Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-11-30
IS. YOUR NAME WRITTEN
THERE
BY JOHN Il. BOIFEUILLET

appeal.
Doubtless, you remember Kfpling's sweet
and aspiring sentiment:
Teach me to need no help from men,
That 1 may help such men as need"
Henri Dunant, a young Swiss tourist, be-
came one of the great humanitarians of the
world The Red Cross society really owes
it's origin to him. His beneficent work will
live on and on, age after age, to console,
comfort and bless humanity. His name will
be forever embalmed in the affections,
praise and gratitude of the human race.
By chance, one day, Ounant, while tour
ing, came upon the awful scene of one of the
greatest and bloodiest battles of the nine
teenth cntury. which was fought on June "a,
1859, at Colferino, Italy The conflict is
known as "The Battle Of the Three Emper-
ors" On one side were 10000 Austrians,
commanded by Emperor Francis Joseph, and
on the other side were 1873, 900 French and
Italians, under the supreme command of
Napoleon the Third and Victor Emanuel The
gigantic struggle ragged all day under the
terrific, suffocating heat Of the June sun.
The combat was finally won by the superb
valor of the French. The Austrans lost
% 900 men, killed, wounded or missing, and
1900 of the French and Italians paid the
dreadful, toll of battle.
He Was Horror Stricken
According to historical accounts, Dunant
was horror-stricken at the awful havoc
wrought upon one of the fairest regions of
Italy.
The regular army service of doctors, nurses
and ambulances totally inadequate to
render relief to the horrible agOnies, the ap-
pallng, excruciating suffering on that ghast-
ly battlefield Dunant spent 10 days amid
the carnage Of blood and slaughter in his eff
forts to alleviate the misery of the torn and
manged. The sight of the dead, and the
terrible shrieks and groans of the wounded
and dying who were lying by the thousands
unattended, uncared for, under the broiling
sun, affected him SO profoundly that three
years later he published the record Of these
painful impressions in a little volume en-
titled GA Souvenir of Solferino," in which
he advocated the formation of relief soci-
cites for the victims of war.
France Signed First
The outcome of this Good Samaritan's
message to the world was a meeting in Gen
eva, Switzerland, Oh February 8, 1868, along
the line of his suggestions, followed by other
meetings on the same subject. Finally, the
famous Convention of Geneva" was held
in August, 1864, at which 16 European gov
ernments were represented and as a result
the International Red Cross Society was or
ganized with headquarters at Geneva with
branches in all countries that adopted the
articles of the convention. Glorious, inspir
ing magnificent France was the first gov
eminent in the world to sign "The First In
ternational Treaty of Mercy as the Geneva
convention has been called. She signed it
on September %, 1864 Since then 81 gov
ernments have adopted the articles of the
convention, the United States being the thir-
tysecOnd nation to do so, her adoption Oc-
curing in March, 1882.
t. first test of the Red Cross was made
in the German-Austrian war of 1856. The
immense service and benefcent results were
first shown in the Franco-Prussian war in
1S70-71.
SwitzerIand's Flag Honored
The flag of Switzerland is a white cross
on red ground and in compliment to the
Swiss Republic the Geneva convention adopt
ed these colors reversed as the international
banner of the Red Cross.
DR.. Henry Noble McCraken has beauti-
fully said that "the red in the cross stands
for sacrifice, for giving life, as the warm
crimson blood gives life to the body. The
cross has the same length all four sides
of its arms, to signify that it gives life
equally to ALL high or low rich or poor. 1t
stands alone always, no words or markings
on it, to show that the Red Cross workers
have only one thought-to serve. The Red
Gross stands on a white ground, because real
sacrifice can come only from pure hearts
Service must come, not from hate, but from
love; from the noblest thoughts and wishes
of the heart, or it will fall
MAN is born unto trouble as the sparks
fly upward or as it has been translated
"as the vulture's chickens soar alOft.'' In
fancy has its pains and screams-youth has
it's groans and tears-manhood has its cares
and responsibilities-and age has its woes
and weaknesses. But the Red Cross is a
panacea for adversely, solace for grief. 1t
teaches by it's blessed work that for every
sorrow in life there is an equal number Of
joys for every night Of pain, day Of
pleasure; for every moment of grief, happy
hour; for every moan Of anguish, burst Of
laughter.
The Red Cross is the gentle breeze which
God has sent to cheer and revivify suffering
humanity. Millions are chanting the glories
and blessings of it's mission and labors.
Millions Are Members
The consciousness that you have mar
shaded under the noble banner that waves
wherever there are suffering and distress to
be relieved must be very gratifying to your
heart But if you are not a member, then
enter your name on the roll-cali for promot-
ing child welfare, public health and the
great work Of healing.
The membership Of the American Red
Cross at the end of the fiscal year was
5SO4,S50, of whom 327S7 were life and
patron members and the remainder enrolled
during the last previous roll call. Reve-
MUGS during the fiscal year ending June 80,
1921, were $14,382,353 or $10,110,3S8 less
than expenditures. During the past year the
Red Cross administered relief and assisted
in the rehabilitation Of victims in 43 dsas-
ters. 1t also carried on famine relief opera
tions in China and relief activities in IA
European countries.
The war department audits all accounts of
| the Red Cross through which also there is