The Portland daily press., 1885-01-14
FIRST CORPS.
Banquet and Presentation of Col
ors to Saco's Salvation Army.
Interesting Gathering OF the Red Jer-
seys and Poke BonnetS.
(special to the Prsss.1

sAco, Jan. 13.-The grand hallelujah BAN
quet and presentation of colors to the Saco
First Maine Corps Of the Salvation Army, &C.
Cured this afternoon and evening, and was
most brilliant success. The visiting digoita-
ries of the Army arrived at the Biddeford sta
tion of the Boston & Maine, on the 4.20 east
bound train, where they were met by over 100
members of the Saco branch, when line of
march was formed, headed by Capt Happy
Bill OF Saco, and Capt Thompson OF Dover.
Directly following were Capt. hampton Of
Haverhill, Mass, who is familiarly known a.
the "Haleluiah Jumping Jack; Capt. Bailey,
the "Saved Sport" OF Salem; Capt. Happy
Jack, of Boston, the "Saved Hoodlum," and
the portly Capt. Billy Gray, of the Portland
warriors.
In the rear of these were Major Frank
Smith, Commissioner for the United States.
protected on either side by Capt. Gray's halle
luiah wife and Capt. Anne Shirley, whose
happy, smiling faces sent beams of sunlight in
all directions. Black George, the musical
SNOWFALL" next followed in sweet solitude,
while the Ssco corps, with squad of Dover
veterans, formed ths rank and file OF the rear
Of the procession. A number of bannorets
were carried, containing such embellishments
as "Hallsluiah unto the Lord" "Death, then
Salvation" }" "Prepare for God" etc..
The line of march was from the depot to the
Storer street barracks, Saco, via Main street,
Bid1eford An immense crowd was gathered
about the depot upon the arrival of the visit
ors, and the sidewalks along the line of march
were simply jammed. A hallslujah drum
corps, assisted by the tambourines, furnished
the accompaniment to the grand hslleluish
chorus, which echoed in every direction during
the march.
Upon arriving at the barracks, s scmptuous
banquet was partGken of, the feast, which had
been spread in the basement hall, continuing
from to O'Clock. From 7.3O to 8 o'clock,
rouying halleluiah free-and-sasy was held in
the audience room above, where large nuA-
ber of experiences were given.
The presentation of colors concluded the
ceremonies. Maj. Smith, alter giving brief
history of The rise and progress of the Saliva
tion Army, presented to Capt. Happy Bill the
colors of the "Saoo First Maine Corps" en-
joining him to be ever true to the pure princi-
pies OF the army. The emblemstic colors of
the banner are yellow, red and blue; yellow
star occupies the center upon red back
ground; the words ."blOod," and "fre," and
'First Maine,' being lettered upon the star.
A blue border surrounds the banner, while the
national emblem, the Stars and Stripes, in
dininutive form, occupies an upper corner, the
whole being surmounted by golden eagle up-
on the staff.
Tomorrow lMsi. Smith and party leave for
Portland, and tomorrow evening the portland
Second Maine Corps" will be honored with a
stand of colors.
The Saeo army has thus far been instrument
tai Of much good. -Four hundred and eighty
two conversions have occurred, while nearly
one hundred of these ballelujah lads and las
sizes have donned the red jersey and poke bon
net; the lads have smashed the cup" and
thrown away their tobacco, while the lassies
have brushed back their bangs and laid
aside the feathered bonnet fer the plain poke.