The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1917-07-06

Origin Of Bed Cross


Swiss philanthropist who started the
Red Cross societies. about forty years
ago. invented the embelm by simply
posing the Swiss fag-thereby
producing a white ground with a red
cross. but Mrs Bellamy Storer de
clares that the red cross, as q badge
OF service for suffering humanity,
dates back more than 800 years. and
its origin must be of interest at this
time when it has expanded as a soci-
ETY. into a multitude that ministers to
the physical needs OF our army and
navy here and abroad
Camillus de Lilli~ was born in the
kingdom of Naples in 1850 After serv-
ing in the Venetian army he was bad
ly wounded in the leg and sent to
the hospital of San Giacomo in Rome,
where he was so impressed by the
horrors and ilth Of what was really
a pesthouse that he resolved to de-
vote his life to suffering humanity;
TO care for the plague-stricken and
to nurse the sick in their own homes
AT thirty-two he was ordained
priest and set about founding a re-
ligious order TO serve the sick
They shall wear a red cross upon
their breasts" said Camillus, TO re
mind them of the suffering of our
Lord Christ. This will give them
strength and encouragement" Sixtus
T. confirmed the congregation in 1885.
granting them a special permission TO
wear the Red Cross" This same red
cross is the badge of service today.
worn by every religious order which
takes care OF the sick in every part
of the world.
This red cross has been blessed in
the leper settlements of Molokai and
Madagascar; in the cholera hospitals
of India, and the pestilence-stricken
lands Of the Far East, as we'll as on
the battlehelds of France. In the cal
endar St Camillus day falls upon
Juy IS. and az this special mass these
words are chanted Greater love
hath nc nan than this. that he lay
.own his if for his friends Tam
IA Tribv-r.
\ Pretty Star Comes F7o~7 Atlanta
Here is a story, a true story. about
an old woman's contribution to the
American Red Cross that should be
used in every city and town where
the fund is now being raised for while
it developed in Atlanta it's just as
good in any other place, for its heart
appeal is universal.
At the first meeting OF Atlanta cam.
paign workers to launch the drive for
$25o,000 which Atlanta has been ask
ed to raise. a subscription OF $1,000
was announced from the widow of
a Confederate veteran who recently
died. The facts in her case were
these:
Her husband was wounded in the
battle Of Charlottesville and lay on
the field ~ hours He was finally
picked up and taken to a hospital and
recovered. but he suffered all his life
as the result of the long bitter agony
Of waiting. Recently he died and left
TO his wife an estate worth probably
$4,000, at a liberal estimate. together
with life insurance policy for 81 ,000
which he had raked and scraped to
keep up until his death
This $1,000 check from the insur-
ance company was Endorsed by his
widow to the American Red Cross.
and was sent by her to the Atlanta
committee, with a little note in which
she asked that the money be used as
memorial 20 her husband.
IF there had been a well organized
Cross in the Civil War, probably nv
husband wouldn't have suffered on
the battlefield for "a hours before
they found him" said the sweet old
lady in her note. And therefore I
send this check in the hone and
prayer that it may be the means Of
saving the sons of more than one
mother from the same kind Of suffer
ing he endured"
The Atlanta committee declined 10
accept her gift. They took $50 and
turned back $3.50, with a rising vote
'of thanks and praise for her magnif.
icent generosity.
Besides those knitting for the com.
fort sets for the batleship Florida"
among the cash contributions for the
purchase of wool for the sets besides
the Ocala Chapter Red Cross are Mrs
E. OF. Howard Mrs. o. T. Green. Mrs.
W. S. Bullock and Miss Butt.