sidered its most inveterate enemies. The aims and objects of the Order, its principles, Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, and the grand and noble work for it to do, furnish a super-abundance of topics for discussion wherever two or more members are assembled together in our name. To do the most good within the next ten years for those whose assistance we are banded together for, should be our main object. How can this be best accomplished? Has every Department made provision for a continuous revenue to its Relief Fund? These questions are of vital importance to the welfare of many Veterans, their widows and orphans, not forgetting our loyal Army Nurses, who rendered such "loving service to our country in her hour of peril." Often Corps do not know of many of these cases which require prompt attention - could not well attend to them if they did, as they have their own worthy poor to extend aid and comfort to; but they can easily pay one or two cents more each quarter for per capita tax, if necessary, each Department increasing the same one or two cents, according to the number of members and the probable demand for relief, setting that amount apart as a Department Relief Fund. By this means taxation becomes equal, and all Departments will then have something ready to bestow on worthy cases without waiting to make a call on Corps or individual members. I believe that it is even more necessary that Departments should have a regular income for their Relief Fund than Corps; but there is no excuse for either being without some visible source of supply. Holding the office of Department President of Missouri at the time I was elected National Junior Vice-President and until April of this year, whatever work I have performed in my own State during that time, or whatever courtesies have been extended, credit has been given to the Department. I can only add that in every direction, and at all times, whether as National or Department officer, or as a Corps member, I have done what I could for the advancement of our cause in the direction which we have all obligated ourselves to do. If we could all fully realize and always bear in mind that whatever office we hold is an honor to the individual only so far as that individual fills the office honestly and creditably, and that when the aims and objects of our Order are lost sight of in the idea that "I am an officer for the sake of the office," we lose ground, both as an organization and as women banded together for the good of humanity. Thanking the members of our last National Convention for the honor so generously bestowed on me, wishing this Convention peace and harmony in all of its deliberations, and assuring all that I have tried earnestly to not prove unworthy of the confidence reposed in me, I am, Yours in Fraternity, Charity and Loyalty, BESSIE E. YOUNG, National Junior Vice-President. REPORT OF NATIONAL SECRETARY. OFFICE OF NATIONAL HEADQUARTERS, W. R. C., MARY SEARS MCHENRY, National President, W. R. C. Madam: In compliance with the Rules and Regulations of our Order, I have the honor to submit to you and the National body a condensed report of the work at National Headquarters, of the growth and condition of the Order for the year just closing. The report of the year ending June 30, 1890, shows a membership of 77,779 members in good standing, and 2,022 Corps reporting, comprising 28 Departments, 2 Provisional Departments and 36 Detached Corps. As the Department of Potomac was organized July 23, 1890, and Montana attached to North Dakota, the number of Detached Corps was reduced to 28. While the number of Departments has not increased, the interest in the growth of the Order has advanced until almost every State and Territory is entered on our Roster. Every quarter's report proves that the Order is not only growing in numbers and finances, but in a better understanding of our perfect business system, which is the key to successful work. Charters have been issued to Corps reporting direct as below. These, in addition to those previously on the list, make a total of 46 reporting directly to National Headquarters a larger number of Corps than some of the Departments have. P. J. Carter Corps No. 14, Mappville, Va., and Andre Callioux No. 3, New Orleans, Louisiana, were organized in July, with a charter membership of 29. According to reports the net gain of Corps is 334, and membership 12,617; and yet 418 Corps have been instituted and 23,683 members initiated during the year. The Rules of our Order require that only those reports that are received at National Headquarters on or before July 20 can be considered in good standing. The fact that local Corps are not prompt in getting in their reports to Department Headquarters, entails this great loss to the Order in membership. Again, when Corps are delinquent the report of relief work is thereby lessened. A proof of this loss to our Order will be found in the Recapitulation, and Corps officers are the responsible parties. The following tabulated statement will, if carefully examined, show the number of Corps, and membership of each Department and Detached Corps, at the close of each quarter during this administration : 26 841 32 39 2158 39 123 4561 131 94 3742 117 152 5242 156 113 3344 150 15 491 18 33 1354 42 10 296 10 Massachusetts.. 130 9718 131 176 5766 178 Missouri 56 1842 52 Nebraska... New Hampshire 55 2809 New York.. N. Dak.-Mont. Ohio.. Oregon Pennsylvania... Potomac Rhode Island... 12 602 13 South Dakota.. Texas Prov'l Depts. 72 1899 90 55 17 469 16 123 4079 120 60 2947 61 3036 63 2997 65 3052 64 2995 7 16 354 26 307 7 330 3 176 7 359 7 637 13 636 1 34 15 366 47 3 202 359 3458 103 3580 110 3794 110 3859 13 420 37 4 63 99 3 109 1 116 116 2 66 2 1 165 1 195 1 234 70 2 74 2 75 2 82 283 118 1 35 35 Virginia.. Wash., D.C... West Virginia.. 2 127 2 131 2 462 2 66 128 2 122 13 446 13 399 88 5 2022 77779 2160 82431 2374 88411 2380 89867 2356 90396 359 12902 16 309 *Montana attached to North Dakota. †Two new Detached Corps (colored). #Organized July 23, 1890, into a Department and known as Department of Potomac. |