The Natchitoches enterprise., 1920-01-08
Tn)MiHENT MEN
IN XMAS APPEAL
FOR ARhl1EEN|AnS
Former President Taft Leads in
Eloquent Plea for Support of
Near East Relief.

t In Armenia and other western Asian
| 250O00 orphans who are homeless
there former President William How
ard Taft. Henry Morgenthau, former
ambassador to Turkey, and Alexander
! J. Hcmphill, the New York banker, as
, members Of the Executive Committee
of Near East Relief the former Amer.
I lean Committee on Armenian and
Syrian Relief, have issued q Christ
mas appeal for continued support OF
this organization and it's work.
Near East Relief is now operating
under government charter and is
practically alone In the western Asian
field, the Red Cross several months
ago having announced its withdrawal.
The Christmas letter, classic of its
/ kind. is as follows:
Dear F'riend-Another little child
has sl,rive!ed up and died.
"The mother, creeping back, gaunt
and cold, from the desert, has put
down the thin little bones with those
that strew the road and has sunk be-
side them, never to rise again.
"Only a little child and a mother
out on the bleak Armenian road! But
what is that vision lowering there and
what is that voice the cold winds bear
to the ears Of our souls-I was hungry
and ye gave me no meat; l was naked
and We clothed me not
"Today-yes, today-while we are
preparing our gifts for Christmas,
many more Of these little children
not a hundred nor thousand, but
25O,0OO Of thenl-are still wandering
uncared for and alone in that dead
land. their weaZencd skins c}inrinr in
fear to their rattling homes and they
are crying out with gasping breath, I
am hungry, I am hungry" And the
voice Of one who watches us as we
prepare gifts to celebrate his birth
day comes again to the ears of our
souls-'I am hungry! am hungry!
am hungry!!!
''Now, the children and the mothers
in Armenia are dreading the winter.
Just human remnants they are, not
protected. many OF them, from the Gle
ments by even the dignity of rags
The most favored have merely shred
del rags How. shall we sing our
Christmas songs and laugh and light
the candles and give beautiful gifts
while that pleading voice cries in the
ears of our souls, I am naked and cold
naked and cold?'
"But we can feed and clOthe these
perishing ones-some Of them-before
1t Is too late. Herbert Hoover has ca
bled from the Caucasus, 1t is impossi-
Big esa sna5 na5 Us p t2sS Enfsd-Hs6e q remain
ing 100000 can possibly be saved
They need not starve and freeze and
die II we will save them. In the name
Of him who saw the multitude 'as
sheep not having a shepherd and was
moved with compassion toward Them
who exclaimed when his disciples
would turn them away, They need not
depart, give We them to eatv open
your heart and purse and give to
these Christians whom he loves, who
are suffering for him and with whom
he is suffering. They need not die. |
Give ye them to eat
"Fifteen dollars a month will pro- !
vide food, clothes, shelter and educa- |
ton toward self support for one Or
phan child.
"Ten dollars month will provide
food, clothes and shelter for one or
phan child.
"Five dollars month will provide
food for one orphan child.
"Hc fed 5000 hungry people in the
: .sderness and sait! to II, followers,
Ir . things that do shall We do also.
md greater thinGs than these shall We
To- Today nearly 100000 destitute
Armenians-his people-need food and
.lothing.
"He took little children in his arms
md blessed them. Today will you take
me or more Of these sad, cold, hungry
title children of Armenia into your
rms and heart in his name and give
hem food and warmth and life?
"What Joyful Christmas it will be
vhen with your songs and your laugh &
er yau hear voice of wondrOus 9
weetness speaking to you, %, ye
lessed of my Father, I vas hungry =.
nd We gave me meat, was naked and
e clothed me; inasmuch as We have
one it to these, my brethren, ye have g
one it to me- i
"In his name
Faithfully yours, r
civilian Fl. TAFT. \
ALEXANDER ] HENIPHILL
"HENRY MORGENTHAU." y
or Executive Committee, Near East
Relief