The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1896-02-08
THE NOBLEST MISSION OF ALL.
BY REV. R. H. PULLMAN, DID.
ROBERT BURNS said:
Mans inhumanlty to man
Makes countless thousands mourn.

Mans inhumanity to man
Makes countless thousands mourn.
But there is bright side, for man
can help as well as hurt; soothe as
well as crush; lift up as well
as knock down. Mans humanity
to man can rise, on occasion, to the
heroic, can dare all peril and face
death itself in works of relief to hu-
man suffering. The human stands
high; the very fact that brutal act
is called inhuman is proof of the high
standard of the human. A humane
act is an act into which man can
put his heart. "Quit you like men"
is an apostolic appeal for something
honorable and noble. Humanity is
great word. 1t is not found in the
Bible, but the idea is there. In the
name of humanity great movements
are carried on. In that name out
rage is rebuked, wrong is shamed;
and great nations hesitate before the
indignation of an aroused humanity.
Humanity was never SO strong, never
so great, never so noble, as it is today.
It's divineness shines resplendent in
the history of the nineteenth cen
tury, and in this history there are no
brighter pages than those that tell of
the birth of the "Red Cross" idea, and
it's growth into great organizations
and the magnificent philanthropy of
it's work.
The publication of book-"Souv-
enir de Solferino"-and largely pub
lished subsequent to that terrible
battle, drew the attention of Europe
and resulted in a conference in 1868,
and the result of this gathering of
distinguished philanthropists was
the calling of convention composed
of delegates appointed by the heads
of the various civilized nations of the
world, which convention was held in
Geneva, Switzerland, in October, 1864.
Nation after nation came into this in
ternational treaty until in 1882 the
United States became signatory ma
ton, making the grand total of forty
great nations of the world. 1t is
gigantic organization. 1t is toodeeply
seated in the heart of the world to be
disrespected or insulted by any ma
ton, however wild with passion it's
people may become.
Its great purpose is to alleviate the
horrors of war by affording relief to
the sick, wounded and dying soldiers
in battle, and after the battle. By
the terms of the treaty all who are
under the care of the Red Cross are
considered and treated as "neutrals."
The red cross worn By the relieving
corps is the insignia always respected
alike by the combatants. Every
nurse and helper are considered
sacred in this noble work and be-
loved by all. There are ten articles
covering these points in the original
compact. "The American Amend
ment," so called, was introduced, sub
sequently, by Miss Clara Barton,
president of the American National
Red Cross, and agreed to. This
amendment extends the op erations of
relief in all great national calamities
other than war. Other amendments
relating to naval engagements, but all
looking to the same philanthropy
have been adopted.
1t is by the provisions of the Ameri-
can amendment that Miss Clara Bar
ton, with her corps of nurses, expects
to enter the Turkish empire and af-
ford relief to the suffering in Ar
menia. The Turkish empire is sig
natory power The Sultan will deny
her at his peril. However, the Sui
tan may deny admission to the Amer
icsn Red Cross, and defy the heavenly
powers of its grace, even as he snaps
his fingers at the powers, knowing,
that while he is universally despised,
the political complications are such
that he is comparatively safe. 1t is
impossible to tell what day may
bring forth. But this is only one of
the glorious humanitarian movements
of the Red Cross. This may fail in
every respect save the divine spirit of
the attempt. There may be other
failures, though its history thus far
records not one. Only the most OBJ
scure problems in politics can ever
interfere. The history of the Red
Cross stands as one of the proudest
monuments to the humanity of the
age. Its spirit has the baptism of
heaven, for its aims are broad as the