Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-12-16
CHURCHES TO SOUND
RED CROSS MESSAGE
Great Membership Campaign
Will Be Launched From
Pulpits To-Day.
EXPECT $1,000 NEW NAMES
No Large Contributions Will
Be Sought in Nation
Wide Drive.
EXPECT $1,000 NEW NAMES

No large contributions will be sought
in Richmond which starts to-day and
continues until Christmas Eve. It Is
new memberS-thousands of them-Eot
big donations. that the local chapter
wants. One dollar pays for an an
nual mem mbership. and those in charge
OF the drive are confident that be-
tween 10000 and $1,000 new names
will be added during the weeks in
tensive drive. The Richmond chap
ter enters the campaign with $4,000
members.
The week preceding Christmas was
selected the time in which to in
crease the membership OF the Red
Cross throughout the country by 1o.-
100000 members because the War
Council believes that the Red Cross
and Christmas spring from the Same
spirit AT the present time the Red
Cross has 100000 members. "On this,
our first Christmas in tho war. we
want the Red Cross symbol TO add not
a spirit OF detection. but the thought
OF serious purpose and sacrifice which,
through accomplishment. it repre-
sents." the council has declared.
Campaign Director II. G. Boykin has
mapped out elaborate plans for an
rolling every one in Richmond not
already member Of the Red Cross
Church congregations will have tho
Reds Cross message brought to their
attention to-day. and beginning to-
morrow speakers will appear daily +,
theatcrs. schools and elsewhere to
make short talks on the subject. The
speakers bureau is under the direc-
tion of Morton c. Thalhirer, assisted
by Irving May.
RED CROSS PROCLAMATION
ISSUED ny MAYOR AINSLTE
Mayor Ainslie has issued the follow
ing proclamation:
ITO the People Of Richmond-Ma!e and
Female. White and Black-who Do
Not Belong to the Red Cross:
1T Is the duty of every individual
American OF whatever ese, color or
condition, to do his utmost to holp
wiz this war. Don't mistakenly thinl,
1t Is not your war. 1t is your war, and
the side OF the allies is your side.
Every principle of the government un-
der which you live. and every ideal
of your civilization must be won again
in this war to be preserved. If I'm
wrong in the case of any reader OF
central empires or Turkey. or in an
American intcrnmcnt camp. The Ar7er-
lean Red Cross is doing tho creates.
work for the relief of suffering hu-
manity ever donc by man since the
beginning of the world 1t is sup
plying nearly 1000 hospitals in France.
1t is saving the lives of thousands of
men. women and children daily 1t
is taking mutilatcd. helpless human
wrecks and making them over into
self-supportinS men. It is collecting
and preserving intact the scattered
families of the men who are standing
between you and the German artil-
ler|. High military commanders say
that the effect of all this on the morale
of tho men al the front is equal to
the presence Of another million and a
half men in the trenches. Don't YOU
want 10 De parr OF this? Don't YOU
want to help to provide comforts. and
hospitals. and medicines and doctors
and nurses for the sick, the mutila,ed.
the dying? II you were there in that
condition would you want those things
for yourself: Won't YOU be ashamed
10 have TO say when the war is over.
I didn't even join the Red Crosse You
know you will. Then don't put II Off
JON now. The cues are 81 a year, and
no more. The Red Cross should have
10000 members in Richmond Let uc
serve notice to our enemies that the
American people as a whole are in this
war. Respeclfullv
(sfgned) GEORGE AINsLIE.
Mayor"
Any one who Is puzzled over GER
tam gifts to be given Christmas can
solve the problem easily enough by
giving Red Cross memberships" said
Director Boykin. 1T is not an ex-
travagant gift. and there are hundreds
or people who will. no doubt. avail
themselves OF this opportunity to
assist in bringing TO suffering human
ity the Christmas ministry Of good will
and help"
One OF the features Of the campaign
Continued on Page Twelve.)