Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-07-26
THE SALVATION ARMY.
WRITTEN FOR THE WICHITA DAILY EAG,
To the Editor of the EAGLE

| in the United States, two separate organ
izations sailing under the above name.
| and as l am somewhat acquainted with
these organizations, although not mem
Der of esther. yet l feel it my duty
as a christian to protect the one from
| the scandal of the other.
The corps that we have in Wichita st
the present time is branch OF the Saliva
ton army which was started II London,
England, about twentv-three years ago,
by the Rev VIM. Booth, WHO'S also
at the present time the general or
this army which is today pro
claiming the glorious gospel IN
about eighteen or twenty different
countries and il several different Ian
guages. Mr.. Ballington Booth, sou of
VIM. Booth, is the commander of the
States forces OF the Salvation army and
| also publisher of their official organ known
as "War Cry" offices aud headquarters at
Ill Resde street, New York.
Another organization sailing under the
| name of Salvation army is under the COM
luand of one Mr.. Moore their generah
who was thrown out of the organization
under the command OF Booth for good
and sufficient reasons. To my personal
knowledge the organization under Gen
eral' % Moore has scandaliZed itself in
several different places in this country,
and has during the last light or zine years,
since it pulled off from the other organiza-
ton. been rapidly decreasing. while on the
other hand the organization under General
Booth has been rapidly increasing.
Eight years ago tie Booth army only
lad very few corps and officers in the
United States. Today they have in the
neighborhood of 500 officers and upward
10000 members, of which Wichita has
thirty members and two officers. / will
also add for the benefit OF many who
has asked the Gu ,stion, that all money or
monies received 10y the Wichita corps in
collection remain right in Wictia, and is
expended In payment fer rents, and the
/ support Of the two officers in charge, which
support, by the way is sometimes very
scanty. To my knowledge some of the
officers that have been in charge has gone
for two days at time on different occas-
ions without anything tn eat, All money
received for War Crys is sent To hea lGuar-
tiers at New York, and is used Tor the ad-
vancemen, of the cause in thls country,
and belongs to the Salvation Army in the
| United States.
do not know where the eltor of the
evi n ng paper referred 10 received his
authority for the statements he made in
regard to the two ladies that visited the
barracks on Friday night last, but as |
| was present on the ni-ht in question,
can fearlessly say that some of the state
| ments that appear in that paper were bare
faced falsehoods, and the ladies in ques
ton were respectfully asked to keep quiet
in the following words: "Will those two
ladies back there keep quiet2 God bless
you"
They did not ask the leaders protection
to her or any of the members knowledge
and they were not asked 10 leave the hall
at all.
The Salvation army may disturb our
peace, we may cry utagainst their drums,
ambourines and so forth. still there is one
thing re mains an undeniable fact, and
that fact is they have done great deal of
good in Wichita.
Any person who has attended their meet
ing from time to time since they have been
in Wichita and listened to the testimonies
Of the once dissipated drunkards, liber
tines, gamblers, etc, will bear me out
when say that many of them are today
holding positions of trust in this and other
cities, and large number of our best
church members were converted in the
Salvation army.
The paper referred to on Tuesday asked
the following questions in regard to the
army: "What interest have they in the
welfare of the city?" What is their
mental capacity" l will say that the
members of the Salvation army of Wichita
is composed of men who earn their bread
by the honest sweat of their brow, and
there are no idlers or loafers among the
members and they have as much interest
in the welfare of Wichita as any other
laboring citizens, and by far more than
they had before they were converted.
In regard to mental capacity. | will in
form the editor of that paper that Miss
Grace Oliver, the present lieutenant of the
Wichita corps, displays mental capacity
that he may justly enjoy. (Primus inter
Pares.) Listening to some of the speeches
in the army for one week will improve a
person mentally and morally far more
than reading the evening paper alluded to |!
will for Que year. Having tried both / !
know whereof affirm.
The Booth army has not'been suppressed |
In any town in the U. S., and in the cities |
of Winfield, Wellington, Newton, Ottowa,
Ft. Scott, Topeka, Kansas City /
and many other cities in Kansas and many 4
other states, have police protcctionin their
march, open air meetings and in their
barracks.
In concluding. 1 will say on behalf of |
the Salvation Army that hope the board |
Of police commissioners and the citizens /
Of Wichita Will look at the matter Of sup
pressing the army in an unprejudiced
light. l believe they are serving God con-
and ought TO be allowed all |
the privileges possible.
On the other hand, I will say that any
thing they do that is nuisance and de
structive either 10 life or property ought
TO be suppressed, by all means.
l have written the above as An explana-
ton and not to uphold anything that is
detrimental to the welfare of the Princess
Of the Plains
Yours, pro dec ct ecclesia,
DAVID X. FRANCIS
Wichita, Kan, July Is. ISIS.