Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-11-01

mHIIon women are Engaged In Can
teen Work and the Production o.
Relief suppIies-vast Sums Elk
pended.
Red Cross chapters throughout the
country held their annual meetings
October %, at which the fOilowine
message from the War Council was
read:
To the Chapters Of the American Red
Cross:
The War Council sends greetings tc
the chapters of the American Red
Cross on the occasion Of their annual
meetings for 1918.
With these greetings go c%ongratuia.
lions on the great work of the chapters
turing the past year and, above all
,hings, on the wonderful spirit Of sac
rifice and patriotism which has per.
aided that work.
The strength Of the Red Cross rests
upon It's chapters. They are its bone
and Sinew. They supply it's funds,
hey supply its men and women, they
supply its enthusiasm. Let us, then,
review together the Red Cross story
Of the past year.
Some idea of the size to which your
Red Cross family has grown may be
gathered from the following facts:
On May l, 1917, just before the ap-
pointment Of the War Council, the
American Red Cross had 4SG, 1914 mem
bers working through 500 chapters.
On July 81, 1913, the organization
numbered 2O,648, 1903 annual members,
besides 100000 members of the
Junior Red Cross-a total enrolment
Of over One-fourth the population of
the United States.
Since the beginning Of the war you
of the chapters have co-operated with
the War Council in conducting two war
fund drives and n membership drive,
in addition to the campaign on behalf
Of the Junior Red Cross.
The total actual collections to date
from the first var fund have amounted
to more than $115,0OO,OOO. The sub
scriptions to the second war fund
amounted to upwards Of $176,00 900.
From membership dues the collec-
tons have amounted to approximately
S24,5 700.
Splendid Work Done by Women.
TO the foregoing must be added that
very large contribution Of materials
and time given by the millions of won.
en- throughout the country in surgical
dressings, in knitted articles, In hos
pital and refugee garments, in canteen
work, and the other activities the chap
tiers have been called upon to perform.
1t Is estimated that approximately
100000 women are engaged In can-
teen work and the production Of relief
supplies through the chapters.
For the period up to July /, 1918,
American Red Cross chapters, through
their workrooms, had produced:
490,12O refugee garments.
7,l23,621 hospital supplies.
1O,7S6,4S9 hospital garments.
10,134,501 knitted articles.
1922 ,1O7 surgical dressings.
A total Of 221 ,2S2 1888 articles-of an
estimated aggregate value Of at least
S44,000,0 900.
These articles were largely the
product Of women's hands, and, by the
same token, infinitely more precious
than could have been the output of
factories or machines. These articles
going to the operating room of the hos
pitfalls, to homeless or needy refugees,
and carrying comfort to our own boys
in the field, convey a message of love
from the ONE of this country entire
ly distinct from the great money value
attaching to their handiwOrk.
Money Spent In Work.
BY the terms under which the first
Red Cross war fund was raised, the
chapters were entitled to retain % per
cent Of the amount collected, In order
defray local expenses, to carry on their
home service work, to purchase ma
terials to be utilized In chapter produc-
ton and otherwise to meet the numer-
Gus calls made upon them. The chap
tiers were thus entitled to retain nearly
$~29,OO0,OO0. AS a matter Of fact, their
actual retentions amounted to only
about so, OOO,O 600.
Out Of collections from annual mem.
berships, the chapters have retained
about $11,000,0OO
From this total sum, therefore, Of $685..
100000 retained by the chapters. they
have met all the oftentimes very heavy
local demands upon them, and In add
tlon have provided for use by national
headquarters products valued, az
stated above, at upwards Of $4,000
600.
The chapters have In effect returned
to the War Council, not alone the $33.
100000 retained out Of the wal fund
membership dues but, in value OF
actual product. an additional contribu'