Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1909-01-06
WALHALLA, 8. O.:
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY @, 1900.
A DISTINCT CALL TO AMERICA

The horrors OF the great earth
quake in Italy are daily being told
by cable and telegraph to all the
civilized world. Instead Of greatly
exaggerated reports at tie first, 1t
seems that not near the whole of
the horrible story was told at the
outset, and each day, as the work Of
rescue progresses, the narrowing de-
tails are but added to. Thousands
upon thousands of dollars will be
required to give even the faintest
semblance of comfort to the inhabi-
tants of the stricken country, and 1t
seems to us that the calamity comes
as a distinct call to Christian Ameri-
ca to fall in, hand and heart, with
the work Of relieving the sufferings
OF this stricken people.
America Is recognized as the great
Christian nation of the world. What
an opportunity Is here offered to the
Christians cf America to stretch out
the hand of bounty and open the
great heart Of love and sympathy for
suffering humanity! What an op-
portunity to show that our claim of
Christianity is not an idle boast, bu.
reality. and an ever ready and
generous one. What work so effica
cious in bringing to Christ those
who do not know or believe in Him,
not only In other lands, but at our
very doors, In our very midst, as, at
time like this, engaging in the
work Of Him whom we as a nation
profess to follow? Millions look to
the people Of the United States to
lead in the work OF Christ, and we
do lead, but do NC push His work
with the vigor and spirit that we
ought to?
Congress has appropriated $780,
600 for the sufferers, the American
Red Cross Society has cabled $6O,-
600, and the Christian Herald first
came nobly to the front with a cable
Of $4,000. This is a splendid
showing for the government, for the
Red Cross Society and for that great
~Ni'N''N''' "N'NiS, thS Vii lSllull
Herald. Unqucstionably the Ameri-
can leaders are moving forward no.
bly,, and we believe the citizens all
over the Union will fall in with the
work Of keeping the treasures of
the charitable institutions ready for
every emergency.
Certainly in such n crisis as this
there Is oppOrtunity--unlim OPP
portunity-to show to the whole
world that America not only is
called Christian America, but is in
deed nation of followers of Christ.
who forget not that His mission on
earth was to draw all men unto
Him." that we are left with the dis
tinct command to continue in His
work, and that through kindness and
love and sympathy for His creatures
we may wonderfully advance the
work Of the Creator.
Each individual should feel that
now Is the time to contribute to the
Red Cross Society and other great
societies for the relief Of suffering.
This society, the Christian Herald Of
New York and other benevolent or
ganizatioDs, guilds asd charitable in
stitutions are dispensing their funds
for immediate relief. There will yet
be months during which help is
needed, and the people Of America
should see that the treasures Of
these organizations are always full
and adequate to meet every call.
There is no amount too small to be
of service, and no person Is too OBJ
scure or lives in too remote place
to be able to help. Let us all help,
no matter how small our ability. The
great aggregate is what counts in
the end.