THE MACEDONIAN RELIEF FUND.
[To 'THE EDITOR Or THE srscreroa.1 Sin,—The traditional interest - displayed by the Spectator in the affairs of the Near East, and especially in the condition of the Sultan's Chriltian subjects, emboldens me to ask you to insert a few lines on behalf of the Macedonian Relief Fund, which is now endeavouring to alleviate the distress among the refugees.
That distress is acute. From the reports which have been received by the.Committee from Mr. Brailsford, who is administer- lug its funds in Monastir, and from Mr. Nevinson, who has just returned from a journey throughout that province, it is' clear that the accounts of the devastation which have already been published in England have not been exaggerated. On the most moderate estimate—which we feel has, in fact, been greatly exceeded—there are sixty thousand persons, mostly women and children, who can liberally be enabled to survive the hunger and cold of the coming winter only by generous assistance from abroad. It is to this vilayet that the work of relief is at present. mainly directed, but undoubtedly a condition of want and suffer- ing scarcely less pressing exists in the vilayet of Adrianople, as well as among the peasants who have fled across the frontier to Bulgaria. To both of these districts the Committee is most anxious to extend its aid as soon as funds allow.
Everything possible has been done to make the Committee of the Macedonian Relief Fund, alike from a religions and political point of view, absolutely catholic and comprehensive. It has received direct countenance from the Foreign. Office, which has authorised his Majesty's Consuls to afford it advice and assistance. The Archbishop of Canterbury has expressed his opinion that it is entitled "to ask support from us all." Its presidentis the Bishop of London; the Rev. Marshall Hartley, president of the Wesleyan Conference, is one of its vice-presidents. Its other clerical members include the Bishops of Rochester and Worcester, Dr. Guinness Rogers, and the Rev. F. B. Meyer;. while the politicians who support it, such as Mr. James Bryce, Mr. Yerburgh, Sir Arthur Hayter, Mr. Cameron Corbett s Mr. Moon, and Mr. Hugh Law, are drawn from every quarter of the House. The names of Sir Thomas Powell Buxton, the hon. treasurer, Sir Edward Fry, and Mr. Evelyn Ashley are not less representative ; and Mr. Arthur Evans, the distinguished archaeologist, has from the first taken an active part in the organisation of the Fund.
No pains are being spared to ensure that the administration of the Fund, which will be distributed with absolute impartiality, should be economical and effective. Mr. and Mrs. Brailsford's expc rIence of relief work in Crete testifies to their capacity in this respect, lait they are at the same time taking every advantage of local opportunities, and are receiving active help from the American Mission Settlement and from the Roman Catholic communities of Lazarist Fathers and Sisters of St. Vincent de Paul in Monastir. Cheques and subscriptions for the Fund (which are urgently needed) should be sent direct and made payable to the bankers, Messrs. Barclay and Co.. 1 Pall Mall East, S.W. ; or to the secretary, Mr. Oliver Williams, 116 Victoria Street, Westminster.
Chairman of the Executive.
116 Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W.
[We sincerely trust that the Committee may obtain a wide tesponse to their appeal—En. Spectator.]
Previous page
