Feeding the Hungry, P. C. Hiebert, 1929

nt meeting of repre- sentatives of Mennonite Relief Organizations should be called to meet at Elkhart, Indiana on the 27th day of July, 1920. Bro. D. H. Bender was entrusted with the duty of sending out the formal call in the name of the Committee on Information. I. Jornr MEETING oF THE VARIOUS MENNONITE RELIEF COMMISSIONS This meeting was held according to announcement in the Prairie St. Mennonite Church Elkhart, Ind. The follow- ing were in attendance: Levi Mumaw, Scottdale, Pa.; D. H. Bender, Hesston, Kans.; D. D. Miller, Middlebury, Ind.; H. H. Regier, Mountain Lake, Minn.; W. J. Ewert, Hillsboro, Kans.; P. C. Hiebert, Hillsboro, Kans.; Eli G Reist, Mount Joy, Pa.; Arthur Slagel, Flanagan, IIL; Orie O. Miller, Akron, Pa.; Ernest E. Miller, Rawson, 50 FEEDING THE HUNGRY Ohio; Sanford Yoder, Kalona, Iowa; Vernon Smucker, Scottdale, Pa.; Aaron Loucks, Scottdale, Pa.; and A. Friesen, Halbstadt, South Russia. The work done at this meeting can perhaps best be expressed in the following extract from the minutes: 1. The meeting was opened by prayer and Scripture reading by D. D. Miller, Middlebury, Ind. 2. The organization of the joint committee was effected by electing the following officers: Moderator, D. H. Bender, Hesston, Kans.; and Secretary, P. C. Hiebert, Hillsboro, Kans. 3. Aaron Loucks, Scottdale, Pa., explained the purpose of calling this meeting by stating that the Mennonite Relief Commission for War Sufferers expected to send out a Unit of relief workers to South Russia, if possible in August; and that the Russian Commission had desired this meeting of all the relief committees to accord to all an opportunity for cooperation. 4, A. A. Friesen described conditions in South Russia bearing on the question of relief at that time, and made the following suggestions, which according to his mind would be commendable: The field and the need is very extensive including 100,000 Mennonites and many Lutherans and Catholics surrounding them. The greatest needs to-day are Cloth- ing, Medicines and Food. Such as can, should be en- couraged to pay for what they receive, others must be helped outright. The work of distribution should be carried out in united action by all the relief workers, because of a number of very evident advantages. For America the several standing Relief Commis- sions might continue, but it is advisable that they have a joint executive committee. Second Session 1:00 P. M. After several plans had been presented and discussed the question of organizing for united relief work resulted in the following resolution: THE MENNONITE CENTRAL COMMITTEE 51 Resolved, that we the representatives of the several branches of Mennonites assembled at Elkhart, Ind., this 27th day of July, 1920, deem it well and desirable to create a Mennonite Central Committee, whose duty shall be to function with and for the several relief committees of the Mennonites, in taking cha