The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1917-05-12
The AMERICAN RED CROSS,
Objects and Purposes of Noble Society Clearly Explained
Only Volunteer Relief Organization Sanctioned by
Federal Government--Method of Procedure i'm Com
nection with Establishment of Branches

Following is the full text of the in.
teresting address delivered by Mrs
Simon Abraham, of New Orleans, or
the occasion of the meeting held in
the high school auditorium Monday
afternoon to organize a local branch
of the Red Cross:
II have been invited to come to
Donaldsonville and tell you all about
the Red Cross organization. I wish
to thank you very kindly for this in.
vitation. | could speak volumes on
the subject of the Red Cross, but as
time is short, ! will try to be as
concise as possible.
"The American Red Cross was
founded by Miss Clara Barton, an
American woman, to aid in the pre-.
vention and alleyiation of human suf-
fering in time of war and in time
of peace. 1t is an organization OF
the people by the people-a part of
your life as an American and your in
heritance as an American. 1t is the
only volunteer relief society author
lied by the government, The presi-
dent Of the United States is the pres
ident of the Red Cross Society. The
national headquarters are in Wash
ington, d. c., in beautiful white
marble building dedicated to the
memory Of the heroic women of the
civil war.
1.-The American Red Cross does not
| bind you to any financial obligation,
| nor any service obligation, save pay
ment of dues. All citizens of the
| United States-merl, women and chill
dren-are asked for their co-opera-
ton. Japan. with population of
| forty million people, has one million
eight hundred thousand Red Cross
members; Germany, with a popula-
tion of sixty-seven million people, has
one million Red Cross members; the
United States, with a population of
one hundred million people, has only
two hundred thousand Red Cross
| members. Can you afford to let your
Red Cross lag so far behind?
I'm time of war, the Red Cross is
at the front. The moment soldier
| is wounded, he is placed on stretch
er and given first aid by military au-
| thorities; he is then taken to the
nearest field station and from there
to the evacuation hospital, where the
male personnel of the Red Cross
takes charge of i'm until he is IN
condition to be removed then he il
sent to the base hospatal, where the
he is discharged. However, you must
not think the Red Cross limits it's eff
forts solely to the care of wounded
soldiers. It is organized to carry on
a system of national and internation-
al relief in time of peace and to
mitigate the suferings caused By
| pestilence, famine, fire, floods, etc.
| "To illustrate and bring close to
| you the work of the Red Cross, | will
mention that some few years ago,
when the parish Of Terrebonne was
visited by a disastrous storm and
flood, the Red Cross Immediately
came to the rescue of the stricken
people with food, clothing and money.
III consequence, today the people Of
! Terrebonne have contributed liberal
| ly to the fund; they are organized as
branch of the New Orleans chapter,
doing sewing and making garments.
"The Red Cross offers field for
noble service by women in time OF
peace. One opportunity not to be
sighted is the chance Of organization
work, starting new chapters and
branches where none exist today, thus
spreading influence for the good OF
the only philanthropic institution
which has the official recognition of
the government.
f.Three months ago rendered my
services to the Red Cross Society OF
| New Orleans to canvass the parishes
of Lafourche and Assumption.
have been actively engaged in this
noble work ever since, and am proud
to say that / have met with success
wherever I have gone. have es-
tablished branch in the parish OF
| Lafourche with two headquarters, one
| in Thibodaux and one in Lockport
and I venture to say we have already
collected over $1,000, the police jury
of the parish giving 500 and the
| banks S25 each. In Assumption par
| ish / have one branch established
with headquarters in Napoleonville
Although lately organized, it has al
ready done splendid work. Last week
was invited to organize the parish
of Tangipahoa. answered the call
| by going to Hammond and Amite
City. The parish is now organized
as Tangipahoa BranchC Chapter of New
Orleans, and now | come prepared to
assist you in organizing branch in
your parish, and will answer any
questions you may ask, if am able,
regarding Red Cross work.
ssThe membership dues are varied.
Annual membership, 81, Of which
| SO cents goes to the national head
quarters in Washington, and the other
SO cents to the chapter in New Or
leans. Sustaining membership, SIC
year; life membership, s25; patron
membership, S1O0. a 81 membership
lentitles YOU to a Red Cross monthly
magazine.
s'In order to become branch, you
will have to make application for .
permit, addressed to the secretary Of
| the New Orleans chapter, 317 Caron
delet street Elect your chairman
vice chairman, secretary, treasurer
executive committee, or board d
directors. The latter should be Sc
1ected from among the prominen
men of your parish, who will assis
you with their advice and funds, j
necessary. It will be well to appoin
a committee on supplies, one on mem
bership, and press agent. Funds I