Evening star., 1939-10-02
Volunteer Workers
Intensity Efforts in
Red Cross Drive
Enrolment Heavier
But So Is Quote,
Leaders Point Out.

With public interest stimulated
by Red Cross Sunday radio and
pulpit appeals for mobilization of
forces of mercy at home to Offset
mobilization of armies for blood
shed abroad, the Districts 1899 Roll
Call entered its fourth day today
with volunteer workers intensifying
their efforts to enroll 125,000 men,
bers by October 10.
Leaders pointed out that while the
5000 enrollments in the first three
days represented an increase Of 284
over the same period last year, this
years quota is $4,000 more than the
1888 quota.
Services Transferred.
Scheduled outdoor services at the
Water Gate yesterday afternoon
were transferred because Of rain
to Station WMAL and shortened
into a half hours broadcast.
Speaking first in the joint cere-
mony Of Catholic, Jewish and Pro-
testant faiths. the Very Rev. Msgr.
Lawrence j. Shehan Of st. Patrick's
Roman Catholic Church declared
that If American is to remain an
island of sanity In a world maddened
by war she must continue to be an
island Of mercy.
THE Red Cross Roll Call" he said,
"offers to all Of us an opportunity
to bear witness to our concern for
the needs of our fellowmen to fulfill
in part at least our obligations to
the hidden sufferers, to those who
but for this organization would be
cut of completely from the hand of
human mercy. There are few who
cannot afford the modest sum re-
quired for membership. There IS
none who can afford to neglect this
opportunity to minister to the great
misery that afnicts the world"
The Rev. Edward H. Pruden, pas
tor of the First Baptist Church,
asserted that support of the Red
Cross is not only matter of hav-
ing q part in a tremendously hu-
name undertaking, but 1t is equally
q matter Of helping to keep alive
our faith in humanity itself. .
Were it not for organizations like
the Red Cross one might be in
cnned to grow cynical among the
many establishments Of our pres
ent world"
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld Of
Washington Hebrew Congrega-
ton termed 1t "a profound coinci-
dence that in this very week when
we celebrate the 150th anniversary
of the presentation to the American
people of the Bill of Rights of the
American Constitution that we
should meet in the Nations Capital
to enroll the American people be-
hind the banner of the Red Cross :"
Across the SEAS" he continued,
"the sacred covenants to preserve
the sanctity of nations and the peace
of men, women and children are
being torn to shreds, as they mobi-
lize for bloodshed; but in this great
and good land we revere the un-
alienable rights of even the humblest,
and behind the sacred covenant Of
the Red Cross we mobilize for heal
ing"
Curley Message Read.
From pulpits throughout the city
clergymen pleaded for support Of
the Red Cross and at all Catholic
masses message was read from
Archbishop Michael j. Curley.
Songs by three choirs, totaling $50
voices, were interspersed with the
speaking program on the Red Cross
broadcast, the singers being from
the Church of Jesus Christ of Lat
ter-day Saints, the Washington
Missionary College A Capella Choir
and the First Congregational
Church. Edna c. Wheelright was
soloist and Marjorie Brett and Will
liam Croft sang a duet.
In q special program at Gallau-
det College Mrs. Helen Moody, lip
reading authority, talked" to
undergraduates about Red Cross
activity.