The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1898-06-16
National Relief Commission.
To THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED
STATES :

STATES
Two hundred thousand men of our
Army and Navy are in the service of
the nation in its war with Spain. In
obedience to the Presidents call and
command they are enforcing the pur-
pose of the country and its rulers in
behalf of an oppressed nation, and
therein are exposed to the perils of
conflict and OF exposure on sea and
land.
1t is meet and due that we, their
fellow citizens, in whose behalf they
venture so much, should do what in
us lies to tighten their burdens and
relieve their pains. There are hard
ships which these brave men must
endure alone, but there are some
which we can share with them and
which we wish to share in response
both to the dictates of patriotism and
the injunction of the divine charity
''Bear ye one another's burdens"
To this end, many citizens of the
United States, in public and private
life, without respect to creed or party,
have been prompted to unite in an
organization known as the "National
Relief Commission" and whose aims
are here set forth.
The National Relief Commission is
organized in the spirit and with the
general purposes of the Christian and
Sanitary Commissions which operated
so effectively during the Civil War.
The primary object of this organiza-
ton is to aid the United States Gov
ernment in caring for its soldiers,
sailors, marines, and others, who may
be disabled by sickness or wounds,
and to relieve the families of combat
ants, if need should require. To ac-
complish these ends, we call upon all
Christian and all philanthropic people
in the United States, without respect
to creed or party, to form auxiliary
Relief Associations and in order to
secure harmony of action and prevent
the waste of energy, means and time,
and in order to concentrate all efforts
so that the best results may be obtain
ed, we invite such associations to
unite with US in perfecting National
Organization.
A secondary purpose of the Relief
Commission is to aid chaplains and
others in maintaining the moral tone
of the men in the Army and Navy by
friendly visits from our agents and
commissioners, and the representatives
OF religious organizations and orders.
1t is our purpose, through these
and other agencies and methods, as
exigencies may arise, to contribute to
the health and comfort of the men on
duty; to afford assistance and support,
as may be required, to surgeons and
nurses In the healing and care of the
sick and wounded to aid in the ad-
ministration of religious consolation,
with due regard to the preferences
and convictions of all to keep the
men in close touch with home and
its refining and helpful influences by
extending facilities for ready communi-
cation with relatives and friends to
facilitate the identification of those
who may die in the service, and to
aid kindred and friends IN procuring
the remains for home burial. In short,
we will endeavor to help the men Of
the Army and Navy with such kindly,
healthful and moral influences as will
keep them "true to the kindred points
of Heaven and Home"
we are sure that the citizens of the
United States are willing and able to
aid the National Government to the
fullest extent in caring for the disabled,
and to promote in the above and
kindred ways the health and comfort
OF soldiers and sailors and their fami-
lies. We know that the people have
a mind to the work. We believe
that it will do them good and deepen
their love of country to permit their
sympathies to have full play that
their patriotism will be strengthened
by their endeavors 10 aid the suffering,
and those in the field, and that their