Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1920-05-19
LUTHERAN WORLD SERVICE CAMPAIGN

Tie constituency of the National Lutheran
Council is engaged in campaign for $780,
900 for relief work among the Lutherans of the
war swept sections of Europe. There are So
o00. 900 Lutherans in the dozen countries that
come into consideration. S300,000 10 20 help
the Foreign Missions Of the central Europe
when their work Is near standstill and their
evidence is endangered. The story of the de-
vastation wrought BY the war has been told as
well as II can be by the press and eye witnesses
are telling il daily from platform and pulpit
IL Is a sober story of sadness and sorrow that
challenges every one who loves humanity and
Christ. II is FIRST question of bringing ply
steal relief and then a question of helping out
of spiritual crisis. The old things in Europe
have. erumbled, They stand now at the fork
Of the road. IL the opportunity IL not nog
grasped there will be lost great advantage
to the Kingdom Of God. The church must now
intellectually exert itself.
A statement by Dr. G. II. Rygh who returned
from Europe shortly before the beginning of
the campaign, is very significant and read as
follows: while II is true that there com
munities in the war-rAvaged lands of Europe
which are being reconstructed by the unaided
efforts Of the people themselves, il nevertheless
remains a fact that there are millions whs are
under-nourished md in varying stages of star
walton. The British commission 20 investigate
food conditions in the central countries Of
Europe report that the people subsist one
third Of normal food requirements. Multitudes
are living and still suhsist on black bread, tea.
turnips, and ruiabagas. and this food in very
limited quantities. aside from the hundreds
OF thousands VINO nave actually died OF starN-
alton. the LIBERALIZATION of millions Of children
snd hungry people who still survive, will pro-
duee disastrous results for decades 20 come.
To Christians, there can be no question as 10
duty in the presence of such universal misery.
The story of the good Samaritan illustrates
conclusivey that duty and that service. Far
and beyond international boundaries and sym
pathes, the cry OF the hungry children for
bread Is which perees every obstruction,
artificial and otherwise, and demands response
in speedy and generous relief Of distress. The
endeavor Of the church bodies represented by
The National Lutheran Council Co raise a fund
Of 81 $4,000 for the relief of European dis
tress and the saving Of missions In heather
countries which no longer can be supported by
their European home churches, will no doubt
not only succeed but result in even q larger
amount. The national Lutheran council oper-
| ates through the regular channels of the church
that Is, through the deaconess homes and hos
pitfalls. the Orphanagea andsSimiiar institutions.
This fact Is guarantee Of the security, econ
omy, and expediteness OF the application Of the
fund to the purposes for which IL is being do
| mated. &C. r. Rygh.
! This work of mercy has already been finished
| in several states. In our own state the out
look is good. Vernon county IL active. Some
congregations are already over. All the rest
are willing and many Of them have all but
| raised their quota. There can be turning
back now until the work Is finished. II takes
time and energy. Every loving act costs.
whether il is God man that extends the
helping hand" J. o. HOLlJM,