Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1916-12-25
Monday, December Is, 1915.
Two christmases This Year.

Two Christmases for the American
people are being offered by the Ameri-
can Committee for Armenian and
>Syrian Relief.
- Having enjoyed the fellowships and
precious associations OF our own
Christmas on December 25th, we may,
by means of offerings made on that
day, have vital part in the Christ
mas joys or celebrations of our Ar
rmenian and Syrian friends on Janu
airy 18th in the Land of the Christ
Child.
The old style calendar is still used in
Asia Minor, which, with other differ
ences in customs. brings their Christ
mas on January 10Th Of the Roman or
Western calendar.
The American people are being
. OH Christmas Day. which money sent
to Mr.. Charles r. Crane. treasurer Of
the committee at 70 Fifth Ave, New
York City, will be cabled promptly to
:. American consuls and missionaries in
..the various distribution centers in Ar
anenia. Syria anG Palestine. and will
arrive in ample time for the purchase
.Df food, clothing and necessary sup
. plies for Christmas distribution Janu-
. airy 18th.
There may be no cakes, candy and
cookies in the stockings of the little
children In Syria this year; in fact,
there may be no stockings but when a
child or man is hungry there is moth
Ing sweeter than plain bread, perhaps
unleavened and when a woman or
child is shivering with cold there is no
gown more coveted than a plain
wooden blanket.
These things we hope to give to as
many women and children as possible
as a Christmas present this year, but
the number that will be thus favored
VIII be in direct proportion to the
thoughtfulncss and the Christian
brotherliness of Christians of America
as they this year gather around fire.
side and altar reverently to observe
the anniversary of our Saviours birth.
The Christmas ship has sailed, but
comparatively speaking it's entire
cargo of wheat, -four. rice, etc. will be
but mouthful when distributed
among the hundreds of thousands of
hungry people.
The Committee is expecting to send
another snip as soon as funds for the
cargo can be secured but in addition
to these shipments of food landed at
the Port of Beirut, there is urgent
need of help at other larger centers
inland, that cannot possibly be reached
with this cargo. Tabriz and Tiflis, for
instance. in point of accessibility, are
farther from Beirut than San Fran
cisco is from New York.
To reach these and other centers
tsmoney is being cabled by the Com
''mittee as rapidly as possible and
American commissions composed of
consuls and missionaries are using it
for the purchase of available supplies
to save the lives of the helpless
refugees.
Some OF us have already given all
that we feel to afford and some of us
have postponed the hour in our busy
lives when we shall make out the
money order application or send the
check that we feel willing to con-
tribute. We can postpone OUR bit of
assistance. but Dame Nature is relent-
less In her seasonal program, and the
winds are not tempered to shorn and
hungry ones pitifully suffering in their
War-swept lands.
OF course we have victims of misfor-
tune all around us who are deserving
Of our assistance, but in their distress
We trace but a faint echo of the awful
suffering of millions in Europe. In
this Christmas hour let US do our ut
most for all of them, for. "Inasmuch as
We have done 1t unto one Of the least
Of these my brethren, We have done it
unto me-"