RED CROSS

Evening Star, Issue 19298, 10 July 1926, Page 10

RED CROSS

WORLD-WIDE ACTIVITIES Readers interested in Heel Cross activities are advised to watch this column from Saturday to Saturday. The articles will include 1 History of tho Bed Cross Movement,’ ‘ The Organisation and Present Activities of tho Junior Bed Cross All Over tho World,’ cuttings from tho ‘World’s Health’ and ‘Junior Red Cross Magazine,’ and some articles contributed by the Red Cross nurse (Sister Kirkpatrick), with a direct bearing on the work now being started in Dunedin. THE LEAGUE OF RED CROSS SOCIETIES. The Red Cross is an emblem which is recognised, and respected by all civil,, iscd peoples. The movement for which it stands derives its origin from tho initiative of Henry Dunant, a Genevese, who witnessed, and was-, profoundly shocked, by tho spectacle of tho suffering of wounded soldiers at tho Battle of Solferino in 1859. The Geneva Convention, signed in 1864., thanks to the efforts of Dunant and his friends, gave official recognition to the rights of the wounded ; and tho duty of civilised men to relieve suffering—even the suffering of their enemies on the field of battle—-was thus formulated as an accepted canon of international morality. Red Cross societies, the first of which were founded in lSd4, have as their primary purpose the care of the sick, wounded, and prisoners in time of war. But their actvitics to-day extend far beyond this liold. Their watchword is tho relief of suffering at all times, whoever the sufferer may be, and whatever tho cause of his distress.

Tho acceptance by Red Cross societies of this wider responsibility dates from 1919, when, on tho initiative of Henry P. Davison, chairman of tho War Council of the American Red Cross, the Red Cross societies of Franco, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, and tho United States founded the League of Red Cross Societies. Fifty-four independent national Red Cross societies arc to-day members of the league, which is a purely voluntary organisation, without political, racial, or religious complexion of any kind. Jte purpose is tho development of the Red Cross movement as _ an asset to humanity, tho intcnsilicatiou of Red Cross activity, and tho provision of facilities for increased co-opcration of Rod Cross societies with each other and with other organisations pursuing similar aims.

The resolutions adopted by the national societies at their successive meetings have emphasised tho value of tho services which Red Cross societies can render humanity iiy extending their work in peace time, and have recommended to their particular attention the organisation of disaster relief, tlie development of health propaganda, the extension of their nursing activities, and ihe organisation of active junior Red Cross groups. Tho control of tho affairs of the league is vested in a general assembly, a hoard of governors, and, an executive committee.

Tho General Assembly, composed of delegates chosen by tho national Red Cross societies, and of such other persons as may be invited to attend, meets every five years. The Board of Governors consists of one representative of each Red Cross Society belonging to tho league. It determines the programme of work and policy of the league, and has the disposal of league funds. Tho board meets annually.

The Executive Committee consists of the chairman of tho Board of Governors and six members nominated by tho Board of Governors. The Executive Committee meets every three mouths at tho headquarters _of tho league, and has all tho administrative and financial powers of the_ Board of Governors when tho latter is not in session.

Tho secretariat, whoso headquarters are in Paris, is a central office epuipped to collect and distribute information bearing upon all phases of Reel Cross work and to assist national societies in planning and carrying into execution tho activities most appropriate to tho needs of their respective countries. One of its most important functions is tho maintenance of close co-operative relations with other important international bodies, including, in particular, tho League of Nations. Ry the twenty-fifth article of the Covenant of the League of Nations, all Slates adhering to this League have given explicit recognition to the great international power for human betterment which the Red Cross represents; tor they arc pledged by this instrument “ to encourage and promote the establishment and co-operation of duly authorised voluntary national Rod Gross organisations, having as purposes tho improvement of health, the prevention of disease, and tho mitigation of suffering throughout tho world.” The spirit of tho Red Cross is not to bo sought in petty things, nor is it to bo found in the scattered impulses which but lightly touch tho soul of man. stirring it as a gust of wind raises ripples on the sea. Rather is it an elemental force, transcending every barrier of race, nationality, religion, and party, and breathing into tho human heart those impulses which find expression in countless acts of Divine compassion.

To succor all in distress, whatever its cause. This is the creed symbolised bv tho Good Samaritan; this is also the simplest and the truest conception of tlie Red Cross. This conception may have varied in outward expression from time to time; hut its soul has changed only to grow greater as tho centuries have rolled away. Among tho confusing interests of the moment let us never be deaf to that Divine whisper which first stirred man’s soul. Without it, every effort is foredoomed.