Evening star., 1941-09-22
D. {. Roll Call
Opening Starts
National Drive
Mrs. Roosevelt Tops
Red Cross List at
Ceremony Today
Pictures on Page Az

Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt was TO
be enrolled today by the District of
Columbia Chapter as the American
Red Cross first 1941 campaign men,
Der. in ceremonies launching the
initial Red Cross Roll Call drive in
the Nation.
Mrs. Roosevelt was to receive her
pin at fiag-raising exercises at noon
in front of the District Building,
where Mrs. Henry A. Wallace, wife
of the Vice President, was to be the
second enrcllee.
Lady Louise Mountbatten, wife Of
the British peer and naval officer,
was expected to deliver the keynote
speech launching the Roll Call. Dis
trict Commissioner j. Russell Young
planned to read an official Red
Cross Roll Call proclamation. Plan
ming to speak also were Edgar A.
Morris, Roll Call chairman, and
Courtland D. Ferguson of the D. C.
chapter.
With this function today and spe-
cial religious services yesterday aft
ernoon at the Water Gate, where
all faiths joined in pledging their
support to the cause, the Silver
Anniversary Roll Call of the Dis
trict chapter got under way. It
will last through October 20, with
expectation of 100000 enrollments.
Lady Mountbatten, after taking
part in the program at noon today
was scheduled to inspect work of
local Red Gross units in a special
tour later in the day. She was to
be guest of honor at a luncheon
at the District Red Cross Chapter
House, 1880 E street NV.
Service at Water Gate.
The Districts campaign was char
acterized at the Water Gate yester-
day by James L. Fieser, vice chair
man in charge of domestic opera
tions of the American Red Cross,
as an important forerunner of the
local annual membership drives
throughout the Nation.
You are the pathfinders in an
other roll call for humanity, which
will sweep the country" Mr. Fieser
told the audience on the banks of the
Potomac River. This is the mis-
sion of the heart of America" he
said "the recruitment of 100000
Americans"
The audience, which included
many attired in uniforms of the
Red Cross and the armed services,
heard stirring calls from represen-
/ tatives of the Catholic, Jewish and
Protestant faiths, and music from
| church choirs.
Among speakers who pledged the
support of their people to the Red
Cross were the Rev. Dr. Edward II.
Pruden, pastor of First Baptist
Church, speaking as past president
of the Washington Federation Of
| Churches; Canon Merritt F. Viii.
liams of Washington Cathedral,
Rabbi Norman Gerstenfeld Of
Washington Hebrew Congregation
and DR.. John R. Fitzpatrick, dean
of the Columbus University School
| of Law.
Referring to world conditions, Dr..
Pruden said each American should
feel grateful of the opportunity of
| taking part in the great "humani-
tartan" cause.
Called instrument of God"
Canon Williams characterized the
Red Cross as an instrument of
God,' which "pours into the suffer-
ing world that compassion which
comes from the very heart of God
1T is the will of God, that the
hungry be fed, that crying little
ones be huShed in comfort and
safety" he said. I'VE are doing
what God would have us do when
we are sharing with Him His divine
compassion"
The Red Cross, Rabbi Gersten-
field declared, "is another taper be-
fore the altar of the Divine. We
ask you to respond to its call so as
to make it a glowing light in the
shrine of our community life"
Referring to the opening of the
holy days of the Jewish people last
night, Rabbi Gerstenfeld said it was
appropriate ito call upon all the
men and women of my faith to rally
around the standards of the Red
Cross to evidence the truth of our
prayers before God tonight"
Dean Fitzpatrick quoted from the
message of Archbishop Curley Of
the Washington Diocese, read in all
Catholic churches yesterday. saying:
I'm view of the special needs of the
time, would urge all to give an
even more generous response"
1T is my belief" declared Dean
Fitzpatrick, "the Red Cross gives
to all of our people at all times an
opportunity to express the best that
is in any and in all religions. The
doctrine that man cannot live in
eternal conflict with his fellows, that
he must, at some time and in some
way. aspire to a higher and better
nature-that is fundamental in all
religions
Edgar Morris, chairman of the
1941 District of Columbia Chapter
Roll Call, characterized the whole
purpose and object of the Red Cross
by four words: Doing good to
others"
Sergio Huneeus, director of the
Pan-American Bureau of League OF
Red Gross Societies, praised the
spirit of the Red Cross.
Courtland D. Ferguson of the Dis
trict Chapter presided. He ex-
pressed appreciation to all partici-
pants, especially the special COM
mittee on arrangements, headed by
Godfrey Creycke, jr.
Music was by the band of the
United States Navy School of Music.
conducted by Bandmaster James M.
Thurmond, jr., and by choirs OF
Covenant First Presbyterian Church,
Mount Vernon Place Methodist
Church and the Church of the
Epiphany, directed by Adolf Torov-
sky and Theodore Schaeffer. Vocal
soloists included Miss Blance Ra-
mon, Louis Annis, Ambrose Durkin
and Nancy Williamson.
The program opened with a col
orful professional displaying the
massed colors of the Army, Navy,