Elko independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1915-current, 1918-05-20
THE BURDEN OF
THE CROSS.

Today marks the beginning OF the
second Red Cross drive for funds. Are
you already a subscriber? Then give
more. You are not?Then you should
frankly be ashamed of yourself and
get your name on the lists just as
quickly as possible. Something for
nothing? No. nothing for something
that is the principle upon which your
donation to the worlds most splendid
charity must be based.
You may take exception TO the re
mark that you should be ashamed OF
yourself IL you are not already sub
scriber. Whether you do or not don't
alter the statement in the least, 1t Is
true and you know IL. You know in
your own heart that you are slack
er and a yellowbelly il you haven't
given TO the Red Cross, even though
the sum you have failed TO give be
the smallest mite. The charity IT.
self practices its charity in all things,
and II doesn't expect you to deprive
yourself or yours of the necessaries
of life in order to give to its fund of
mercy. but IL does expect you to give
something, something out OF the sur
plus, some OF the money you spend
for the luxuries of this life. See here
Mr.. Non-Subscriber. you are a christ
ian are you not? We have seen you
in attendance at church. and we do
not impute you the hypocrisy of going
there without being a believer in its
holy precepts. Let US take ourselves
back to a scene on the Mt. of Gallilee,
a scene that has since become one of
the legends OF the church you at
tend. The sky is black with clouds,
wind
top. sending shiyers through the null
ttude gathered there. Up the long
Incline comes a man, naked in body,
his cleaning white back streaming
with the red of his holy blood brought
TO the surface by the scourge of his
murderers. He struggles under the
weight OF heavy cross, a cross con-
structed OF timbers that bend his body
with their cruel weight. Knowing
what you know now, having the know
ledge that that man is Jesus Christ,
the Saviour of the world, the holy one
who gave his blood and his life that
the Christianity of the world might be-
some Christianity, would you hest
tate to step to his side to aid him in
bearing his gruelling burden? And
II you failed to extend that aid could
you blame another Christian who SUP
piled your deficiency for later telling
you that you proved yourself a hypo-
critic and shame to mankind because
you refused to do your duty. The sit
uation Is not different today, except
that the Christ Is personifiied by a gil
gantic worlds charity. The cross is
symbolized by the chaos of bloodshed
the harvests OF killed and wounded
men now paying the price of human
liberty upon the western front. That
burden the Red Cross is bearing.
bringing back to life those who are
near deaths door. soothing the suf-
fering OF those about to step through
that doorway. The blood of the sons
or your very neighbors, the blood OF
your fellow men, is staining that
cross; the principle for which that
blood Is shed is one that reacts fol-
your individual benefit as well as the
collective good of the whole world
To ease that cross as 1t rests upon
the broad shoulders of the American
Red Cross you are asked to contribute
your mite, whether IL is a dollar OF
thousands OF them. You are not ex
pected to fail.
The time has passed for mincint
words or for using the persuasion o.
argument to make those who fail Il
see their clear duty come to the from
at home as heroically as those boys II
khaki take up their battle positions II
n strange land. You have passed thr,
the stage OF argument. Persuasion
was all well and good during the frs
drive for then the people Of this broa
land were not awake TO the exiger
cies of the occasion. Since that tim
you have had personal opportunit
for investigation. The events OF Tn
great German offensive have been an
ply sufficient TO show you the necel
sity for supporting the Red Cross
You are expected now to know wha
that support means. II you fail
this drive you will bring suspicion [
your8elf. a suspicion that must be sa
isfactorily explained before anyon
who ia really loyal to America wi
ever again believe that your heart
with your country. III you fail in thi
drive you will have belittled you
place in the heart of God. and you wi
have deserved the scorn of every ps
triotic American. You are not to
poor to give: the amount may be sma
but you must give. No one is too poo
to lend his or her mite to the motiv
power that propels the cause OF nero
and right. True, the Red Cross sui
scription differs from lending you
money to the government in that
never comes back with interest. Bu
the life of the boy who yesterday gril
ped tight his bayouet and with
brave shout upon his dear lips fe
upon the Hun only to receive the II
tai bullet that closed his hour Of sal
riflce TO humanity. never comes bac
either. And that boy having given hi
life for You, has right TO curse 20
In spirit n you fail his comrades. N
sum OF money can repay that lad VIII
left your midst only few shor
months ago and who now lies upon
Red Cross cot tossing in the deliriur