Red Cross Department [pp. 178-191]

R:ED CROSS DEP'AITMENT
b)est use of the funds that are being so generously
brought to us. On the one hand we do not wish to
duplicate the work of the government nor on the
other hand do we intend to permit suffering among
the men which may be relieved by our efforts. The
Red Cross is pre-eminently an emergency service, and
as such its value is recognized by all. The division
)f workl between the government and the Red Cross
must always be a variable line; what is at one time
legitimately the work of the Society, growing out of
the exigency of the moment, will at another time be
properly the care of the government. The Society
has since the beginning maintained constant and
thorough communication with the Army authorities,
and we can honestly say that nothing has been done
hysterically, the head has played as active a part as the
heart in every detail of the work.
At the first meeting, May 2d, Mrs. W. B. Harrington
was elected President; at the second, a large number
of persons were selected as members of a temporary
executive committee.
DI)uring May thirteen regular meetings of the Executive Committee were held besides many committee
meetings.
At the third meeting committees were definitely
formed, and these committee members are now largely
the working force of the Society, although their duties
have been many times altered. Men as well as women
have been as generous with their time as money. We
have fumbled our way out of the dark and into the
light by much discussion and good-natured difference
of opinion, but the real unanimity of purpose has
always been apparent, and the earnestness and zeal
displayed by all the members of the committee can
not fail to be productive of the best results. Committees have been interchangeable; everybody has
been willing to do whatever the moment demanded.
If appointed on the Ferry work in the morning one
would never know but the Presidio might claim one's
attention before evening. As time goes on and the
ranks of efficient workers are strengthened, committee
lines are more straitly drawn and the work of the
Society becomes daily more systematic.
The inevitable sickness attendant on the massing of
so large a number of men in camps being brought to
our attention at the meeting of May 11th, it was decided to ask permission of the authorities to erect a
Red Cross hospital tent at the Presidio; trained
nurses to be supplied and all things necessary for the
comfort and care of the sick to be furnished by the
Red Cross Society. Mrs. Smedberg and Mr. McLure
took the matter in charge, and permission being readily granted, the Red Cross Hospital Tent was erected
at the Presidio. The Tent and belongings were
stamped with the Red Cross name, and the flag, with
its motto, "Neutrality and Humanity," proclaimed
the societv had now a local habitation after its own
approved method. A Committee on Nurses, with Mrs
Wendell Easton at the head, was put in charge, and
the work has gone on steadily with ever increasing
efficiency.
May 13th found us discussing the possibility of
sending a Red Cross expedition to the Philippines.
Our two trained nurses sent on the City of Pekin are
the nucleus of an expedition, but what may follow it,
it is impossible at this time to predict.
At the meeting of May 17th a letter was read, informing the Society that a large body of trops vam:
expected in a few hours, and suggesting that hey begiven a welcome. Rabbi Voorsanger had already pro —
posed that something be done in the way of heer forthe stranger at the ferry landing. It appeare that
owing to the uncertainty of the movements of troop>men arrived hungry and travel worn, with the prospect
of a long march through a strange city and the further probability of waiting for food for hours after
arriving at their destination. The idea was taken up
at once. Mrs. Lowenberg, Mrs. W. H. Mills, Mrs.
Chauncey Winslow, and Miss McEwen, left the meeting
and the Ferry Hospitality work began that day.
It now became plain that to bind together for efficient work the various Red Cross societies that were
springing up all over the State, a State Association
should be formed at once. Other societies had come
to the same conclusion. Delegates were appointed
from other societies and the State Association formed
The care of the sick becoming a great work and
the field hospitals of the army not being yet established, the importance of helping the men to hospital
service led to the appointment of a Hospital committee.
Many of the hospitals in the city, the French Hospital, the Marine Hospital, St. Luke's, and others,
established free wards and offered their help through
the Red Cross Society. Mrs. Harrington was the
first chairman and organized the Visiting committee,
consisting of Mrs. Charles S. Wheeler, Mrs. Julius
Weber, and Mrs. Frank Powers.
May 25th was the date of the reorganization of the
local Society. Mrs. Harrington, having been elected
President of the State Association, could no longer
serve the local Society in that capacity. Her resignation was accepted with regret and much appreciation
was expressed of the great work she had done in bringing out of chaos in so short a time a Society which
promised such good work.
Mrs. John F. Merrill was the unanimous choice of
the committee for the office of President of the Sanr
Francisco Branch. We consider ourselves most fortunate in having as a leader one so wise as well as gentle, one who can be firm and courteous at the same
time, and who is willing to give her waking hours
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