The Helena independent., 1892-07-06
THE RED CROSS.


4 y. i . { . IA { Ht .
what tho Great Association Really II and
tho Work II Does.
The efforts Of Mrs. II. Kirkendali. OF
Helena, member of the Red Gross, In be-
half OF the Russian famine sufferers has
brought forth many inquiries a. to it,
character. II ia national relief society,
authorized and sanctioned by the govern
msnt Of the United States, butno directed by
its officers nor supported by its appropria-
tions. II receives no govern mental help Tor
peoples necessities, but ii receives and dis
tributes the peoples help for national
necessitieR II 10 an organization primarily
constituted 10 carry out the provisions of
an international treaty. entered into by the
governments Of all civilized nations, for
the amelioration Of the conditions OF
human warfare, by rendering neutral the
sick and wounded Of armies, ~ Well - al
supplies, hospitals, nurses. attendants.
medical and surgical aid, etc.. designated
for the use of tho sick and wounded, all
these being rendered inviolable by the
adopted sign of \ red Greek cross on field
of white which popularly gives the name
of Red Cross to the Geneva treaty OF 1864.
The special mission Of the Red Gross in
time Of war is TO minister to the sick and
wounded on the field or in the hospital, and
to collect and distribute such supplies as
would bring relief and comfort to these un-
fortunate classes.
The Red Cross is an organization consti-
tinted secoudarily to render relief in all ca
lamities SO great az to be considered national
in extent and requiring more than local aid.
II forms an established and permanens
avenue for the contributions Of the people
in such great emergencies and insures their
prompt distribution where and when most
needed by the hands Of experienced and ac-
Y. Al, T7~.. Al k,AH -~.hz
peace,i the prevailing policy, the primary
work of the Red Gross, that of rendering re-
lief to the unfotunates in time of war. is
not brought into frequent service. Here,
on account OF the extent Of territory and
the va ieties of climate,s the people are sub
ject to great overmastering oalamities, such
as fire, food, drouth. famine and pestilenee,
and here is found the secondary work of the
Red G oss assuming far greater proportions
than the measures for relief in war. ma
tional or central society of the Red Cross is
an essential IN each country under the treaty.
1t is the one recognized medium of commu-
nication between the international commit
tee of Geneva, the head of the Red Cross
nations of the world, and the government
of its own country. In America the national
society consists OF an association of men and
women duly incorporated at tho national
capital, With such assistants as they may
call to their aid throughout the country,
when emergency demands.
The Red Cross of America does not retain
a band of trained nurses, nor does it main
tain a training school for nurses, for the
reason that individual and local charities
have been amply successful in meeting this
want. endowing and maintaing hospitals
equipped with competent surgeons and
nurses in nearly every city of the union.
When any great calamity occurs that re-
quires more trained nurses and physicians
than can be found in the vicinity, the call
for volunteers 10 speedily answered by oom-
petent men and women from all parts of
land, who volunteer their services without
pay, being only too glad to serve humanity
in these sudden disasters. II does not
attempt to usurp the place Of any other Or
ganizstion. 1t has no rival. 1t never has
undertaken to do that which communities
or organized charities could accomplish;
and only when work of relief is so vast as
to require more than ordinary lines Of
assistance does the Red Cross make known
the want and direct the charities of the
nation to the special need.
The association ia not made unwieldy by
large membership, only limited number
of experienced and active workers compris-
ing the American organization, while the
charitable and philanthropic people of the
land are the sustaining membership, that
so grandly second it in all of its errands of
mercy, by generous and prompt donations
of money and material supplies most
needed.
The Red Cross is not an endowed insti-
tuition: it has no financial profits for its
friends; it is simply a medium for dis
trlbuting PROMPTLY and efficiently the char
tiles of the generous to meet the needs of
the unfortunate when the demands for re-
lief become too great to be met by COM
munity Qr state.