Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1916-11-09
BIG GAIN IN MEMBERSHIP
Vermont Chapter of Red Cross
in Flourishing Condition.
Branches Formed In Nine cities and
Towns during the Past Ncar-td-
dresses Mt Public Meeting
Last Evening.

tho evening in the general interest of |
the American Rod Cross. Or. Henry D. |
Holton of Brattleboro. chairman of the !
executive committee Of the Vermont |
chapter. presided at both the afternoon !
and evening meetings. The speakers at
tho evening session were Or. f. Il Clark, |
medical reserve corps, L. s. A, repre- |
scnting the Vermont Medical society, !
who spoke on "A Red Cross Army Base
Hospital for Vermont; Col. y. II. kean, |
4. :. A.. diroctor-gcncral military relief. !
American Rcd Cross, whose subject was
rcd Cross Homo Preparedness" and
T.. A. Moree, director Atlantic division
oi tho American Rcd Cross who spoke
on "1hc Present Work and Organization
Of tho Red Cross" A report of the years
work in Vermont was given by II. S.
Howard 'r this city, treasurer Of the
Ncrmouf branch. and the invocation was
asked J.. chaplain y. l.. Fleming of the
Second tinted states cavalry. Music
was furnished by an orchestra from the
band of the Second United States cavalry.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
The following list Of officers and mem
hers of the executive committee of the
Vermont Chapter Of the American Red
Cross was submitted by tho nominating
committee appointed at the last special
meeting of the chapter. and the nominees
We're unanimously elected: Chairman.
Henry d. Hoton of Brattleboro; vice.
chairman, Rediold Proctor of Proctor:
secretary Harry S. Howard of Burling
ton; treasurer. H. r Rutter Of Burling-
ton: executive committee. Frank II.
Brooks of st. Johnsbury. Mrs. George T.
Chaffcc Of Rutland. NJ d. Chittenden OF
Burlington, Mrs. julius J. Estey of Brat
tleboro, Mrs. J. r. Estee of Montpelier.
IF N
Forbes of 81. Adams. Nelson w. Fisk
of Isle La Motto. Mrs. w. s. Phelps of
! Burlington Mrs. Edward G. Smith of st.
Adams: delegate to the national con-
gross at Washington. ID. c., Charles S,
Forbes Of St. Adams.
| An increase in membership in Vermont
! from 200 to 1.251. or about 800 per cent,
| ono Of the largest increases in the coun-
! try, was the outstanding feature of the
! report Of II. S. Howard secretary of the
! Vermont chapter. which was presented at
| tho afternoon business meeting. This in
! crease resulted from vigorous member
ship campaign, inaugurated when the
! call of tho National Guard to the border
showed the need Of a much larger Amer
/ lean Red Cross to supplement tho army
and navy Of tho United States. Mr..
Howard also emphasized the work of the
Vermont chapter in furnishing to the
First Regiment Of Infantry. Vermont Ma
tional Guard 1000 pairs of coored glasses
for the protection of the mems eyes and
1000 suits of cotton pajamas for the re-
lief of the mon when off duty in that
hot climate to which they were unac-
| customed
Branches Of tho Vermont chapter were
formed during the year with the follow
ing membership: Burlington 395. Brattlo-
horo 16i Rutland IA Newport 1O1. Orleans
10l. Montpelier 49, Barton 43. Woodstock
Al and St. Adams nine. The report states
that il is hoped that more branches may
he formed in order to facilitate the work
of answering appeals for military relief
or for aid in times of disaster. 1t was
also voted by the executive committee
to favor the organization of a Red Cross
military base hospital for Vermont. At
the September meeting of the executive
committee. the Vermont Anti-Tuberculo-
sis society having been formed and in
tending to carry on the Christmas seal
sale hereafter, it was voted TO relinquish
that branch of its work to the new So
ciety and turn over to it the balance OF
s572.35 belonging to that fund. This
amount was paid to Arthur w. Hill
treasurer of the Vermont Anti-Tuberculo-
sis society.
The report concludes with tribute &c
Col. c. s. Forbes. Who by reason OF
absence from the State. found it impos
sible to continue in office as secretary
OF the Vermont branch and then of the
Vermont chapter. which positions ne hac
; occupied since the reorganization of the
American National Red Cross in 1905.
Mr.. Howard treasurer of the Yer
mont chapter presented a report. show.
ing receipts Of S1,4A0S during the pas
year. with disbursements of 1897 Sc. leav
. ing a balance of $780, The chapter re
ceved and expended for the benefit o.
tho Vermont National Guard troops tn,
, sum of $A34o and also received and for
warded SOS. "a of relief funds during tn,
year follows: 1854 to European wa
relief, $40 to the Serbian war relief. SIS
to Belgian war relief and SIG TO tn,
American Red Cross
Tho reading of Mr.. Towards report!
was followed by discussion of the ques
, ton Of establishing Red Cross arm.
base hospital for Vermont. which wa
the subject Of DR. Clarks address at tn
evening meeting.
PUBLIC MEETING IN EVENING.
= The features Of the evenings pro
gram were the addresses Of Col. j. r
! kean and Edward A. Morse.
! Colonel Kean said he had been il
, Burlington in 1898 to conduct the ply
/ steal examination of volunteers, bu
hadn't been able to admire the city,
J beauty at that time. Now he was US
ing the opportunity then deferred
The historians eye, said Col. kean
saw only the glory of victory: thu
aftermath of the battle is only known
to the doctors and the cripples whicl
survive" Ten days after the secont
battle of Bull Run 900 wounded re
manned still upon the field. 1t wa
[ General George h. Mcclellan of tn
d civil War who established the frs
{ hospita! corps, and it became a mode
/ for the whole world. After the Span
, ish war the government appointed
. commission to profit by the mistake
T. of the war.
$ Neutrality had been one OF the watch
Z words of the Red Cross or its predeces
4 sors from the beginning. but this wa
n IA neutrality which not by any mean
e involved disloyaltY to country. Tn
e stormy period beginning with the SO
in Europe led to a new conception o
t. the Red Cross,
The Red Cross was efficient becaus
T. now chairman of the executive com
:, mittee of the Red Cross in America
u first defined the relation between TN
Red Cross and the army.
Col, Kean dealt at some length wit
= the zones of hospital work. the from
- the base hospital. etc. At the from
- the sanitary corps composed the nurses
\ | and there were no beds. Tho base hos
= pital was situated at military has
and it provided the first real hospta