Below published Sept 10, 1914
Aylmer Express Newspaper
Aylmer Express Newspaper
The foundation of a Patriotic Society in Elgin is now a reality and the good people of this banner county may be depended upon to do all and even more than is expected of them. Our Port Bruce correspondent has caught the idea so clearly and concisely that we take the liberty of transferring his article to this column.
It reads as follows: “What is the Patriotic Society of Elgin country? It is a society formed at a meeting held in St Thomas on Saturday, Sept. 5th. What are its objects? To solicit funds to aid the dependents of those who volunteer for service in the titanic struggle going on in Europe. Who will be expected to contribute? Every British citizen in the county of Elgin. By whom is this fund to be handled? By a committee of twenty-eight of the leading citizens of the city of St. Thomas and country of Elgin. What are the arrangements for collecting this fund and its administration? Read all in the country press this week.
Now listen! On the 22nd and 23rd and 24th of this month all citizens of the city of St.Thomas and the county of Elgin will be called upon by such committees for their contribution. Have the matter thought out and your decision made of how much you will give so that when these gentlemen call they will not need to ask you for your contribution. You will tell them at once the amount you have decided to give. The enemy has overrun Belgium and is now at the gates of Paris. Should Paris fall the might of England’s strength must be thrown to the struggle. Men and money are wanted. We cannot all go to the front, but we can help those who do by our contributions...
Elgin County has organized a Patriotic Association and a strong representative committee has been struck. The Association has undertaken to ask the people of Elgin count to contribute $100,000 to the war fund of Canada and the empire. The distribution of this fund has not been decided and will not be until the money is in hand.
The people of St. Thomas, about one-third of the population of the county, hope to raise $30,000. Every township and rural community as well as the town of Aylmer and the villages will be asked to do their whole duty. Mass meetings will be held and the whole country organized for a cash contribution.
Money is the easiest thing for the people of this rich community to give. The towns and villages and the rural districts of Belgium and part of France are compelled by the ruthless band of the enemy to pay enormous war taxes. That may be our misfortune also later on; but in the meantime we should do our part toward preventing the calamity if we can. We can at least buy food for the men who are carrying our burden on the battlefield.
Contributing money, while the easiest of patriotic good works, is not the whole of our duty. This war is a life and death struggle. We simply must win. If the British fail the Kaiser will rule the western world. If the Germans win the German flag will take the place of the Union Jack. The property that belongs to the people will become the plunder of the victor. This is not a pleasant outlook; but the issue must be faced. Let every man do his duty.
It reads as follows: “What is the Patriotic Society of Elgin country? It is a society formed at a meeting held in St Thomas on Saturday, Sept. 5th. What are its objects? To solicit funds to aid the dependents of those who volunteer for service in the titanic struggle going on in Europe. Who will be expected to contribute? Every British citizen in the county of Elgin. By whom is this fund to be handled? By a committee of twenty-eight of the leading citizens of the city of St. Thomas and country of Elgin. What are the arrangements for collecting this fund and its administration? Read all in the country press this week.
Now listen! On the 22nd and 23rd and 24th of this month all citizens of the city of St.Thomas and the county of Elgin will be called upon by such committees for their contribution. Have the matter thought out and your decision made of how much you will give so that when these gentlemen call they will not need to ask you for your contribution. You will tell them at once the amount you have decided to give. The enemy has overrun Belgium and is now at the gates of Paris. Should Paris fall the might of England’s strength must be thrown to the struggle. Men and money are wanted. We cannot all go to the front, but we can help those who do by our contributions...
Elgin County has organized a Patriotic Association and a strong representative committee has been struck. The Association has undertaken to ask the people of Elgin count to contribute $100,000 to the war fund of Canada and the empire. The distribution of this fund has not been decided and will not be until the money is in hand.
The people of St. Thomas, about one-third of the population of the county, hope to raise $30,000. Every township and rural community as well as the town of Aylmer and the villages will be asked to do their whole duty. Mass meetings will be held and the whole country organized for a cash contribution.
Money is the easiest thing for the people of this rich community to give. The towns and villages and the rural districts of Belgium and part of France are compelled by the ruthless band of the enemy to pay enormous war taxes. That may be our misfortune also later on; but in the meantime we should do our part toward preventing the calamity if we can. We can at least buy food for the men who are carrying our burden on the battlefield.
Contributing money, while the easiest of patriotic good works, is not the whole of our duty. This war is a life and death struggle. We simply must win. If the British fail the Kaiser will rule the western world. If the Germans win the German flag will take the place of the Union Jack. The property that belongs to the people will become the plunder of the victor. This is not a pleasant outlook; but the issue must be faced. Let every man do his duty.
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