Bryan daily eagle and pilot. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1909-1918, 1911-03-24
THE FAMINE IN CHINA

At the last regular meeting OF the
Ladies' Aid Society OF the First Bap-
fist church. the following letter to
the Texas Baptist Standard was read:
You have perhaps heard something
of the suffering and need among the
famine stricken people of this great
country, but as am right here in the
midst of part of the great suffering,
feel that / must write and put some of
the facts before you and appeal TO you
in the name of humanity that you give
of your means to help these poor,
starving people.
Il am sure If could picture to you
the hunger and despair | have seen on
hundreds of faces as they have come
here and begged that we give them
work to do and save their lives, then
you would not need that | appeal for
help for them, but you would open
your purses and give literally.
my brother has opened up a little
public work, and planned at first to
use only one hundred men, but the
poor, starving people pleaded so he
has taken on two hundred and still
they come and get on their knees and
tell of the large number at home de-
pendent and beg to be allowed to work
We give only one hundred thousand
cash per and that will buy only a little
over two pounds of the very cheapest
food there is, and yet in many cases
this is all a family of four and five
have to live en-. We have perhaps
turned away as many as two thousand
who begged to be allowed to work
Many of these have come here from
distance and have sold or given away
their children, and are in rags as to
clothing, with no place to sleep at
night, except as they stop in some cor
ner. One morning last week when the
thermometer was ten degrees below
freezing. | heard the groans of such
one from my room upstairs and on
looking out We found boy fifteen
years old crouched down in a ocrner.
He said all his family had already
persisted to death and that he had had
nothing for six days to appease his
hunger. Within four days | heard of
the death of that many grown people
right on the streets near us. They
had dropped dead on the street from
cold and hunger, and lay there late in
the day, finally being removed by an
officer, ! suppose One poor mother
who had only one son had given him,
. child of a year and half, away and
pleaded for work that she and her
husband might live.
1T is dreadful now, but the serious
ness of it will increase till wheat har'
vest when only we may hope for
cheaper prices, and that only depends
on the amount of wheat harvested, so
/ beg that you pray that there may be
an abundant harvest and also that you
send of your means to help tide over
these hard days till that time. There
is a famine relief committee in Shang
hal that will receive funds, also the
Christian Herald, New York City.
Send what you can now; it may
save many lives, and then later send
more, if possible, but do not delay;
that may mean the death of many. Ii
is estimated that gold dollar will
sustain the life of one from now until
wheat harvest.
Inasmuch as we have done it unto
one of the least of these my brethren,
We have done it unto me-
attic T. BOSTICK.
"Pochow, Anhwei, China"
After the reading 4 collection was
taken and about ten dollars was con
tributed. 1t was then decided to APP
peal to the people of Bryan for help
in this relief work. The pastor of each
of the churches is requested to present
the matter to their several congrega- |
tons next Sunday.
Every reader of the newspapers is !
aware of the awful condition of those'I
poor people and that immediate and |
generous action is imperative. Remem- |
Der the promise: He that hath pity |
on the poor lendeth unto the Lord:
and after many days He viii repay |
him." Commenting on this passage |
Dean Swift said: "My friends, you |
hear the terms of the loan; if you like
the security, down with your Dust"
Contributions may be handed to
Webb Bros.