The times., 1899-03-13
new WORK FOR THE
RED CROSS SOCIETY
DR.. Alexander kent'S Mission
to the West Indies.
Plans TO Aid Suffering Natives in
Cuba and Porto Rico.
A Brief History Of the Organization,
Its Past Struggles, Present
Aims and Future Hopes.

''The Red Cross in Peace and War" was
the subject of an interesting discourse de-
livered in the Peoples Church, in G Street
northwest. by the Rev. Alexander Kent
The speaker said it was his intention to
start for Cuba in a few days, where he
would again engage in the work Of the
Red Cross Society. On the eve OF his de-
parture he desired to say something of the
origin, aims, and history OF the organiza-
tion. Il cannot better do this, he said
than by quoting extensively from Miss
Barton's book on the subject which will
soon appear" The speaker then quoted
the following from the forthcoming book.
The conditions, that existed during the cam
paign and the sIffcEiugs that had TO hc endured
we've by means peculiar TO the Spanish Aineil-
can war. Suffering, sickness, confusion, and
deatl-;hese are in-eparablc from every armed
conflict. They have always existed under such
circumstances; they are a part OF war itscll.
against which no human foresight can wholly
provide Every civilized government Is tn1n-
ciGlly able provide for its armies, but the
great and seemingly inscperahlc difficulty is TO
always have what is wanted at the place where
it = most needed. II i part OF the strategy
Of war, that enemy seeks battle at time
and place when his opponent j. least prepared
for il Occasionally, too, an attacking command
is deceived. Where hC expected only slEht
resistance be encounters overwhelming torce,
and battle Of Unforeseen proportions and with
unexpected casualties occurs. This i the uni
versai testimony OF nations. II it were not So all
needs could be provided ior, and every move
planned a the outset. 1t was for these reasons
that = body Of gentlemen now known - The In
1cInational Committee Of Geneva, aided by ma
tional associations in each country, planned
urged, and finally succeeded IN securing Inc
ado of he
The story of the Red Cross" said DR..
Kent. illustrates the rapid rise of the
humane sentiment in the latter half of the
nineteenth century. Through it philan-
thropy has been grated on to the wild and
savage stem of war. From the first MA
ments spun in the heart of a solitary trav-
eler-who witnessed the awful sufIerings
on the field of Solferino-have been drawn
onward longer and larger strands, until
now more than forty of the principal ma
tions of the earth are bound together by
bonds OF the highest international law
that must make war in the future less
barbarous than II has been in the past
and must hasten the day when other and
better methods of settling the differences
Of nations shall enable us 10 dispense with
war altogether.
Already il has come TO be so loved and
trusted that people everywhere are begin
ming to ask with enthusiasm about its
origin and history and the principles on
which il acts. II is partially TO answer
these and similar inquiries that Miss Bar
ton has prepared her book. Much of the
matter has appeared from time to time,
of course, as the history was growing, but
necessarily in fragramentary form. Here
we have a complete. connected, and orderly
narrative, fitted to give one an adequate
conception of the organization and its
work.
Its History.
Let me say just a few words in regard
to the origin of the Red Cross. In 1859 a
Swiss gentleman-Henri Durrant, passing
over the field of Solferino after a battle
which had ragged for sixteen hours, and in
which the dead and wounded reached a
total of 36GG0, was deeply impressed by
the scenes which We're there presented.
For days after the battle many of the
dead lay unburied. and the wounded un-
aided Mr.. Durrant Joined in the work OF
relief, but the lack of preparation which
had resulted in such suffering and neglect
as be witnessed haunted him and moved
him to write a little book entitled "A
Souvenir of Solterino,' in which he earn
estly pleaded for more humane and ade-
cuAte provision for the care of wounded
soldiers. He brought the matter before
the Society of Public Utility. of which he
was a member. Gustav Moynier the presi-
dent Of this institution, and a man OF in
dependent fortune, together with several
other members Of influence, became deeply
interested. These enlisted the general of
the Swiss army and d meeting of the
society was called to consider PROPOSE
uon relative to the formation of perma-
nent societies for the relief OF wounded
soldiers.
The meeting was held on February q.
1853 II received the proposition with
favor and appointed committee with NJ
Moynier at its head, to consider by what
methods the desired results might best be
obtained. The committee moved carefully
and cautiously. but finally desided upon
plan, called another meeting for the follow
ing October. and invited from many coun-
tries men sympathizing with its views or
able to assist in its discussions The meet
ing was held and the discussions lasted
four days, ending in the call of an inter
national convention TO be held at Geneva
in the autumn of 1864. AT this convention
the Geneva Treaty was formed. perma-
nent international committee named. with
headquarters at Geneva, and the funda-
mental plan OF the national relief societies
adopted.
The Badge.
THE first essential to success was to Sc
cure the cooperation of the more impor-
tant European States in a treaty which
should recognize the neutrality Of the hos
pitfalls established, OF the sick and wound
ed. and OF all persons and effects connected
with the relief service, together with the
adoption of uniform protective sign or
badge. The Red Cross was chosen as such
badge. out of compliment TO the Swiss Re
public, where the first convention was held
The Swiss coiors are q white cross and a
~
reversing the colors, put''n a red cross on
a white ground.
Although the convention which framed
and adopted the treaty was necessarily in
ternational, the relief societies themselves
are entirely national and independent
each one governing itself and making its
own laws according to its nationality and
its needs. The number of governments
acherlng TO the treaty soon ran up 10
twenty-five, and now TO forty-two"
DR.. Kent then recalled the work done
by the Red Cross Society in the various
European wars since the Geneva conyen-
tion. He also told OF the struggle of the
society for recognition from the American
Government. The effort began" said the
speaker, "on the part OF Miss Clara Barton
in August, 1871, and kept up with intelIi-
gent persistence until she was successful
in March, 1882, when President Arthur
signed the document which bound the
United States TO the Geneva treaty and
gave the Red Cross and this country ma,
tional and international standing"
Dr- Kent next gave an interesting de.
scripuon Of how Miss Barton FIRST becam,
interested in the Red Cross Society, and o.
her work. The Red Cross was organized
In this city" he said. before our Govern.
ment recognized the treaty. II came into
being May Il, 1881, nearly year befor,
President Arthur signed the act approved