Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

anything out of the ordinary in the work of the Committee as a 8 FEEDING THE HUNGRY whole, it lay in the complete harmony and singleness of pur- pose with which it functioned throughout. Our views were seldom at variance and we never failed in a single instance to reach a unanimous conclusion. We had to keep in mind the differences in belief and in point of view between the various Branches of Mennonites and the prime importance of their working harmoniously in this great cause. It would have been desirable, but was not always possible, to give equal or proportionate recognition or representa- tion to each Branch. When such questions arose we had sufficient confidence in the true Christian spirit of our brethren throughout the various Branches to decide them with a view solely to the production of the best result. In our Chairman we had a very able leader and our Secretary-Treasurer handled with the utmost efficiency and executive ability a great volume of work. We established our headquarters at the Mennonite Publishing House at Scottdale, because it was our unani- mous opinion that we could work most effectively there; and the Publishing House, through its office, organization and facilities, contributed largely and gratuitously toward the success of the undertaking. The results accomplished would hardly have been possible or at least would have been much more difficult and consequently less effective, if the organization, sup- plies and facilities of the American Relief Administration, under which we worked, had not been available to us. By no means the least among the causes contributing to the result was the spirit of cooperation between the various Branches. We have long had the means to do bigger things in the Master’s service; it took a terrible crisis to arouse in us the spirit to do them and to make us forget our differences sufficiently to work together effectively. If we had worked separately, even though we had tried just as hard, the result would have been FOREWORD 9 much less;—and that less would have meant death to hundreds, if not thousands, of our brethren. Now that we know our strength, our responsibility is all the greater. Before we permit the spirit in which this work was done to become again dormant, let us read again, and read often, the Parable of the Talents. Maxwell H. Kratz. Philadelphia, Pa. PREFACE This report has been prepared by request of the Mennonite Central Committee for the purpose of giving an account of the stewardship committed to that body, and of informing the donors what has been accomplished with the liberal contributions made by the Mennonites of North America for the relief of the needy in Europe and Asia during the last eight years. Incidentally it may serve to give the outside world a better understanding and a truer conception of American Mennonites in their attitude and actions during the period of strained world-relati