Morris tribune., 1917-11-30
CHRISTMAS DRIVE FOR
RED CROSS MEMBERS
Nationwide Drive to Start Decem.
Der II, Ending with Display
on Christmas Eve.

A nationwide Christmas Member
ship Drive has been planned by the
Red Cross War Council. The build
ing up of Red Cross Membership to
100000 in. the United States is
the goal of the campaign. This
means an addition of approximately
100000 names to the present
muster roll. The drive is to start
December II and continue unceas-
ingly to Christmas Eve.
A striking feature of the drive will
be the use of Red Cross service flags,
TO be posted in the windows of
homes. The flags are made of trans
parent paper, and bear the Red
Cross emblem. The display of a Red
cross service flag in a window will
mean that person in that home is
a Red Cross member. Space is pro-
Vided in the white field of the flag
for placing additional Red Cross en-
blems for additional members of the
household who join the Red Cross.
The flags are to be issued from
Division Headquarters to Chapters
by December list. Chapter members
who are active workers will be per-
mitted to display flags in their
homes after that date. With all
chapters emphasizing the idea back
of the Red Cross service flags, a
splendid showing is expected thru
out the country and a good founda-
fiOn 10;
ing of the campaign on Dec. 18th.
! In the work of enrolment, each
new member will receive one of
these emblems, and will be asked to
place 1T in the window of his home
and mark on it the record for each
Red Cross member within that home.
Firms, stores, banks, etc., will be en-
couraged to display emblems which
they can have manufactured, to indi-
cate the full Red Cross membership
in the establishment.
With every possible home and
place Of business marked with the
Red Cross service emblem during
Christmas week, the chapters will
lend their efforts to seeing that at
1880 on Christmas Eve a candle is
placed in each window hind this
service emblem so that on ILristmas
Eve there may be given expression
to the universal aspect of the Red
Cross.
To lend still further. significance
to this Red Cross Christmas cere-
mony, it is suggested that chapters
as part of the more detailed plans.
arrange with local churches to toll
their bells at 1880 on Christmas Eve,
at the hour when the candles are lit
and that they continue their tolling
at half hour intervals until O'Clock,
the suggested duration of this
Christmas display. 1t is planned
that in each community Red Cross
workers be organized into groups to
proceed through each neighborhood
singing Christmas carols
To give each chapter every assist
ance possible in bringing about this
beautiful and simple Christmas cere-
mony, publicity will be aimed at edu-
eating the public to it's significance.
Posters picturing the lighted candle
on Christmas Eve will be displayed.
Newspaper publicity will feature it.
Pastors will be asked to mention it
in their sermons, and educational in
situations will be asked for the privi-
lege of explaining to the children
the significance of the custom, so
that they can lend their influence to
its adoption in the homes. It is ex-
pected that the desire of the COM
munity to participate in this Christ
mas Eve ceremony will be an inter-
esting and strong inducement for Sc
curing membership.