Part 5

GEO. E. POST, M. D. E. G. FREYER, _Secretary and Treasurer_.

RECEIPTS.

_Piasters._ Syria 136,581.10 Palestine 28,012.05 Asia Minor 17,505.00 Cyprus 1,322.35 Egypt 35,667.25 Belgium 815.25 France 543.30 England 51,658.25 America 223,930.25 ----------- Grand Total 496,037.20 £3,627 6s. 7d. $17,715.62

EXPENDITURES.

_Piasters._ Adana 60,088.10 Kessab 76,960.10 Alexandretta 81,006.25 Latakia 7,000.00 Antioch 26,029.20 Tarsus 14,099.05 Aintab 12,462.20 Marash (Americans) 79,193.20 Marash (Germans) 23,253.30 Deaconesses, Beirut 4,404.00 Miscellaneous 31,575.00 ----------- Grand total 416,072.20 =========== Beirut currency: _Piasters._ Total receipts 496,037.20 Total expended 416,072.20 ----------- June 24, 1909. Balance on deposit in bank 79,965.00

E. G. FREYER, _Treasurer_.

SUMMARY OF DISTRIBUTION.

8,783 pieces of clothing and 182 pairs of shoes, sent in by 152 donors. 3,600 blankets purchased by Committee. 1,100 quilts purchased by Committee. 130 sacks of rice purchased by Committee. 23 sacks of wheat purchased by Committee. 197 sacks of flour purchased by Committee. _Piasters._ Cash 198,942.10 Medicines and medical supplies 13,371.25 Blankets 29,295.00 Quilts 21,548.10 Foodstuffs 50,000.20 Clothing 26,012.40 Miscellaneous, including carpenters’, masons’, and farming tools; sewing machines, tin pots, pans, spoons, copper pots, blacksmiths’ tools, plows, pickaxes, spades, needles, thread, buttons, administration, etc. 76,903.15 ---------- 416,072.20

I have examined the above accounts, compared the same with vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct.

W. R. GLOCKLER, _Auditor_.

BEIRUT, SYRIA, June 24, 1909.

_Abstract of Second Financial Statement, Beirut Relief Committee, July 26, 1909._

_Piasters._ Credit by balance brought forward June 24, 1909 79,965.00

Additions: Syria 2,759.30 Palestine 316.25 Asia Minor 664.35 Egypt 1,317.10 Cyprus 136.15 Denmark 69.10 England 83,728.10 America 79,929.00 Interest, bank account 564.15 ----------- Total 249,450.30 ===========

Expended for account: Adana 13,344.30 Kessab 30,715.30 Alexandretta 27,082.30 Antioch 485.35 Antab 12,462.20 Oorfa 411.10 Marash 18,264.30 Miscellaneous 4,520.00 ----------- Total 107,287.25 ----------- Credit by balance on hand July 26, 1909 142,163.05

_Piasters._ Total of all receipts to date 665,523.10 or $23,768.68 Total of all expenditures to date 523,360.05 or 18,691.43 ------------------------ Credit by balance carried forward to new account 142,163.05 or 5,077.25

Respectfully submitted,

E. G. FREYER, _Treasurer_.

I have examined the above accounts, have compared them with vouchers, and hereby certify that they are correct.

W. R. GLOCKLER, _Auditor_.

_Supplementary Statement or Cash Memorandum, Beirut Relief Committee, July 28, 1909._

_Piasters._ Credit by balance brought forward July 26 142,163.05 Cash received per C. A. Wilson, Alexandria 13,962.25 Cash received from Isper Bayoud, Amatour 160.00 Cash received from N. Berouti, Jaffa 217.20 ----------- Total 156,502.50 =========== Debtor to— T. L. 300, transferred to Dr. Balph for purchase of wheat and storage of same 37,387.20 Telegram to Dr. Balph 22.10 225 pieces kham for Kessab 9,344.00 600 blankets, tinware, etc., for Kessab 9,263.30 40 dozen each of crockery plates and bowls 1,203.20 Medical supplies for Kessab 1,436.10 Cost of packing bales for Kessab 23.05 Cost of sending cash to Dr. Balph 30.20 Miscellaneous shipping, telegram fees, etc. 118.30 ----------- Total 58,829.25 ----------- Balance, approximately, T. L. 783 97,673.25

_Turkey-Armenian Relief Fund._

RECEIPTS.

Advanced from General Emergency Fund $12,500.00 Contributions, _Christian Herald_ (New York) 12,500.00 Contributions, Armenian Relief Committee (New York) 3,500.00 Contributions, miscellaneous 1,187.01 ----------- Total receipts 29,687.01

DISBURSEMENTS.

By cable to the American Ambassador, Constantinople $28,000.00 Repayment to General Emergency Fund 1,500.00 ----------- Total disbursements 29,500.00 ----------- Balance September 1, 1909 187.01

NOTE.—The Red Cross wishes to invite the attention of its members and friends to the amount contributed by the _Christian Herald_ for this fund. Our readers will remember the large amounts contributed by this paper in the past to various Red Cross Relief Funds, especially the following: Japanese Famine Fund, $200,000; Chinese Famine Fund, $250,000 in money and a Government transport load of food supplies, and to the Italian Earthquake Fund, $55,000.—_Editor._

ITALIAN EARTHQUAKE RELIEF

From Mr. Lloyd Griscom and Lieutenant-Commander Belknap final reports have been received of the American Red Cross Relief work in Italy. A printed report of Mr. Griscom’s American Relief Committee in Rome, together with all the vouchers and correspondence of this Committee, have been sent to the American Red Cross at Washington for permanent filing in its archives. The vouchers for all expenditures have been revised and certified to by the Banca Commerciale Italiana at Rome. The vouchers for all the expenditures connected with the American Red Cross Relief Ship _Bayern_ are already on file at Washington.

SUMMARY OF CONSTRUCTIVE WORK TO JUNE 11.

_Messina._

Cottages of standard type, built 16×20×9 feet 1,039 Grand Hotel Regina Elena, 75 bedrooms, two stories and partial third story; 100 feet central part with two wings, each 132 feet long, all finished except plaster, plumbing, lighting, Eternit roofing, and inside paint; material used equivalent to 178 Building suitable for church, material used equivalent to 24 Building attached to church, material used equivalent to 15 Laboratorio, material used equivalent to 12 Two school buildings, together equivalent in material to 12 ------ Total buildings at Messina, equivalent in material to 1,280 Material remaining at Messina for continuing construction of houses 350

_Reggio-Calabria._

Cottages of standard type 500

_Villagio Regina Elena._

Cottages of semidetached type, each 16×20 75 Hospital Elizabeth Griscom, equivalent in material used to 30 houses; plumbing, lighting, and furnishing done by Her Majesty’s staff 30

_Palmi and District._

Cottage of special smaller type built, 13×16×10, as a model, complete, and frame for a second built 1 Material sent to this district for other such houses 500

_Ali and Surrounding District._

Portable houses erected 49 Houses of Palmi type built as models 5 Roccalumera 3, Santa Teresa Riva 2, Nizza-Sicilia 2 (models of Palmi type built) 7 Material sent to this district for houses of this type 300 ------ Total built by American construction party 1,898 Total number of houses furnished 3,097

[Illustration: VITTORIO EMANUELE, KING OF ITALY.]

[Illustration: ELENA, QUEEN OF ITALY.]

Captain Belknap, on the 10th instant, consigned the completed work at Messina to the Ministry of Public Works, who then assumed charge.

Ensign Robert W. Spofford, U. S. N., remained to direct the work in general until it had become well organized under the new direction. He will also supervise the completion of certain work being done by contract not yet completed.

_Commander Belknap’s Work._

Mr. Griscom says: “The report of Captain Belknap is worthy of careful study. Its only fault is that it does not do justice to his work. I feel that it is incumbent upon me to endeavor to express to you the admiration I have for the manner in which Lieutenant-Commander Belknap has performed his duty. The magnitude of the task could only be appreciated by one who has been on the spot and seen the difficulties as they arose and witnessed the courageous and adroit manner in which he overcame all obstacles and carried to successful conclusion a work which is truly remarkable. The departure of Lieutenant-Commander Belknap from Messina was a veritable personal triumph. All the highest military and civil authorities were present at the steamship landing, together with a military band, and he was given full military honors and received a remarkable and spontaneous public demonstration of admiration. He and several of his assistants were formally made citizens of Messina. To-day he has been formally received by their majesties, the King and Queen of Italy, and had extended to him their majesties’ personal expressions of gratitude.”

_Commander Belknap’s Tributes to His Assistants._

Before closing this report, I beg to mention those who have labored so energetically and faithfully to bring about results which have been kindly commended by all who have visited the camps.

The special prominence of the services rendered by Tonente di Vascello Alfredo Brofferio stand apart from all else. He worked unremittingly in the closest association with us, his duties touching every feature of the work, and it would be impossible to place too high a value upon his far-seeing, conscientious, and self-sacrificing devotion to our success.

The Italian authorities’ cordial attitude toward us and hospitable care made away with innumerable difficulties. To their magnanimity and their earnest devotion to their own duties was due their sincere appreciation of our efforts and their frank and grateful acknowledgment of our gift to their cities.

Commander Harry P. Huse, U. S. N., commanding the U. S. S. _Celtic_, established us on a living and working basis in our camp at Messina, the _Celtic_ serving as our base until the first group of houses were ready for us, and he was most felicitous in all that he did to promote a genuine feeling of cordiality in our relations with the authorities.

Lieutenant-Commander George Wood Logan, commanding the U. S. S. _Scorpion_, gave his most cordial support and interest in the undertaking from the first, and placed every facility at our disposal.

Lieutenant Allen Buchanan, U. S. N., was the mainstay in the executive work, and I was always able to rely on his good judgment on the frequent occasions when taking counsel was necessary. He discharged his duty with unremitting industry and exemplary zeal, and he left behind him in Messina and among the members of our organization a feeling of the most uniform good will and admiration for his character and ability as an officer.

Ensign John W. Wilcox was in charge of the Reggio division of the work, which he managed with exceptional skill. He had many difficulties to contend against, but solved them with an ease and discernment that an officer of long experience might envy.

[Illustration: THE ORIGINAL MEMBERS OF THE EXPEDITION, MESSINA.]

Ensign Robert W. Spofford, U. S. N., had charge of the unloading of steamers. He has done excellent work and is left in charge of the work being completed at Messina. To Assistant Surgeon Donelson, U. S. N., for medical supervision of the camp, and to Pay Inspector J. A. Mudd, U. S. N., for the care taken in the shipment of the building materials from America, Captain Belknap gives high praise. The enlisted men of the Navy performed their work most faithfully, and Captain Belknap mentions many of them by name. This country may well be proud of the splendid work of the officers and men of our Navy so far outside their regular duties. Captain Belknap says also that thanks are due to Mr. John Elliott, who was a most devoted worker, and left his beautifying touch on every part of the work. Mr. H. W. C. Bowdoin and Mr. Charles King Wood were among the other tireless and efficient volunteer workers to whom our thanks are due. And finally, many of the master carpenters sent from America gave most satisfactory and valuable service under difficult conditions.

_Committee on American Offerings._

Of this committee Mr. Griscom says: “As you already know, after consultation with his excellency, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Signor Tittoni, I placed the sum of 256,250 lire (the equivalent of $50,000) in the hands of a committee appointed by Mr. Tittoni, of which his wife, Donna Bice Tittoni, was Chairman. This committee has to-day handed to me its report and accompanying vouchers, which are transmitted to you herewith under separate cover. I am satisfied that this committee carried out some of the best rehabilitation work which has been done since the earthquake. It was done in a rapid and businesslike way.”

_The American Red Cross Orphanage._

Signor Bruno Chimirri, Chairman of the Committee on Orphans, called the “Patronato Regina Elena,” reports: “Being desirous of expediting the plant of the colony before the departure of the Ambassador from Rome, and not wishing to touch one single lire of the American capital, the Patronato voted 200,000 lire (about $40,000) for the building of the colony. This depended upon us, and it has been done. As to the choice of a site upon which it will be erected, it is not a question of choosing any piece of land, but a ground within the jurisdiction of the Itinerant Chair of Agriculture, in order to secure not only gratuitous teaching but also the very best obtainable. With this end in view, two months ago I addressed myself to the Minister of Agriculture, upon whom depends the Itinerant Chair that has to choose a suitable locality. I have finally brought the matter before the House of Deputies. Nor is this all. In order to facilitate the negotiations for the purchase of the land, since the Ministry would not consider the price of the proprietor, I have induced the municipality of Nicastro to contribute to the expense by paying the difference, as you will see by a copy of their decision appended hereto. As soon as we receive an answer we shall send the Professor of the Itinerant Chair to visit the proffered land, and, if his report is favorable, we shall hasten to secure possession and lay the cornerstone before Mr. Griscom’s departure.”

The Italian government consented to pay $4,800 for the land, and the District of Nicastro voted to contribute the balance of the $6,000 which was asked.

In regard to this Orphanage there is given an open letter to the American Red Cross from Mr. Anthony Matre, Secretary of the American Federation of Catholic Societies. This letter was published in some of the prominent Roman Catholic papers before it even reached the hands of the officers of the American Red Cross, an act that can hardly be considered courteous. It was referred by the Chairman of the Executive Committee of the American Red Cross to our Ambassador at Rome, and his reply is embodied in an answer to Mr. Matre. As the Roman Catholic Church made appeals for the Italian sufferers, and the offerings it received in reply were sent to the Pope, it is probable that but a very small percentage of the contributions received by the Red Cross, possibly 5 or 10 per cent, came from members of the Roman Catholic Church. The receipts show many contributions from Protestant Churches and Sunday Schools, but none from any Roman Catholic institution, and yet, according to Mr. Matre’s figures, some 97 per cent, and, according to Mr. Griscom’s letter, 99 per cent, of these contributions must have been expended in Italy for the people of this faith. Of the funds sent to our Ambassador, a generous contribution was made to the Pope for the relief work in which he was interested, and other moneys were placed in the hands of bishops and priests in the stricken district to aid them in their work for the earthquake sufferers. The Red Cross considers neither race nor creed; its mission is to mitigate, as far as lies within its power, the sufferings of the sick and wounded in the misfortune of war or of the victims of fire, flood, famine, earthquake, pestilence, and other great disasters.

The following copies of correspondence will be of interest:

ST. LOUIS, MO., March 22, 1909.

_To the President, Secretary, and Officers of the American Red Cross Association_:

GENTLEMEN: The American Federation of Catholic Societies, representing millions of American Catholics, desire official information regarding the dispatch published in the papers of the United States on February 8th, and referring to an appropriation made by your society. The dispatch reads:

“ROME, Feb. 7.—It is officially declared that the American Red Cross, through Ambassador Griscom, has put $250,000 at the disposal of the committee organized by Queen Helena, which has undertaken the establishment of an orphanage to be devoted to the care of children left homeless and without parents by the earthquake disaster.”

[Illustration: THE ENLISTED MEN OF THE UNITED STATES NAVY, MESSINA.]

Under date of February 6, 1909, the _Civilta Cattolica_, published at Rome, states that a national patronage of orphans, under the name of “Queen Helena,” has been erected by decree of the 14th of January, and to it has been granted all legal rights for the protection of orphans who have suffered by the recent calamity or who will need protection on account of any future disaster; that the direct administration of this orphanage is committed to a council, half of whose membership shall be appointed by royal authority and the other half by election or choice of those contributing annually to its support.

In the same paper, the _Civilta Cattolica_, of February 20, 1909, appears the following: “There has been appointed to the Presidency of the National Committee the Mayor of the first city of Italy, Erneste Nathan, a Hebrew, a very bitter enemy of Catholicism.” The same issue states that the National Committee has appointed three women to take charge of “Patronato Nazionale Regina Elene,” namely, Turin, an unknown woman, a Socialist and Freemason; Labriola, a Protestant woman (a Valdensian Protestant), and Levi, a Jewess. To them was confided the care of all orphans brought to Naples from the scene of the disaster. This charge was taken from the Nepolitan authorities because they were good Catholics.

The _Civilta Cattolica_ states: “It is evident from the entire policy of the National Committee that the Pope was refused all voice in the disposition of the orphans. He never entered into the committee’s consideration, except that it is trying and succeeding in hampering his efforts everywhere, for instance:

1. The government, _i. e._, the National Committee, refused to send any of the wounded to the hospital of Santa Marta in Rome, so that the Knights of Malta have to make up a train themselves to go to Naples in order to get the wounded.

2. The Catholic officers of the Spanish ship _Cataluna_ were hampered in the gathering of the wounded and orphans at Messina to take them to Rome for disposition of the Pope. This ship has been placed under direct control of the Pope by the Count of Comillas, the owner.

3. The Pope was interfered with in placing orphans in the care of the French priest, Santol. (The Pope has offered to care for 2,000 earthquake orphans, one-half of whom were to be put in charge of Father Santol.)”

From the above it appears that part of the money contributed by our fellow-citizens, irrespective of creed and nationality, is being used by missionary societies and others against Catholicity. Some of our Catholic fellow-citizens feared that such would likely be the case, but they nevertheless contributed liberally, thinking that in such a crisis and such distress haste was necessary and bigotry would not be allowed to have part. But from the above statements it is evident that their fears were well founded, and if it turns out that the statements are true, the Red Cross Society, though splendid in its aims, will never be trusted again by the 15,000,000 of Catholics in this country, nor by the 270,000,000 Catholics the world over.

Your organization is no doubt aware that all civilized countries now acknowledge the right of the child to be educated in the religion of its parents, and though the Red Cross Society of America may not have anything to do with the education of these children without religion, it has the right and duty to protest against funds sent from America being used in such a way as to outrage justice.

It will not be amiss to show you how few Protestants there are in Italy:

Last summer at the International Congress of Religious Liberals, held in Boston, Rev. Tony Andre, of Italy, gave these statistics: “Italy is essentially a Catholic country. Out of the 32,475,253 inhabitants enumerated in the census of 1901, 31,539,863 declared themselves Catholics; that is, 97.12 per cent of the population. All told there were 65,595 Protestants, 20,538 of whom were foreigners. At the same time, 795,276 were unwilling to say to what religion they belonged, and 36,092 declared they were of no religion.” This will show that practically all the children to be cared for are Catholics.

We address this open letter to your society and expect that you will give the matter referred to therein immediate investigation and consideration.

Very respectfully, yours,

THE AMERICAN FED. OF CATH. SOCIETIES.

ANTHONY MATRE, _National Secretary_.

JULY 9, 1909.

Mr. ANTHONY MATRE, _Secretary, American Federation of Catholic Societies, St. Louis, Mo._

DEAR SIR: The American Red Cross is in receipt of the expected reply from the American Ambassador at Rome to an inquiry of the Embassy adverted to in my letter to you dated April 12, 1909.

Mr. Griscom states that there was no true basis for the statement published in the _Catholic Transcript_ in Rome and quoted by you in the open letter, whereby you charged the American Red Cross with grave wrong to the Italian children made orphans by the earthquake of December 28, 1908, the offense consisting in the assignment of the control of the American Red Cross Italian Orphanage, and the instruction and rearing of these orphans to non-Catholics, such as Hebrews, Masons, and Socialists.

[Illustration: AFTER WORKING HOURS, MESSINA.]

Mr. Griscom, to whom I sent a copy of your attack upon the Red Cross, brought the matter to the attention of Countess Spalletti Rasponi, the President of the Queen’s Orphanage, who, as such, has general supervision over the branch of the same known as the American Red Cross Orphanage, and for which latter Mr. Bruno Chimerri is Chairman of the Executive Committee.

The following is a translation of a quotation from a letter from the Countess Spalletti to Mr. Griscom, the American Ambassador, dated Rome, April 19, 1909:

“After reading the article published in the _Catholic Transcript_ of March 25, 1909, I consider myself, as the President of the Queen’s Orphanage, bound to reassure your excellency, and send you some information regarding the system pursued by those placed in control of the orphans in choosing a place for the orphans and abandoned minors, with the tutelage of whom we have been charged by the royal decree, dated January 14, 1909.

“The number of wretched creatures left destitute of any support and guidance being considerable, we have undertaken to take the place, as far as possible, of the parents in their education and start in life. We have proceeded in accordance with this principle, and have decided that the minors should be, as far as possible, brought up in the religion of their parents, and educated in conformity with the conditions in which their families were, with the only tendency to ameliorate those conditions. We consider it to be our duty to bring up these children in the religion of their parents.

“Referring to the article published in the _Catholic Transcript_, I have to point out that the Mayor of Rome, Mr. Nathan, is not the President of the Queen’s Orphanage. He has no connection with it whatever, but is President of the Executive Board of the Central Relief Committee for the earthquake sufferers, of which committee his royal highness, the Duke of Aosta, is the President....

“It is, moreover, to be noted that the President of the Palmi Subcommittee is the Bishop of Milito, Monsignor Morabito. Our representative in Messina has been another most worthy Catholic Priest, the Rev. Luigi Orione.

“I am confident that this summary will be sufficient to remove from the souls of American Catholics all apprehensions.”

In forwarding this letter, Mr. Griscom, our Ambassador to Rome, remarks in substance:

“You will observe that the governing body of the Queen’s Orphanage have exercised the greatest care to place Protestant orphans in Protestant hands and Catholic orphans in Catholic hands. I am satisfied that this wise policy has been consistently carried out. American Protestant Missions have received the tutelage of the children of the members of their missions in cases where there were no surviving relatives to assume the burden. I am satisfied the _Catholic Transcript_ would not have published such an article had they been in possession of the full facts....