Section 4: Purposes of the Society

(1) The general purposes of the Society shall be-
(a) in time of war, to furnish volunteer aid to the sick and wounded both of armies and among non-belligerents, and to prisoners of war and civilian sufferers from the effects of war, in accordance with the spirit and conditions of the conventions set out in the Schedule to this Act;
(b) to perform all the duties devolved upon a national society by each nation which has acceded to the said conventions;
(c) in time of peace or war, to carry on and assist in work for the improvement of health, the prevention of disease and mitigation of suffering throughout the world;
(d) to succeed to and take over all the right and property heretofore or now held and enjoyed by and all the duties heretofore performed by the former branch.
(2) The particular purposes of the Society shall be defined by rules made by the Central Council of the Society in accordance with section 7 of this Act:
Provided that nothing in such purposes shall be inconsistent with the provisions of this Act or with the spirit and intention of the said conventions.