Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1917-08-08

WIN , AiotOly Nhcu liiG ~ lLp"ChcI4C
imagination should be cultivated and
exercised as never before. Through
out the world men, women, and chill
dren are suffering pain and want on
scale and with degree of intensi-
ty never before paral,eled in the his
tory of this planet. In fact, it may be
said, almost without exageration,
that the very future Of humanity il
Europe depends very largely upon
how effectively the sympathetic ina
gination of the American people is
exercised in their behalf. Unless we
can imagine the needs of the waring
nations as our needs, AID their suf-
ferings as our sufferings the help we
will extend through relief societies
and the Red Cross will be pitifully in
commensurate with the necessities of
the situation.
There are those perhaps, who feel
that they have no son or brother in
oOl NANO anu III ludI ICooo~l al uOI
in the Red Cross. Yet every man who
is called is son. 1t matters little
whose son he is. That he is the son
of some weeping mother is enough,
even though he is not your son or
mine. The fact that he gives his life
for his country, sanctifies him and
makes him our common soldier. We
owe him common duty just as we
owe our lives, our fortunes and our
sacred honor to all the soldiers of the
Republic.
The Red Cross asks every man, wo-
man and child in America to cult
vate the sympathetic imaginati
and then, to give in both money and
effort, to the relief, first of our own
boys in the camps at home and the
trenches abroad, and then to the suf-
ferers of all the beligerent nations.
The Red Cross stands for human
lily. 1t eXemplifies the generous spir-
lit of Christ, who ministered unto the
men in need. 1t may be likened to,
and is Christianity itself. 1t is demo-
cratic in spirit. 1t knows no class nor
creed, but is for one and all, men or
women, alike, great or small 1t is
an institution of the people, by the
people, and for the people.
1t stands for neutrality. 1t shows
no favor to friend or foe. 1t is a
friend even to an enemy even if he
is in need. 1t towers above hate,
above the spirit of prejudice, above
wars unhappy condition, and feels
and does as the natural man, prompt
ed by the best there is in soul and
conscience. The Red Cross is the
worlds great peace factor. 1t knows
wars desolation and suffering, and in
its high motives to remove this great
obstacle from the path of suffering
humanity, the spirit of the Red
Cross will some day overwhelm the
world and lift the people to plane
where war can be no more.
The Red Cross today is the most
popular movement in America. 1t is
being taken up everywhere. 1t is ami
mated by the spirit of patriotism and
duty to our country and it's soldiers.
Our own state, as might be expected
| is in the lead-stands first in the
number Of chapters organized. May
1st, we had twenty-five chapters; now
we have one hundred and sixty. We
have here in this county our OWL
chapter with a membership of ap
proximately $500.
1t is a movement that appeals t.
all of us. 1t isn't something that il
just for day, or for some time or an
other somewhere, that we will never
know or see. 1t is for all of us. Tht
Red Cross is yours or mine. 1t may
save your soldier and bring him back
1t may some day pitch its tent!
among us to help our own people fol
we never know before a calamity il
at our very doors.
All! blessed is the function Of the
Red Cross, and even though it will
grow and expand it will never, nc
never, be too great for its task. Next
in loyalty to our own countrys, also
should come loyalty to the Red Cross
It speaks of a sacrifice, heroism and
devotion just as does Old Glory.
Its membership is open to all. Any
one that desires, may become mem
Der of the Red Cross. 1t is simply q
voluntary organization, and your be
coming a member is absolutely free
will matter, imposing no obligations
upon you, whatsoever. The Red Cross
asks nothing from you that you art
not willing to give. You give ant
do as much as you choose, or as little
as you choose, no more. After vol
become a member, you are as free a.
before, but, bear in mind that it il
our united support, our free will Ell
forts, our good will contributions tina
o;yas n life strength and pOWer-i