Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 1, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 10 January 1918 — PREFERS TO USE THE RED CROSS [ARTICLE]

PREFERS TO USE THE RED CROSS

DECLINES TO HEAD 'COUNTY CAMPAIGN TO RAISE LODGE WAR FUND.

A very prominent ciHsen of this city received a letter from the state officer of the Masons of Indiana, asking him to take charge of Hie campaign in this county to raise money for the Masonic War Fund. Hie citizen referred to above not only declined, but informed officer of his order that he was not in sympathy with the movement The citizen believed, and we think rightly, that this matter should be taken care of by and through the great— organization, THE RED CROSS. It would be a splendi dthing, he felt for Hie masons and all other lodges to raise a war fund, but this fund should be turned over to an organization which has as its disHnct business the caring for soldiers at the front and at the cantonments. A dollar contributed through the Red Cross will reach the place where it is needed and do more good than it possibly can through any other organization. Every soldier should have whatever is needed for his comfort and his needs should be abundanHy supplied. Everything that can, should be done, to make his efforts just as effective as possible'; If wounded or sick he Should have the best attention from physical and nurse possible. His training should be such that he is able to be a most efficient soldier. Besides his training his clothing shbuld be what is needed to keep his physical being in the very best of health. His food will be a great factor in his efficiency as a soldier. That he should be housed under the most favorable conditions possible goes without saying: Then he must have the very best equipment. Possibly, the' greatest factor in his effecHveness, is his knowledge of the great principle at stake in the contest of which he is so important a factor.' That his spiritual life may be lfept normal he needs the influence and environment of the Young Men’s and Women’s Christian AasociaHon and alsp the help of the Knights of Columbus. When he has been given the best training, supplied with Hie best equipment, is properly clothed and fed, and, when his morale has been, kept at a very high standard, he may be overtaken by disease or wound and the greatest angel of mercy, THE RED CROSS, must be on hand to nurse him back to health and Hfe. All who would stand by the wounded or siek soldier with the comfort and most skilled relief, should give their dollars and give them freely to. “Sister of Charity” of all human hearts —THE RED CROSS.