He was invited to speak before the Geneva Society of Public Utility. That society took sufficient interest in his contention to call an international conference to meet in Geneva in the autumn of 1863. Delegates came from sixteen nations, and, after going into the subject, they laid some plans for future action and adjourned. A year from that time a more formally and authoritatively delegated assembly met in the same city. Before it adjourned, the famous Geneva Convention had been written and signed by its members. That convention did not specifically outline the plan of the present Red Cross Society, but it did make possible its organization and activity. Fourteen nations ratified the Geneva Convention at that time. As it came to be better understood and more greatly appreciated, others added their approval. Today all the principal nations of the world have approved and adopted it. It has long since come to be a movement of such influence and proportions as to command the fullest sanction of international law. The emblem chosen for this society was the familiar red cross design which has long since become a symbol of sanitation and cleanliness. The Turkish Government alone failed to adopt this uniform symbol. According to its traditional ideals, it chose the use of the crescent instead. It was not long until agreements were made by which the rules and practices of the Red Cross Society were applied in the navy as well as in the army. Now the man who falls wounded upon a battleship receives the same helpful attentions as does the fallen hero of the land forces. Moreover, the Red Cross symbol until this present war has been immune to attack on sea as well as on land. Conventions have, of course, been determined upon which are designed to prevent the wrongful use of the familiar symbol of mercy in time of war. The various national Red Cross organizations are independent in their formation and responsibility, yet it to be regarded as the Geneva Committee is to be regarded as central in its prestige and influence if not in power and authority. From time to time, Americans have been honored with places upon that committee. W. H. Taft was made president of it some years ago and is today one of the world’s most enthusiastic Red Cross workers. The American Red Cross Society was organized in 1884 by Miss Clara Barton, who throughout life interested herself in this and similar labors of unselfish helpfulness. She has been to the American Red Cross Society what M. Dunant was to the international organization.