Mrs. Eddy Mentioned Them October 22, 1955 Issue

Clara Barton, 1821–1912*

[Mentioned in The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany, pp. 296, 297]

Clara Barton , founder of the Red Cross in America, did her first nursing between the ages of 11 and 13 when she cared for her brother. This brother taught her the use of tools and how to tie a variety of knots—skills she was to use later. After this period of nursing she resumed her schooling, but at the age of 15 began to teach. Because her school ranked first in discipline, she was invited to teach in other schools. This experience and added study led to her being called to Bordentown, New Jersey, where she founded a public school with 6 pupils. The next year a new building was needed to accommodate 500 pupils.

From Bordentown she went to Washington, D.C., to work in the Patent Office. With the breaking out of the Civil War, her work changed again. At the station when the train came in bearing the wounded from the first clash, she saw their need and set to work feeding and caring for them and writing letters home. She also inserted an advertisement in a newspaper, pleading for cloth for bandages and homemade delicacies. Soon her rooms overflowed. Not satisfied with supplying the wounded as they were brought in, she finally obtained a pass to go to the battlefields. During 3 winters at the front she won the title "the angel of the battlefield." After the war she traced over 30,000 men, thereby beginning the Bureau of Records for Missing Men.

One year after she went to Switzerland to rest, the Franco-German War broke out, and Miss Barton worked with the Red Cross. Inspired by its work, she toiled for 5 years to make it known in the States. When the Geneva treaty was signed she became president of the American branch. She also amended the treaty to provide for Red Cross aid in time of peace.

Enjoy 1 free Sentinel article or audio program each month, including content from 1898 to today.

Send a comment to the editors
NEXT IN THIS ISSUE
Article
Signs of the Times
October 22, 1955
Contents

We'd love to hear from you!

Easily submit your testimonies, articles, and poems online.

Submit