Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

iens: iy te Pablay,) ORGANIZED AMERICAN MENNONITE RELIEF 33 and to prepare the way for a common united effort. Among the papers most active in this work were: The Vorwaerts, Hillsboro, Kansas, especially through the pen of the invalid, J. G. Ewert; the Rundschau, Scottdale, Pa., on account of its wide circulation among the people emigrated from Russia; and the Herald, Newton, Kansas. The official church papers of the several groups of Men- nonites also did much to help the cause. In addition to these various agencies, God used influential men from almost every branch of Mennonites, to keep the matter of giving for relief in Europe alive and before the public. As we think over the various Mennonite communities we find these men and women everywhere. Many of them made considerable sacrifice and rendered very effective service. All these factors played their part in stimulating the American Mennonites to share their prosperity with their unfortunate fellowmen in various parts of Europe, and paved the way for the great undertaking among their brethren in Russia. Following are brief sketches of the organization and work of the relief committees of some of the larger Mennonite groups, which united under the Central Com- mittee for the undertaking in Russia. Paciric BRANCH OF THE RELIEF COMMISSION During the war and especially during the stress of the reconstruction and revolutionary period in Europe, reports began to come from far away Siberia of famine and suffering in that vast country of the far North. Because of the extreme cold weather the need of clothing became acute even before the need of bread. Letters came to friends in America, pleading for help. The description of existing conditions was such that it appealed most effectively to the many Mennonites of this country and 34 FEEDING THE HUNGRY therefore found a most hearty response. Interest in the gathering of clothing and in giving for relief was early stimulated by the aggressive attitude of Rev. M. B. Fast of Reedley, Cal., and others, who were pioneer agitators for relief work among the Mennonites of America. The work received official form and general public sanction by the organization of the Pacific Branch with B. B. Reimer, Reedley, Cal., as Chairman, Rev. W. P. Neufeld, Reedley, Secretary, and M. B. Fast, Treasurer. General appeals were made for new and used clothing, which soon began to come in such quantities that it required the attention and time of several brethren to see that the packing and shipping was properly taken care of. The Brethren M. B. Fast, and Wm. P. Neufeld of Reedley and J. F. Harms then of Seattle, Wash., seem to have given most time and effort in order to make the work a success, even though it was connected with many difficulties because of the disorderly conditions in the world generally and particularly so in revolution-torn Russia, and bandit-infested Siberia. With the magnitu