Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1918-05-21
EXPLAINS RED
IN RED CROSS
pAsToR OF FIRST LUTHERAN
CHURCH breaches ON AIMS
AND WORK or SOCIETY.

~ Rev P. o. Bersell, pastor OF the
First Lutheran church. has adopted
I the plan of giving FIVE minute war
talk sundays before the evening SER
& mon. Last night the Red Cross was
the subject and the pastor discussed
the reasons why the Red Cross Is req,
IN thezfcliowing: =.
"There stood cross on Calvary. II
was ugly and cruel, Sustained aao &C
cursed but the Savior Of the race did
NOT hold back. Upon that cross he
died. He stained 1t with the crimson
. flow Of his life blood. And the cross.
which was the symbol Of cruelty ana
death. ID become the emblem OF love
4 and life. -.
"The Red Cross Is red because its
very principle is love. It is the love
that pities and has, compassion. 1t IS
: the love that has room In the heart TOT
friend and foe alike. 1t Ia the love
that suffers. that labors through the
long watches or the darkest night
without complaint. 1t is the love thai;
clothes the nakedness, stills the hum
xer. lifts the burdens and binds the
wounds. It is the love that refreshes
the thirsty; warns the cold, rejoices
the sad and cheers the faint. It coos
i the feyered brow and brings benedic'
i ton anon the dying soul. 1t follows IN
the wake OF famine and cal1Daity.
STERN and pestilence, fire and sword,
% q beacon light of ministering love,
telling the children, Of men that love
IA stronger than death. God pc
thanked for this beautiful color OF red
n this-dark world today!
i, "The Red Cross is red for 1t knows
khe mystery of sacrifice. It spares not
litaelf. TT finds it's motive In the atom.
4 ing sacrifice of the CHRIST. It is the
sacrifice OF blood, il need be. It's
workers will endure terrible ordeals
and expose themselves to death hun
dred times to reach the side OF him
who suffers. The world viii never
{ know the full story OF that sacrifice.
Many OF these heroes and heroines
will be unsung. Hut they are c0utent
to Il. so. Even that i1ssacrifice. And
the Red Cross funds IRE the! sum to-
tai or many lesser sacrifices. 70 pay
the costof the war we are taxed or we
are called upon to loan to the govern
ment. with profit. But not SO with the
/ service OF the Red Cross. 1t is made
possible only by the loving and glad
sacrifices OF hearts that have been
4 touched with the INFINITE pity. Great
er love hath no man than this. that a
man layeth down his life for his
1 friends
"The Red Cross is red, for 1t throbs
with.sle blood OF life. 1t comes not
TO destroy, but to save life. It tries
tokstay tie flow of a-world that IS
lkding to death. 1t would build up
the red scorpuscles in the veins OF hui
mainly and save 1t from an anaemic
death. For It is itself strong With the
yirile blood OF power. 1t reaches
everywhere. It is the universal angel
81 mercy. Wherever there is need
there you will find the Red Cross. It
Is the embodiment Of the unselftsh
spirit Of service. It has attained o
recognized place Id the program OF
human activities. 1t is supported and
viii be supported by all of Gods
noble men and noble women on earth.
And thus 1t shall ever be strong and
bulsate with life power.
.The Red Cross is red. Are you also
red blooded? Are you willing to sacri.
nee, to brighten the world with love,
10 save life? What is your answer to
the appeal of the Red Crosse"