Page:Mennonite Handbook of Information 1925.djvu/110

 different war funds, threats were made and some put into execution,—such as tar and feathering, painting houses and barns in yellow, and decorating autos and buildings with flags.

The War closed in November, 1918. It left millions of people in war-stricken countries homeless, helpless, penniless, hopeless, dying by thousands from famine and pestilence. While not willing to help prosecute the War, Mennonites were not slow to contribute their mite toward the relief of suffering humanity. Accordingly there was organized in Dec. 1917 a relief commission known as "Mennonite Relief Commission for War-sufferers." Volunteers were sent to France, to the Near East, and later to Russia. There have been few changes made in this organization, the present Executive Committee consisting of Aaron Loucks, D. D. Miller, Eli Reist, Levi Mumaw, and E. L. Frey. In common with other Mennonite relief organizations, a Mennonite Central Committee was organized to look after the poor in Russia and, in co-operation with the Mennonite Colonization Committee, to help such Russian Mennonites as desire it, to come to America.

As an evidence of their sincerity, Mennonites, since the armistice was signed, have volunteered to serve with the reconstruction forces without pay; besides these people as a body have within the six years since the war is over, contributed over a million dollars for the support of the hungry and destitute in war-torn lands. Of the many thousands who clamored for entrance into the field of strife, there are a large percent who aver that never again could they be induced to go into the ranks of the army