The careful dissemination of printed matter tended to sustain the interest of country societies. The voluminous reports of the Association arranged monthly by Miss Schuyler, who also contributed a series of twelve articles to the Sanitary Commission Bulletin, published semi-monthly by that board, the "Soldiers' Friend," "Nelly's Hospital," and other documents amounting in sixteen months to ninety-eight thousand nine hundred and eighty-four copies were issued by the committee "On Correspondence," etc. For the last two years that committee consisted of Miss L. L. Schuyler, chairman; Mrs. George Curtis, Mrs. David Lane, Miss A. Post, Miss C. Nash, H. W. Bellows, D.D.
For the last three years, to the first members of the committee on "Supplies," etc., were added Miss Gertrude Stevens, the Misses Shaw in succession, Miss Z. T. Detmold, Mr. Isaac Bronson. George Roberts remained the faithful porter through the whole four years.
The territory from which the Woman's Central received its supplies after the various branches of the Sanitary Commission were in full working condition, was eastern and central New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, and partially from northern New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont and Canada. Generous contributions were also received from European auxiliaries.
On the 7th of July, 1865, the final meeting of the board of the Woman's Central took place. Its members, though scattered by midsummer-heat, did not fail to appear. It was a solemn and touching occasion. The following resolutions, deeply felt and still read with emotion by its members, were then unanimously adopted:
Resolved, That the Woman's Central Association of Relief cannot dissolve without expressing its sense of the value and satisfaction of its connection with the United States Sanitary Commission, whose confidence, guidance and support it has enjoyed for four years past. In now breaking the formal tie that has bound us together, we leave unbroken the bond of perfect sympathy, gratitude and affection, which has grown up between us.
Resolved, That we owe a deep debt of gratitude to our Associate Managers, who have so ably represented our interests in the different sections of our field of duty, and, that to their earnest, unflagging and patriotic exertions, much of the success which has followed our labors is due.
Resolved, That to the Soldiers' Aid Societies, which form the working constituency of this Association, we offer the tribute of our profound respect and admiration for their zeal, constancy and patience to the end. Their boxes and their letters have been alike our support and our inspiration. They have kept our hearts hopeful, and our confidence in our cause always firm. Henceforth the women of America are banded in town and country, as the men are from city and field. We have wrought, and thought, and prayed together, as our soldiers have fought, and bled, and conquered, shoulder to shoulder, and from this hour the womanhood of our country is knit in a common bond, which the softening influences of Peace must not, and shall not weaken or dissolve. May God's blessing rest upon every Soldiers' Aid Society in the list of our contributors, and on every individual worker in their ranks.
Resolved, That to our band of Volunteer Aids, the ladies who, in turn, have so long and usefully labored in the details of our work at these rooms, we give our hearty and affectionate thanks, feeling that their unflagging devotion and cheerful presence have added largely to the efficiency and pleasure of our labors. Their record, however hidden, is on high, and they have in their own hearts the joyful testimony, that in their country's peril and need they were not found wanting.
Resolved, That the thanks of this Association are due to the ladies who have, at different times, served upon the Board, but are no longer members of it; and that we recall in this hour of parting the memory of each and all who have lent us the light of their countenance, and the help of their hands. Especially do we recognize the valuable aid rendered by the members of our Registration Committee, who, in the early days of this Association, superintended the training of a band of one hundred women nurses for our army hospitals. The successful introduction of this system is chiefly due to the zeal and capacity of these ladies.
Resolved, That in dissolving this Association, we desire to express the gratitude we owe to Divine Providence for permitting the members of this Board to work together in so great and so glorious a cause, and upon so large and successful a scale, to maintain for so long a period, relations of such affection and respect, and now to part with such deep and grateful memories of our work and of each other.