freedom of the city and hopes that you will have a pleasant time while here. I want to present these flowers in his name.

Mrs. Fulton And now, ladies, let me present to you Mrs. Robert Atkins, one of your own members. I feel that I owe public thanks to Mrs. Atkins for the services she has rendered to the Woman's Citizens' Committee. She has worked since April for the women who were coming to Buffalo, and herself personally has housed and cared for the comfort of over thirty thousand men and women, and I feel that I cannot thank her too much publicly.

Mrs. Atkins: I have been delegated by the Woman's Relief Corps of Buffalo to present to you this floral offering. In eastern lands they talk in flowers. They tell in a garland of their loves and sentiments, and each flower that blooms in a garden bower opens its leaves.

We must remember at this time that it is the hands of the Woman's Relief Corps which pluck the flowers and cover the graves of our valiant dead, awakening in loving minds with flowers the memory of our departed loved ones. Watered by Liberty's tears and smiles, their bloom will be eternal. These beautiful flowers, fresh from the loving hands of the Woman's Relief Corps members of Buffalo, will, I trust, be more fragrant and more beautiful when you remember that they are accompanied by the best wishes of the donors for your future happiness, and their appreciation of your ability as National President.

National President: Mrs. Fulton, allow me to express my very great appreciation not only of your visit, but of the beautiful words that you have spoken, and these lovely flowers; and I wish to extend to the Mayor my thanks for his appreciation of us and our regret that he cannot be present. Mrs. Atkins, will you kindly convey to the women of Buffalo our appreciation of their great services?

The committee was then escorted from the hall while the pianist played "Marching Through Georgia."

National President: Ladies, I now have the pleasure of introducing to you your National officers. I have the pleasure of introducing to you our National Senior Vice-President, who has lately come into our ranks, but whom we welcome kindly and cordially, Mrs. Norton of Minnesota; and your National Junior Vice-President, Mrs. Amelia F. Colgan of Virginia, your National

Secretary, Ida S. McBride, and your National Treasurer, Mrs. Bagley, whom you all know, the National Chaplain, Alice M. A. Pickler, the National Inspector, Julia G. Sine, the National Counselor, who needs no introduction whatever, the National I. & I. officer, Sarah D. Winans of Ohio, the Chairman of the Executive Board, Mrs. Helen R. Griffith of Iowa, also Mrs. Sarah E. Milham and Mrs. Abbie A. Adams of the Executive Board. Ladies, salute. National President: The Past National Presidents will please present themselves at the platform.

National President: Ladies, I now have the pleasure of introducing your past National Presidents, Mrs. Sherwood, Mrs. Hampton, Mrs. Craig, Mrs. Wittenmyer, Mrs. Wickins, Mrs. Wallace, and Mrs. Turner. Ladies, salute.

The National Senior Vice-President, Nettie M. Norton, was called to the chair and the National President proceeded to read her address.

[See page 201 for continuation of Proceedings.]

ADDRESS OF THE NATIONAL PRESIDENT.

Officers and Members of the Fifteenth National Convention:

Once more the great clock of time has ticked into eternity one more short year and we gather together to account for the golden moments spent in words and deeds for the grand organization to which we belong.

THE YEAR'S WORK.

With some trepidation but with brave hearts and a full appreciation of the honor received from the Fourteenth National Convention, we established Headquarters in Indianapolis, Indiana, where we have done our part in adding to the pages of history being made by the Woman's Relief Corps.

NATIONAL W.R.C. HOME.

Almost immediately after our return from St. Paul I had the very great pleasure of spending several days at the National W.R.C. Home at Madison, O., where, under the gentle and ever watchful care of the Superintendent, Clare H. Burleigh, "the wards of the Woman's Relief Corps" are being tenderly cared for. The reports of the Superintendent and the Chairman of the Board of Directors show the Home in the most excellent condition.

REVISIONS.

The revision of the Red Book ordered by the Thirteenth National Convention, and not issued as ordered because of the large supply of a former edition in the hands of the National Treasurer, was printed in the early part of this year. The work was most carefully done and the book in its present form is a great assistance to the officers and members of the Order. In this connection I would make

Recommendation No. 1. That no further revision of the Red Book be made until the present edition be exhausted, but what

ever changes are made shall be printed on pages the size of the Red Book, these pages to be gummed on one edge so they can be easily inserted. I also recommend that this method apply to Ritual and Service Books.

In addition to the Red Book the changes ordered for the Ritual were made in the last edition; gummed slips with the changes being issued for the 1896 edition. The cash book was also revised, and is now being issued, setting apart one-fourth of the leaves for "Relief Fund." Finding the Specimen Sheets, Cash Book and Ledger misleading, they were most carefully revised, making the system of keeping the Corps books clear and comprehensive. All necessary changes ordered from time to time in the Blanks of the Order have been made. In making the few changes in the Ritual it was deemed best to eliminate the clause regarding the "Signs of the Order." The reasons are obvious.

NATIONAL ORGANIZATION.

While the National Secretary's Report will show a loss of "members in good standing," it will also show in the aggregate a gain of 20 Corps and over 4,000 members, making in all 3,223 Corps and 142,885 members. However, for the last two years the Order, while holding its own, has not increased as it should. There are many reasons for this, one being the financial depression throughout the country. Recognizing the success of other organizations in the manner of increasing their membership by detailing one of their members for that purpose, and fully knowing that the expense occurring from this work would be more than balanced by the increased revenue in the charter fees, sale of supplies, and per capita tax, I most earnestly offer

Recommendation No. 2. That the incoming National President appoint a National Organizer whose duty it shall be to organize Corps in States where there are no Departments, and assist Departments when called upon, and do all in her power to increase the membership of the Woman's Relief Corps.

The time that is allotted to us to work for the Union veteran is growing very short. It behooves us to renew our ardor and increase our strength.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS.

For a number of years resolutions have come to the National Convention asking that the comrades of the Grand Army of the Republic be admitted to membership in our Order. Considering that we owe our existence to the Grand Army of the Republic and that the Sons of Veterans and all other allied societies admit them to honorary membership, it seems only right that we should. extend to them the welcoming hand. In order that we may enter into this new line of thought in a dignified, considerate manner, I offer

Recommendation No. 3. That the following additions be made to the Rules and Regulations: Corps may admit to associate membership any member of the Grand Army of the Republic. An associate member shall be admitted when proposed by a member of a Corps who shall vouch for his eligibility, and elected by a majority rising vote of members present and voting. After taking the obligation of associate members they shall receive the passwords. Associate members may be present at any business session, but shall not be entitled to a vote at any time and shall not be allowed to enter upon any discussion unless invited to do so by a vote of the Corps. Associate members may be elected and obligated at Department or National Conventions.

THE RITUAL.

The third object of the Woman's Relief Corps is "to inculcate lessons of patriotism and love of country among our children and in the communities in which we live." In carrying out this great principle of our Order we have placed flags on our schoolhouses, patriotic primers, salutes and charts in our schools; but in our zeal in accomplishing all this we have forgotten that in our ritualistic work we have nothing to indicate our own allegiance to our country's flag. After consulting a number of the members of the Order it has been decided to place before you some changes in and additions to the Ritual which have been carefully prepared and which I most earnestly recommend to your consideration and for adoption. I offer this as Recommendation No. 4.

DEPARTMENT OF THE POTOMAC.

A petition was received at Headquarters a few months since from about one-sixth of the members of the Department of the