Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-05-17
CHURCHES CALLED UPON
TO AID WAR SUFFERERS
IL Is Proposed to Set Aside May 2s
as Memorial Sunday In
Their Behalf.
NEED GREAT AND IMMEDIATE
Appeal Is Sent to 10000 American
Ministers by Federated Council of
Churches Of Christ in America.
Millions Face Death by Starvation.

NEW YORK. May l6.--An appeal to
funds would be raised for war sufferers
through collections taken in churches
| throughout the country. was mailed 10
100000 American ministers to-day by
The Federated Council Of the Churches
o: Christ in America
The purpose Of tho council is not
only 10 inaugurate nationwide efforts
20 assist destitute and starving persons
IN Europe and Asia, but TO begin also
"a movement that shall prepare our
Christian churches to play the vital
part that belongs 20 them in the period
OF reconstruction and reconciliation
that must follow The close OF the war.
Funds raised on May IS Will be sent
TO 'ne treasurer OF The international
relief committee, which may be des!g-
mated among the various organizations
listed in the appeal. These include
committees which are assisting people
in Belgium. Northern France, Serbia.
Poland. East Prussia. Armenia. Persia,
Syria, Turkey and Montenegro and in
the various prison camps in which
some work is being done by the Inter-
national Young Mems Christian ksso-
citation.
THIS CRISIS TRANsCENDS
EVEN CHURCH RULES
The appeal points out that some
churches do not favor special appeals"
hut that crisis transcends all ordi-
nary rules and even church rules"
The appeal is the fruit of mine
thoughtful representative conferences
among church leaders and of a journey
by Rev. Charles S. MacFarland. gen
eral secretary of the council, during
which he interviewed many responsible
men, both in Europe and America"
The cooperation OF church federations,
ministerial associations. denominational
boards, religious journals and kindred
institutions will be sought. and the
initial appeal will he followed up so
long as necessity may exist"
The needs for funds are described in
the appeal as immediate. appalling
and increasing" Some OF these are
classified o. follows:
In Belgium 100000 persons are vir-
tually destitute, and s5.000.o0O is
needed at once
In Northern France more than 2,2j0.-
600 persons are desperately in need
These include $4,000 children who are
refugees. The distress Is declared 10
be even more extensive than in Bel
gium.
In Serbia 100000 persons have been
deprived Of their living and of
chance TO make it, and there are thou
sands OF Serhians destitute in France.
POLAND HAS II,GGO.0OO
HOMELESS PEASANTS
In Poland there are 100000 home
less. wandering peasants. mostly women
and children, of whom 3.500,000 "are in
condition of starvation. with certain
death facing them unless relief comes
speedily
In East Prussia thousands have heen
driven from their homes and deprived
of their livelihood, and the suffering Is
severe.
In Armenia only relief given by
Americans, it is stated, will thwart the
destruction of n race. There are 5o0,-
600 refugees In Armenia and 30O, 900
IN Turkey.
"a 81 por member Offering for this
great cause would not seem an un-
reasonable self-sacrifice," says the
councils appeal. copies Of which the
ministers are urged to place In the
hands of their church people, yet such
\ total would mean incalculable help
and blessing to many innocent victims
of the war"