The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1898-06-09
National Relief Commission.
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II ~ 80 SSssDS
Two hundred thousand men o
our Army and Navy are in tn,
service Of the nation in its war viii
Spain. In obedience 70 the Presi.
dents call and command they ar,
enforcing the purpose ofthe countr,
and its rulers in behalf of an op
pressed nation, and therein are ex,
posed to the perils Of conflict ant
Of exposure on sea and land.
1t is meet and due that we, theil
fellow citizens, in whose behalf the,
venture SO much, should do wha
in us lie to tighten their burden.
and relieve their pains. There ar,
hardships which these brave mer
must endure alone, but there art
some which we can share with them
and which we wish to share in re-
sponse both to the dictates of pa.
triotism and the injunction of the
divine charity :"Bear We one anoth-
er'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 purpose Of the Christian
and Sanitary Commissions which
operated so effectively during the
Civil war.
The primary object of this organi-
zatiOn is to aid the United States
Government in caring oritssoldiers,
sailors, marines, and Others, who
may he disabled by sickness or
wounds, and to relieve the families
of combatants, if need shonld re-
quire. To accomplish 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 in order
to concentrate all efforts so that the
best results may be obtained, we in
vite such associations to unite with
us in perfecting Il National Organi-
zation.
A secondary purpose of the Re
lief Commission is to aid eAaplains
ami others in maintaining the moral
tone Of the men in the Army and
Navy by friendly visits from cur
agents and commissioners, and the
representatives of religious organi-
zatiOns and orders.
1t is our purpose, through these
and other agencies and methods,
asexigencies may arise, to Oe"ntribnte
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 administration Of re-
ligious consolation, with due regard
to the preferences and convictions of
all; to keep the men in close touch
with home and its refining andhelp-
full influences by extending facilities
for ready communication with rela-
tives and friends; to facilitate the
Identification OF those who may die
in the service, and to MD kindred
and friends in procuring theremains
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
70 the fullest extent in caring for the
disabled, and to promote in theaboye
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