The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-06-16
 ORIGIN OF THE RED CROSS.

|
 Led to the Establishment of This Hu-
 mane Society-Some Information
 Concerning It's Methods.
 The history of the Red Cross Society
 is but little known in the United States.
 Our peace-loving people have been for
 so many years free from the terror of
 war which has continually confronted
 European nations that we became su-
 premely indifferent to the emergency
 that at some time might arise, when we
 should be called upon to take care of
 the sailors and soldiers wounded in the
 defence of our country.
 It is nearly forty years sinceM. Henri
 Dunant, native of the republic of
 Switzerland witnessed the battle of
 Solferino, and was a mortified observer
 of the unnecessary suffering of the
 wounded from lack of care. Being greatly impressed by the light, he pub
 lished little book called Souvenir de Solferino," and pointed out the urgent
 necessity of forming a corps of sur- geons and nurses who could work in the
 cause of humanity regardless of nation- | ality, and who might be protected by a | flag of neutrality, and be permitted to | serve on the field of battle and aid the
 wounded. This little volume appealed | to all who read it. and the outcome was | a convention held at Geneva, Switzer-
 land, in August, 1864, by representatives | from sixteen of the great nations of the world, who then signed a compact of | strict neutrality that assured, under certain specified regulations, com plete protection to the members of the | association when caring for the wound- | ed on the field of battle. The flag of | Switzerland is heraldically described as
 Ion a field gules, a cross argent" and the society adopted it out of compli- ment to it's birthplace, only reversing
 the colors. To-day the insignia of the
 International Committee is the red
 cross on a white field, and is the only military hospital flag in the civilized world which protects all persons from molestation who work under it or right fully wear the emblem when perform HIS SiiEli Stl NlIG5s ilc iG JStN~ l ously guarded, and the brassards and armlets, that are sewed on the sleeve : when issued in time of war, are mark ed with private devices, so that both
 armies may be protected from spies and that none but those engaged in the work of helping the wounded shall be immune"
 ! NJ. Gustav Moynier, president of the 4r 7 society of public utility, was elected . and still remains president of the inter- , national committee of the Red Cross l the headquarters of which are at Gen. t eva. Sixty-two nations have signed the } compact Tn 1892 Miss Clara Barton l who had already distinguished herself : by her services as a nurse during the l civil war, was delegated by the presi- 7 dent of the United States to represent , her country at a congress of the Rec ? Cross committee, and she was made a ) member of the international board oi I managers when the United States gov ernment signed the internationa 3 treaty It was at Miss Barton's sug- } gestion that line of work was adopt 7 ed by the international committee, SC ? that each nation might pursue an occu- $ patton in time of peac that would 2 qualify it to be of service in an emerg- , ency thereby keeping it's national Rec I Cross assiciation in an active state oi a organization. It was determined that $ the study of diseases, methods of treat ! ment, more particularly without the ust , of alcoholic stimulants, and the educa- I tion of doctors and nurses should be F pursued. In the formation of the con-
 stitution of the American National Rec
 Cross association still wider range ol
 activities was adopted. It was hoped
 that we should have no wars but ca.
 lamities and disasters were always tC be apprehended, and the organization determined to provide aid for suct emergencies. Other nations, seeing th'
 usefulness of what has been called the , American amendment" are following our example and adding the amend
 ment to their constitutions. During tn 1 past seventeen years the American Rec Cross has given aid to sufferers in if
 teen disasters or famines, the Russians
 Armenians, and Cubans being thost
 who have received aid outside of oul own countrymen.
 , Notwithstanding the fact that Mis- | Barton advocated starting hospital
 during peace, no such work has bee done in America, with the exception ( one institution which Miss Barton in r stalled and opened in the city of NeN York in 1894. It was founded by Mis
 Bettina Hofker-now the wife of Dr. 4
 Monae Lesser-a graduate of tn
 Mount Sinai training school for nurses ? the daughter of a general of the Prus l sian army, and whose mother an !. aunts had served as assistant nurse
 during the Franco-P Prussian war. w may quote from Miss Barton's speec
 when she opened the hospital, an
 said: This is an institution founde by the intelligence, sympathy, industr l and sacrifices of a girl. Sister Bettin = Hofker, born under other skies tha l ours, speaking another language, bU , endowed with that love of humanit ! that makes the whole world kin. Pit = has been her inspiration and patien
 perseverance in effort her success" l To-day, when all hearts are full C |