The record-union., 1898-05-17
THE RED CROSS MOVEMENT.
OUTLINE OF THE HISTORY OF
THE SOCIETY.
Comfort Fund-The Distinction
Sacramento Organizing-Why
All Should Help.

AL SAOu4u
In three or four different sections or
the city the idea was taken up last
week of inaugurating a movement 10
aid the Red Cross Society, a branch Oh
the National organization having Just
been successfully formed in San Fran
cisco.
OF course all the movers in this city
will come together and whatever IS
done will be done speedily and harmo-
niously, as Red Cross purpose is de-
void of selfshness and wholly in the
interest of common humanity. The
meeting called for half-past this af-
ternoon at Pythian Castle Hall will re-
suit in this unity of action. In San
Francisco the branch society has at its
head men ond women. clergymen and
priests of all denominations, doctors,
humanitarians, literary men, artisans,
publishers and artists, indeed, all man
ners and kinds Of reputable people, re-
ligion. creed, belief or nOn-belief being
pushed aside in the interest of the
brotherhood of men in humane work.
Just how the matter started here we
do not know, but it blossomed out re-
Gently in several quarters at once.
Prominent singers are moving in it,
prominent publicists are taking steps
that way, and many good Sacramento
women are at work upon the same
proposition. Manager Clifton Of the
Orpheum, hearing of the matter, came
forward with the free tender of his
house to help on, any afternoon that
may be settled upon.
All the agencies will be massed at
once, and then the real work will be-
gin.
There is not, however, on all sides
clear understanding as to what Red
Cross work is, how it is promoted, and
in what way il is best aided. The
Record Union" therefore. below gives
a brief sketch of perhaps the most fam
Gus society in the world, one protected
by the compacts of all civilized nations,
and that moves upon plane far above
war, and stands on a level with the
greatest humanity, mercy and loving
kindness.
Prior to making that sketch, however,
We desire to refer to still another and
wholly Independent movement, one
that should not be dropped but pushed
on rapidly. since the Red Cross work
goes on all the time, while the Com
fort Fund" ought to be raised before
the troops sail for the Philippines.
In several of the cities funds have
been made up for companies enlisted
from such communities called Com
fort Funds" The money is given to
the company board of officers to be
used in getting for the men those lit
tie comforts and necessities in health,
which do not fall within the line of
hospital supplies, nor are disbursed by
the Red Cross which deals with the
sick and wounded Some good women
of Sacramento started this comfort
fund last week. but one of the chief
movers was called away from the city
and then the matter Jagged.
1t is to be hoped that two comfort
funds. for Company E and the Bat
terry. will be made up at once. Other
towns should not be permitted to out
do Sacramento in this respect There
should be at least $3.50 raised for each
of the two commands. This will be
in part kept in reserve and in part used
to get extra underwear. extra personal
supplies, etc, which the men cannot
have from official stores nor from their
own purses since they receive but Sl3
a month and all of them have left all
they had before enlisting, behind to
help their mothers, sisters and those
dependent upon them, and to close up
their debts and business affairs. The
comfort fund in a company is a Won
derfully good thing and is great
power in keeping the soldiers spirit
up.
And now as to the Red Cross, what it
IS. what it does. and how it can be
best aided In a broad sense it is for
the care of the sick, immediate atten-
tion to the wounded. and the relief of
those who in battle fall and need nurs-
ing and best of care thereafter, such as
the army nurses and surgeons cannot
give. The best way to aid the Red
Cross is to supply it with money, as
it knows what it wants best, and can
always buy to better advantage than
any one else.
For many years attempts were made
to bring about agreements between
nations to mitigate the horrors of war.
The earliest effort was an attempt to
establish certain rules regarding the
wounded. the sick and the non-com-
batants caught between the teeth of
war But the primitive efforts all
failed
In 1863 a conference of jurists was
held at Geneva to plan an agreement
for the nations regarding such humane
work as common mercy suggested, and
that was the first step really taken in
Europe though it failed. But in our
civil war the spirit of the Red Cross
Society in fact it had its birth
In 1864 a second conference was held
and articles were signed by the rep
resentatives of thirteen great States of
Europe. for the amelioration of the
conditions of the wounded in battle.
These articles were very explicit and
detailed. Some of the nations on that
account refused to sign them, claiming
that too much was imposed upon the
victorious army, but in 1868 nine
Powers had agreed and the neutralized
workers in mercy, to carry out the
compact, were designated by a red
cross on a white field flown on a flag,
over hospitals, worn on the sleeve, and
------------ | ---------------