The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-09
THE SALVATION ARMY.
A Captain and Squad Propose to Assault
Louisville.

Louisville Courier-Journal, Saturday.
Captain J. w. Blosser, of the Salvation
Army" has been in Louisville for some time
arranging for inauguration of gospel work
on this territory. He has rented Bowles
Hall for an indefinite period, and the shout
der will be put to the wheel Sunday. Louis
willie will be made the headquarters for the
Southwest division, which will embrace the
country within a radius of 290 miles, with
Captain BloSser i'll command. Three addi-
tional officers OF the army are on their way
to this place and will arrive in time to take
partin the services tomorrow, which open
from the courthouse steps at p NJ
From Captain Blosser a Courier-Journal
reporter learned some of the history and
movements of the Salvation Army. He
said THE organization is on a military
basis, with a general and commissioned of
ficers. The commander-in-chief is General
William Booth, of London, England, who
organized the movement in 1885. In 1876
the present name was adopted, with the mill
tary features. There are now over LOCO of
ficers at work in England, Wales, Ireland
France, Switzerland and other European
countries, and in India, Australia and New
Zealand. There are probably fifty officers at
work in this country, with headquarters in
Brooklyn, n Y. Half of these officers came
over from England. Work began in this
country in Philadelphia three years ago,
when seven officers came over. Now we
have nineteen stationed in the United States,
where our forces are actively engaged.
Major T. E. Moore is in command in
this country and maps out the campaigns.
Our object is to reach a class of people
who will not attend the churches-gamblers
drunkards, prostitutes, thieves and every be-
ing with a soul to be saved. We want above
all things else to convert sinners and then
we leave it to them to join any church they
please, or to enroll themselves with our or
ganization. Our stations are to be perpetu-
al. We come to stay. We think this the
best method of doing good, and thousands
and thousands of men and women, many of
them in the lowest depths of sin and wretch
edness, have joined our army in its march to
the promised land. Many of the most har-
dened gamblers and abandoned women have
been converted, and they became our most
Jealous workers and enterupon lives of purity
and usefulness. l worked for twelve years
in evangelical work before joining the Saliva
ton Army, and | find this the most effective
way of winning sinners to the cause of Christ.
General Booth was a Methodist evangelical
worker for many years before he planned
this organization. He finds this by far the
best method, and has drawn thousands from
the slums and cesspools of London and other
great European cities
II see you wear uniform, Captain said
the reporter. Eyes, that is a feature of our
military organization. 1t seems to give up
better hold on the people, and the work
moves smoothly along. Ali of our officers,
and the privates engaged with us, are uni
formed"
The uniform is a navy-blue suit, trimmed
with red cord, with high and close-ftting
collar. A dark-blue helmet with small,
red leather band, crowns the crusader. A
metal badge, mounted with an eagle and
stamped with Salvation Army" completes
the outfit.
Captain Blosser is an intelligent, earnest
looking man, with sincerity imprinted upon
his face.