corps responding to such appeals shall transmit their donations to the National Treasurer, through Department Treasurers, that Departments may receive proper credit therefor.

8. That the chairmanship of the Board of Directors of the National Woman's Relief Corps Home remain in the elected board, as provided for by the Eighth National Convention.

That $150 be allowed the National President for an assistant in her office.

g.

10. That the National Treasurer pay the postage on all National journals sent to Corps Presidents as Corps property; the Department President to furnish a certified list of names and addresses of those in their Departments that are entitled to them, the same to be forwarded as per instructions of National President.

11. That the Department Treasurer's consolidated blank will hereafter be free, and known as "Form F.”

12. That the National Chaplain issue a circular letter in the month of May, giving explicit directions to Department Chaplains in regard to their work.

13. That a woman whose husband was disloyal during the war is eligible to membership, if she can show that she is loyal and has always been loyal.

14. That it is the duty of the Secretary to notify each member of a special meeting, according to Rules and Regulations, and that a notification through the newspapers is not a legal notice.

15. That a Past Department President who removes from the State in which she gained her right to vote in National Convention does not lose her past honors and seat in National Convention as long as she remains a member in good standing of any Corps. She has not, however, a seat in the Department Convention in which she now resides.

16. That a Department President cannot give a dispensation to initiate at a special meeting. It is contrary to Rules and Regulations.

17.

That to elect an officer by acclamation, the vote must be unanimous.