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The great good Christian woman—one of God’s noblest creatures.
Doctor Henry A. Lathrop, Author.
Doctor Henry A. Lathrop, Author.
Doctor Henry A. Lathrop, Author.
Doctor Henry A. Lathrop, Author.
Clara Barton lives in deeds, and will be an inspiration to millions who shall come after her.
Chaplain Coudon, Nat’l House of Representatives.
Chaplain Coudon, Nat’l House of Representatives.
Chaplain Coudon, Nat’l House of Representatives.
Chaplain Coudon, Nat’l House of Representatives.
Clara Barton bequeathed to the world a glorious heritage.
Birmingham (Ala.)Age-Herald.
Birmingham (Ala.)Age-Herald.
Birmingham (Ala.)Age-Herald.
Birmingham (Ala.)Age-Herald.
Whatever the Red Cross accomplishes in the future; whatever it has accomplished in the past, to this one woman (Clara Barton) belongs the credit. It was her child, with which she blessed the race. 90,000 years will not blot out the mercies which Clara Barton set in motion. Springfield (Ill.)News.
Clara Barton,—founder of the most philanthropic movement of the age—an intrinsic part of world civilization.Detroit Free Press.
World-wide, Clara Barton will be remembered.
Holyoke (Mass.)Telegram.
Holyoke (Mass.)Telegram.
Holyoke (Mass.)Telegram.
Holyoke (Mass.)Telegram.
At the mention of the name of Clara Barton the world stands with uncovered head.Chicago Inter-Ocean.
Clara Barton, worthy immortality.Jane Addams.
Clara Barton did a world’s work, and her name will be immortalized.William Sulzer, Governor of New York.
At all of our early fields the Red Cross went, and worked, alone.
Clara Barton.
Clara Barton.
Clara Barton.
Clara Barton.
For twenty years (1901) the Red Cross work so small at first—a mere speck—has grown up under our hands until its welcomeblaze has lightened the footsteps of relief for the entire and direful contest of nations.Clara Barton.
In loud acclaim by the man whose arm had been cut off by order of the Queen, with the other arm upraised there came forth from the throat of the guiltless victim, “God Save Elizabeth.” Although her strong arm, serving humanity for half a century, had been paralyzed by the tyrannous “Powers that Be,” Clara Barton’s daily prayer, from 1904 to the closing scene at Glen Echo in 1912, was “God Save the American Red Cross.”
The Mother’s prayer for the Red Cross has been gloriously answered; the Red Cross is safe and the spirit of Clara Barton still lives. Practically for 23 years Clara Barton was the Red Cross and the Red Cross was Clara Barton. The American people knew none other than Clara Barton. Through the confidence of the people in her, she received and distributed to the suffering, $2,557,000.00, in money and supplies. Through her Red Cross literature, her Red Cross talks from the rostrum and as the official representative of this nation at the International Red Cross Conferences in Europe, Clara Barton became widely known, and the Clara Barton spirit became the spirit of every humanity-loving household in America.
Tens of thousands of women who as girls learned to love her were proud in the World War to wear, as nurses, the Red Cross badge of distinction. Men of national fame were honored in accepting a position in the Red Cross Service. Men of wealth were glad ofthe opportunity to finance such a worthy organization, and of such deservedly good name, in humanity’s cause.
Through the reputation of Clara Barton, the adhesion of the Government to the “Treaty of Geneva” had been secured; by Congressional action and the signature of the President, a national charter had been granted; the American Government had given official recognition to the American Red Cross. The American people recognize that, when the Mother of the Red Cross retired from the Presidency, what she then said was true: “When I retired from the Red Cross, my little nursling (Red Cross) had grown to manhood. It was taken over with the highest reputation of any organization in the country—its methods settled, its organization unexceptional, its prestige assured at home and abroad, and a balance of funds subject to its call, and sufficient for all its needs.”
A greater need arose; the call came and, Clara Barton’s home people in Massachusetts leading all others in the Red Cross spirit, the American people responded. They responded, up to January 1, 1918, to the number of 21,000,000 in memberships, with 9,000,000 members additional of the Junior Red Cross. Besides, there were more than 8,000,000 volunteer Red Cross workers. The memberships, and volunteer enrollment workers, were made possible on the lines laid down by Clara Barton; “I would recommend the enrolling of the whole country under the banner of the Red Cross.” In the first drive for funds, the Red Cross realized $110,000,000; in the second drive, $135,819,911.56; a total in the two drives of $245,818,911.56.
In less than eleven months the American people contributedmore than $300,000,000 to the Red Cross; through the World War up to February 18, 1919 $400,000,000. This enormous amount of money was used for the benefit of the millions of soldiers and others, of this country and of the allies. The foregoing memberships and financial strength have verified Clara Barton’s conception of the Red Cross possibilities:
“The Red Cross is capable of becoming the largest organization in the United States and one of the most useful.”
Of what she had done in her life-time, Governor W. R. Stubbs of Kansas said: “Looking over history as far back as Mary of Galilee, I cannot recall where God has chosen a maid servant—who has done more for humanity than Clara Barton.” In prophecy of the future results of her life’s work, Honorable George F. Hoar in the United States Senate said: “Known not only throughout our land, but throughout the whole civilized world, countless millions and uncounted generations will profit by the humanity of which Clara Barton has been largely the embodiment.”