The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-06-16
THE RED CROSS AND SUMTER.

4 thougnt or the people Oh ouHileI Couh'
ty upon the nationwide campaign
that will be carried on next week by
the National Red Cross Association
for the purpose of enrolling amons
its members all the men and women
of the United States, and at the same
time raise a fund of One Hundred
Million Dollars to carry on relief
work for the American soldiers and
sailors on the battle front, in the hos
pitfalls and in the camps.
In every community throughout this
broad land the forward-looking men
and women. who love their fellow
men and seek to serve by alleviating
suffering and succoring those in dis
tress, are joining hands to further
the great work that the Red Cross
has been commissioned to do by our
government. President Wilson. by
proclamation, has set apart next week
as Red Cross Week. and In every
State the governors have endorsed thc
movement and are doing their ut
most officially and personally. to
make it the most successful effort
ever conceived to unite all American;
in one great brotherhood for the SER
nice OF mankind. In this great work
fsyery person has a place, duty 20
perfcrm and a contribution to make.
The place may be that of a physician
on the battlefield, or in a base hos
pital, or an ambulance bearer,
or a nurse, or a maker of hospital
supplies or a contributor of money for
the support Of the active workers
who have given their lives, This is
the thought that each one should take
to himself-there Is service for all
and a duty for each one that cannot
be shirked or shifted to the shoulder
of another. The appeal is universal
but the responsibility is individual and
personal
The Red Cross movement is Nation
al in scope and worldwide in It's
field of benefitcent service, but each
State, city. town and hamlet must
bear it's share of the national respon-
sibility. Sumter county has its
responsibility for this work and its
duty to discharge in the fullest meas
ure possible to the limit of its ability
and opportunity.
In response to the proclamation Of
President Wilson, Sumter Chapter Of
the Red Cross, OF which Mr. Neill
O'Donnell is president, has undertak-
en- to lay before the people of Sumter
county the facts relative to the Rel
Cross movement to increase the
membership and to raise the great
fund needed to care for our soldiers
and sailors. At the request Of MI
O'Donnell this special, devoted to Red
Cross Week In Sumter county. Is
printed to carry the message to all
sections of the county as quickly as
possible. 1t would have been an i'm
possibility to call on each person or
to send a personal letter to all whom
this paper will reach, but 1t Is. nev-
ertheless personal message to each
and every reader. 1t is an invitation
to each one to attend the great mass
meeting in Trinity Methodist Church
Monday night, June 18th. with which
Red Cross Week in Sumter county IS
to be inaugurated. The principal ad-
dress of the evening will be delivered
by Rev. William Way of Charleston
who is giving his service to the cause
and Is going wherever he is called t.
explain the great work of the Red
Cross Association. and by so doing T.
arouse tic ptOpIC VI pO0'' O''~
to a sense of their responsibility.
The mass meeting Monday night
will be followed up by an active and
spirited canvass of the town and coun-
ty throughout the week to increas
the membership Of the Chapter
Those who approve Of the wor
the Red Cross Is doing and plans u
do and wish to help it along VII
tighten the labors Of the committee
by voluntarily enlsting. The member
shin fee is One Dollar year. bu
those who are able to give NOR
should do so for no matter how gen
erous the contribution may be
cannot be greater than the needs o
the hour, nor be the equivalent o
the sacrifice that the soldiers an
! sailors. doctors and nurses are max
ing on the altar Of patriotism tina
they NAV serve their country and al
leviate the suffering OF their feilo'
men