The Clio messenger., 1919-12-11
CHANGE TO MAKE
CHRISTMAS REAL
STARVING CHILDREN MAY BE
SAVED FROM DEATH
Will Christian America Show Real
Appreciation of Precepts of the
Divine Master?

sue cf the New York World. Its
purport will be apparent:
SIN Washington, delay in making
peace; in the shops, extravaganza
beyond measure in past time; in mill
lions of homes preparations for
Christmas festivals relieved of war
anxieties-and in the Old World
Nothing on earth, except mir
acle from Heaven" says former AM
bassador Morgenthau, "can prevent
the death by freezing and starvation
of from five to ten millions of people
in Europe and the Near East this
winter"
"Incredible contrast! Yet Mr..
Morgenthau knows. He has seen.
"'You can travel for days." he says.
'"and see no faces that are not wanly
emaciated, gaze into no eyes that are
not dull and almost expressionless
from lack of food" What holiday
sermon on generosity could plead
like those sad eyes deep set in faces
wan with privation-if the New
World but had the imagination
wherewith to see?
eve fret at tiny grievances.
Broadway's lights may be for time
dimmed. Coal is made scarce, not
by grim, unarguing fate, but by a
strike. Living costs are high, part
ly because of personal pampering.
But because we have within our
sight no millions facing death in the
next three months, from cold and
hunger, we forget.
"'The greatest problem facing the
American people," as Mr.. Morgen-
thau says, lis this: Are we going to
stand aside while Europe founders in
agony into dissolution Shall our
homes ape the heartlessness of our
halls of debate while our brothers in
the cradle of civilization die by mil
lions in the worst winter ever en-
dured by human kind on earth?
1t is perhaps impossible for the
editor of this paper to say anything
that will add to the effectiveness of
this pathetic, this sacred appeal.
But somehow, our heart yearns to be
of service in this matter. Especi-
ally when we think of our own small
BOYS and the dozens of other bright
and lovable boys and girls of this
community, and reflect that five
millions Just like them are slowly
starving to death but two or three
weeks journey from Michigan; when
we shrink from the icy blasts of win
ter and know that these little ones
must endure them without clothing
to cover their emaciated bodies and
without warm fires and shelter.
Sometimes, oftimes indeed, we find
ourselves questioning if these things
can be true? If the great world has
lost its soul and is drifting back to
barbarity and the heartlessness of the
wolf pack? But no, these things
cannot be true, as thousands of beau
tiful institutions of philanthropy and
culture, throughout our land, attest.
And on the anniversary Of Him who
said "inasmuch as We have done it un-
to one of the least of these, my breth-
rem, We have done it unto me-" we
are not going to let these, His child
rem, starve and freeze for the want
of that which we can give as matter
Of little wholesome self denial.
The editor of this paper admits, with
sincere regret, that he can make no
claim of theoretical Christianity and
that he practices far too little of
the essentials Of Christianity, but
when he read the editorial published
above, read it to the mother and boys,
all engaged in preparations for a
joyous Christmas, here in this land
so favored of Gods bounty, it did
not take the party long to join in a
ten dollar contribution for the starv-
ing children of Armenia. By the
way, these children are scions Of
about the oldest Christian stock
upon this earth; offshoots of people
who have maintained their Christian
faith in spite of centuries Of cruelties
at the hands Of the unspeakable
Turk. It was the privilege of the
editor to solicit the first aid that was
sent from this community to the
starving, heroic people of Belgium.
The response to our appeal at that
time was magnificent Now, we are
asking your aid again in cause that
| ia positivelv sacred. Will you help?