Tárogató, 1950 (13. évfolyam, 1-6. szám)
1950-07-01 / 1-2. szám
14 TÁROGATÓ NEWS FROM GREECE Here is a happy story from unhappy Greece. Over 15,000 small Greek children, most of them orphans, are being cared for in colonies under a scheme started by the Queen of Greece. There are fifty of these havens of refuge, maintained by voluntary gifts and helped by international organizations like the Red Cross. One per cent, is levied on all industrial products in Greece, and every theatre ticket and restaurant bill has an extra charge of five per cent., which goes to help these children. They are properly clothed and fed, and all necessary medical attention is also given to them. But the work extens beyond physical welfare; a regular education programme, recognized and supported by the Ministry of Education, is being carried out. Thus the children are not only kept up to their schooling, but also learn good citizenship. In these little colonies of about 500 children and 20 adults each individual is guided along lines of harmonious community living, but is also treated as an individual; each must do his share for the benefit of all, but at the same time has a chance to develop and express his talents. In most colonies all the shoes, or all the bedsteads, or all the jackets, are made by the children themselves under the guidance of master craftsmen; and the pride and joy that such accomplishments produce are striking features of this enterprise. As the children are grouped as far as possible according to the villages and towns from which they came, it is to be expected that when they return to their respective communities they will do so with healthy bodies and trained minds and what is most important, with the good spirit so necessary for the task of reconstruction that lies ahead. THE CHURCH AND THE FLOOD The United Church of Canada on Monday, May 15th, sent a cheque for $10,000 to the Manitoba Flood Relief Fund. The Woman’s Missionary Society sent $800 to finance Vacation Schools for children evacuees. The Church Headquarters has notified all ministers that the Treasurer of the United Church will receive and forward to Winnipeg congregational gifts. In Winnipeg the annual meeting of the Manitoba Conference has been postponed. The ministers have been too busy to give time to Conference preparation. Church buildings have been made available for evacuation centres and food distribution. The younger ministers who could stand the physical strain have been out on the dykes handling sand bags. Women church workers have been filling sand bags and rendering every possible assistance. We in Canada have been fortunate. We have escaped major disasters of flood, fire, pestilence and war. This immunity we have taken for granted. Now the rampaging, swirling Red River has inundated hundreds of square miles of rich farm lands, destroyed thousands of homes, flooded towns and villages bfeyond recognition, and caused the death of valuable and essential farm stock. It is a reminder that no nation is free from the uprush of elemental forces. Miraculously there has been no destruction of human life. Thousands of families, however, have seen their life’s savings wiped out in a few hours. The mental and spiritual anguish through which they have passed has touched the hearts of our people all across Canada. The United Church because of the flexibility of her constitution is able to act quickly in an emergency. However, the $10,000 sent to Winnipeg is only a small amount when placed against the colossal need. We are confident now the Church has set the machinery in motion that the hearts of our people will be opened and the response from congregations will be speedy and generous. GETTING BETTER In a recent editorial a popular newspaper claims that things are improving as time goes on. Many of these improvements are in material things. Also it is said human conduct and popular habits have changed for the better. While intemperance has not by any means been
