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Show ASKS CHILDREN 10 SAVE BABIES FRQfvlSTARVING Pope Benedict XV Sendf Urgent Appeal to Young Americans in Letter to Cardinal Gibbons. STARTS FUND FOR POOR OF BELGIUM Movement Inaugurated by Pontiff at Request of The American Relief Commission. BALTIMORE, Dec. 5. A gift of 10,000 lires, about $2000, from the apostolic See of Rome, around which the children of America are urged to build a large fund for further relief of the children of Belgium, Bel-gium, Is announced in an autograph letter let-ter from Pope Benedict to Cardinal Gibbons, Gib-bons, made public herq today. Tho pope has been moved to his appeal to American children by a recent report from Herbert C. Hoover, chairman of the commission for relief in Belgium, describing "the pitiable situation of numerous Belgian children who, during two sad years, have been suffering from the lack of that proper nourishment necessary to sustain the tender existence of budding childhood." The Pope's Letter. The pope's letter follows: My Lord Cardinal: Profound compassion com-passion of a father has again moved our heart, when we read an important letter recently sent to us by the dis- tinguished chairman of the praiseworthy praise-worthy "commission for relief in Belgium," Bel-gium," describing In few words, yet showing proof of most terrible reality, the pitiable situation of numerous Belgian children who, during two sad years, have been suffering from the lack of that proper nourishment necessary nec-essary to sustain the tender existence of budding childhood. In most moving terms .the chairman has described how so many desolate families, after having given everything humanly possible to give, now find themselves with nothing left with which to appease the hunger of their little ones. A Pitiful Scene. He has made us see, almost as if they wepe passing before these very eyes, dimmed with tears, the long file, continuously increasing, of Belgian Infants In-fants waiting for their dally distribution distribu-tion of bread; unhappy little ones whose bodies, emaciated by lack of proper nutrition, bear not infrequently infrequent-ly the impress of some deadly sickness sick-ness brought about by their failure to receive the food which children of their age require. In his letter the chairman has told us how. In order to ward off so much illness, his commission, displaying the very best of good will and stopping at no sacrifice, has arranged for the distribution to the children of a dally supplementary meal. He sorrowfully adds, however, that unhappily, owing to insufficient means, the commission has found itself unable to prepare and supply such extra food to ail the babies who have need of itl In this emergency the worthy chairman chair-man has turned his thought and his heart to the millions of children of jour happy, noble America, who, in the abundance with which they are now surrounded, could they be given an exact idea of the pitiable and unfortunate un-fortunate conditions of their little fellow creatures In Belgium more especially if an appealing and encouraging encour-aging word might reach them from us would ilot hesitate a moment to co-operate heartily, in accordance with some prearranged plan, to come promptly to the relief of these needy Belgian babies. Appeal Is Recommended. In view of this oondition of affairs, we have considered the work Indicated so humanitarian and so holy that, in prompt compliance with the appeal addressed to us by those who are directing di-recting the work of the commission, we have decided to approve and recommend rec-ommend it, as we hereby do indorse It most heartily by these words to you, my lord cardinal, and. through you, to the illustrious members of the American episcopate, to the clergy and to every generous heart; but particularly par-ticularly to those children of America upon whom is based every hope of success for the plan devised by this beneficent institution. Neither do we doubt, in truth, but that the happy children of America, without distinction of faith or of class, at this approach of another winter which it Is announced will lie even more severe and painful than the two preceding years, will vie, in their innocent pride, with each other to be able to extend to their little brothers and sisters of the Belgian nation, even though across the immense ocean, the helping hand and the offerings of that oharitv which knows no distance. The words of our Divine Redeemer: 'As long as you did it to one of them, mv least brethren, you did it to .Me" (Matthew xxv. 40 . so appropriately brought to mind in these ctreum-Etam'es. ctreum-Etam'es. are a sure pledge of heaven-ls- pleasure and rewards; while we feel likewise how greatly in this period pe-riod of atrocious fratricidal caj-na.e. even in the eyes of the world, are ennobled en-nobled the people of more fortunate lands by the performance of true and loving deeds and by the pouring of a (Continued on Pag Two.) t CHILDREN TO SAVE BELGIAN BABIES (Continued from Page One.) little balm upon the wounds of those , less fortunate. 1 Sends Contribution. In the full faith that your eminence, efficaciously aided by all, according- to their means and strength, will do as much as may be In your power to favor fa-vor this Initiative, in proof of the loving interest which we have for Its successful outcome, we send to you inclosed our contribution of ten thousand thou-sand lires, which Rift, if it be inadequate inade-quate to the needs of the occasion and appears Ediph; in Itself, is not, however, such when one considers the condition of this apostolic see In the present unhappy moment. At the same. time. while bains; particularly par-ticularly happy to represent upon this earth that Jesus who was the divine friend of little children, we invoke from our heart upon all those who shall second and aid this noble and delicate undertaking an abundance of blessings and heavenly rewards, of which is a pledge the apostolic benediction, bene-diction, which, with very special affection, af-fection, we Impart to you, my lord cardinal, to your two colleagues In the sacred college, to the hi shops, clercy and to all the faithful of the VnitM States. (Signed) RENi:niCTUS. P. P., XV. From the Vatican, the 2Sth of October. Octo-ber. 1016. Cardinal Gibbon?, in tra nmt t i this '-.aj'Iiicl 0 -lu.e bishops, proposed yeneral collections in the jurisdiction of each bishopric. ' |