Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-28

Chicago, November %, 1895
ITO Our Comrades and to All Who Love
and Trust Us:
"From the first you have helped the
hunted Armenians by your prayers, your
sympathy. and your honest hard work.
Thousands of them are to-day I'm comfort
or in safety because OF the intelligence
and devotion with which you have
wrought for our Christian brothers ana
sisters and the little children Of those
bleak and dangerous htllsidcs and in those
valleys smitten by outrage and murder
IL is a blessed fact that patient cOntinu-
ance in well doing IS the foremost quail
~ in a White Idbboner, for We must 90
our first works over again, and more
also
thereafter the Armenians can never
feel a sense of safety, q least not in our
time. The more forcefu among them are
determined TO risk all I'm the effort TO
reach freedom, and while II IS not for us
10 strengthen this purpose OF their part,
we must hold ourselves In readiness 10
heIp the refugees who are constantly es-
caping from the dominion Of the TURK.
Thousands are penniless to-day In Bul-
garla. Alexandria, Marselles, and all
along the border Of that accursed Turkish
empire which only the rapacity OF the
great Powers suffers to blot the map OF
brotherhood.
1T Is the purpose OF the leaders you
have chosen. and who believe that they
are but carrying forward your wishes
into deeds. to establish a home for re-
fueees AT some strategic point possibly in
Bulgaria which shall belong to the
Worlds Woman's Christian Temperance
Union. and shall testify 10 the loya4ty and
tenderness OF our society toward those
who most need our help, al n tim
when the heart Of the whole world IS
stirred by their unutterable misery. II
Is true we are a temperance society.
but IN an exigency like this one word
can only measure the depth of our sacred
Obligation. and that word is humanity
We are Christian women, and If we would
not strive 10 help the people who OF all
others since the world began, have suf-
fered most for Christ. then we might
well strike that Holy name out Of our
own. Already we have commissioned
Mrs Laura Ormiston Chant TO 20 10
Bulgaria and report the situation. n is
quiet likely that Lady Henry Somerset
and her son will soon follow for the
purpose OF establishing the refuge, which
will be but one Of a line Of refugees. OF
which lady Somerset writes a. follows:
"'We must arrange all along the coasts
in Russia, Armenia, and Bulgaria touch
ing as near Turkish territory as possible.
refugees 10 which the fleeing AFmenians
can 30. where they will find a sort Of
St BernarPs without the dogs). and
where they can be warmed, clothed. and
sheltered. and then sent on 10 tho larger
colony that Is being established by the
Duke OF Westminster'e committee
Everything is shaping itself now. and II
looks "a II we shall get organization at
last throughout England
"The facts are now before you, and II
is the earnest hope of your general Ohiccrs
that at every occasion. annual meeting
and local meeting. Of the WOman's Chris
tian Temperance. collection NAV be
taken for this purpose and that many
newspapers may JTfL q 1lr crlfiflr ID
help increase the fun..
"The officers Of the national. State,
provincial. county and local unions can
serve this cause by inducing editors 20
receive subscriptions. and by insttuting
a hOuse-to-house canvass. May We not
I'm closing. urge upon al good people the
significance OF making Christmas pres
ents. this year AZ least. for the most part
10 the Armenians, who are starving m
their own country or 20 the refuge for
Armenians who have escaped, sending IN
either case 10 Mrs. Helen NJ Baker,
treasurer Of the National Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union, the Temple. Chi
cago. III? II each one who reals these
lines will Eft the heart for single mo-
ment. seeking the guidance Of the Holy
Spirit. who can doubt but that this resolu-
ton will be formed-'For once, AZ least.
my gifts shall 20 10 those who need
them most
In this prayer and hope we are yours
for the deliverance OF Gods most loyal
people. FRANCES WILLARD.
ISABEL SOMERSET,
AGNES SLACK.
"ANNA GORDON.
MARY SANDERSON.
General Officers Worlds ". c. T. e."