Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1917-12-14
Red Cross Notes.

1t is certain that the great body of the
American people have hardly begun to
realize the gravity Of our connection with
the great world war. Up to this time we
have been so far from the scene of death
and desolation that it has all seemed as
unreal and fleeting as our dreams. 1t is
equally certain that great and dreadful
awakening is coming. Already to some
mothers has come the end of things in the
death or serious wounding of their sons.
Some of "our boys" have died in the
trenches in France, some of them have
died in the hospital service abroad. Some
of them have gone through the icy waters of
the ocean depths into the eternal beyond.
Many more Of them will be wounded, sick
and distressed and many more will lay
down their lives on the affairs of liberty.
All over Europe there has been and is
now the hideous cry Of poverty, cold. hun
ger and untold misery rising to Heaven
from old men and little children whose
houses have been destroyed, their lands
desolated and their loved ones massacred.
There would be a picture of such utter
wretchedness that the heart could not
bear it were it not for the silver lining of
thecloud created by the love, the sympa-
thy and the devotion of those untouched
as yet by these skeleton fingers Of despair.
The pages of the current history of the
times are full of these examples of self
sacrifice and noble unselfshness. Except.
however, for the American Red Cross much
of the longing for service and of earnest
desire to bring comfort to the wounded and
despairing would be unable to materialize
into aid and usefulness to those in need.
Here is the only agency through which the
heart Of humanity can express itself in
terms of service. BY its aid we can be
sure thst the money we give, the work we
furnish will find its way to those for whom
it was intended and our ministry of love
will not be lost. Can we be assured that
this is true 1t has been said that much
of the money is wasted in multiplication
of Offices and in enormous salaries. If
this is true, 1t should be corrected. 1t is
probable that there has been some unnec-
cessary expenditure. The expansion in
members from 100000 to over 100000.
the tremendous increase in the fields Of
activity. all within few months. make it
almost inevitable that there should have
been some useless expenditure of money
and activity. This formative period is.
however, over. The organization has been
completed under the direction OF some of
the most experienced and skillful business
men in the United States. who are devot-
ing their time. without money considera-
ton, to Its direction. The President Of the
United States is its president. Every dol
lar 1t receives and expends is audited by
the United States War Department. Cor
ruption in its management is almost i'm
possible. That it Is doing most mag
nificent work General Pershing testifies.
the newspapers record. and the heartfelt
appreciation Of the worlds sufferers attests.
1t is an honor to belong to such an organiza-
ton. 1t knows no friends and has no foes.
Where there is suffering, there is its mis-
sion. We should be proud and glad to
know that we are members Of one of the
few bodies which has no selfish ends. Let
us, therefore, each and every one, give
our names quickly and cheerfully to swell
the number of those who help on this noble
work. Every man, woman and child in
Montgomery county a member of the Red
Cross before Christmas. is the slogan. Let
us all join and help to bring about this
desired result.