The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1917-06-21
THE RED CROSS


By official proclamation of President
Wilson, this is Red Cross Week
and is to be devoted to raising funds
for Red Cross work on the different
battle fronts.
This is Americas first call for a
monetary war-gift, for which no mon.
etary return may be, or will be ex-
pected and the the only recompense
the donors may even hope to receive
is the Divine promise: Whose giveth
to the poor lendeth to the Lord" which
is fairly good security for sure re-
turns.
The Liberty Loan bonds were a fl
nancial investment. Every bond
bought is worth more today, in dollars
and cents, than it was the day it was
purchased. Buying these bonds was
a money making transaction instead
of sacriicial gift.
Now America is appealed to for a
gift, not gift to America, but a gift
to the world of suffering.
In cosmopolitan nation like that
of the United States, COMPOSED of
every nation, kindred and tongue, it is
natural and inevitable that great di-
vergence of opinion exists. There are
those, honest, earnest men and women,
who are opposed to war; who honestly
believe that there can be no provoca-
ton great enough to justify war and
bloodshed.
There are those who believe that
this war is unjustifiable, entered into
for profit, promulgated for mercenary
motives and founded in unrighteous-
ness.
There are still others, happily but
few, who by reason of consanguinity
ties, previous national affiliation, or
general all-round cussedness, secrete-
ly hope that the United States will be
overthrown and it's enemies triumph,
but there are none so debased that
they do not feel sympathy for the suf-
fering that follows in wars red train.
There may be reasons, real or inn
aginary, why men should not enlist to
defend their country's honor, and their
country's flag.
There may be reasons, real or i'm
aginary, why men should not supply
funds to carry on active war opera
tons, but there is no reason, except
total depravity, why men should no.
aid in alleviating the suffering caus-
ed by war.
The Red Cross is not a national O,
even an international but a worlda-
tional organization.
It recognizes no flag, or rather it
recognizes every flag; it makes no dis
tinctions in uniforms. like the Cross
on Calvary, it stands for the world
It represents the Christ side Of the
war and the only claim it acknowledge
es is the claim of suffering.
Canada, sour Lady of the Shows,
has contributed sum equal to $3.50
for each man, woman and child re-
siding in the Maple Leaf dominion.
France, bled white of men and mon
ey, puts up over $1,000 for each per-
son residing within the boundaries II
the French republic.
Imperial Germany, battling the
world, has poured her wealth into the
treasury Of this glorious organization
Every nation engaged in the wa,
has responded nobly to the call of the
Red Cross and now the great, rich
prosperous United States is appealed
to swell humsnity's fund, and shall the
call fall on deaf ears, or will the Deo.
pie give as "the Lord has prosperee
them?"
The people Of Sank Centre have
snever yet failed respond to the call o.
duty. Their ears have ever been oper
to the cry of the suffering. Open
handed giving to the needy has evel
been characteristic of them, even il
the pioneer days when they had bu
little to give and they will not fai
now.
For the first time in fifty years O.
publication the Herald makes an earn
est and direct appeal to the citizen
CT Sank Centre and the surrocrdin,
country to com across. Remembe
that you are giving to relieve suffer
ing in all armies and on all battl
fronts of all peoples, and most earn
'estly the Herald appeals to you Z
give, and give till it hurts, in thi
great cause of world-humanitarism.
It is not a human but divine in
vestment and the retunrns will be ia
richer than any earthly investment
for He who spake as never man spak
has said:
"In asmuch as We did it to the leas
Of these my brethren, you did it unit
me-"