Telegram-herald. ([Grand Rapids, Mich.) 18??-1892, 1891-10-07
SOLDIERS OF THU lord
The Unity Club Enjoys ap Even
ing With Them
FATHER LOVE MAKES 4 SPEECH
0iviag . nissery sf the Salvation Army.
Capt HarxreAsss Tells Hsw the
Army Wsrks and aew kask IL Es-
sabIishsd = Iutsrestisg session.

At the meeting Of the Unity Club last
night. held IN Temple Emanuel, the
minutes OF the proceeding meeting were
read aud approved. The president,
Miss Tupper. pastor of the IInitarian
church, announced the subject Of the
evening TO be 'srhe Salvation Army"
and said that she believed il TO be true
that the greater part OF the comma-
nifty knew but little of the organization,
although it had grown 10 large proper
tons IN our midst, aid was engaged IN
working tor good From thirty to forty
Of the Salvation Army were in attend
ance, and by request. sang one OF their
war songs. They sang with the came
spirit that they sing in the streets, and
made the yauited synagogue resound
with Salyatlen Army melody. The
words OF the song were interspersed
With ordinations of ''Bless the Lordi''
"Pralse God.' "The Blood of Jesus,"
eyes. Jesus will save!'
After the song, the speaker OF the
evening, James Low-"Father Low"
as the army aifectionately call him
was introduced. He gave q sketch OF
the life OF General Vim. Booth. founder
of the army. Converted at IL years.
he gathered some young men about
nim, and went out among the poorest
Of London, holding cottage meetings,
prayer meetings in the street. and 80
on. After time Mr.. Booth became .
Methodist preacher. but left the work
because it tied his hands too much, and
again went to London TO do mission
work. He went into the Whifechapei
district, and found q world of people
there who knew no more Of God than
do the people in Central Africa, and
who knew no meaning for the word
Jesus" save that In using il they made
an oath stronger.
Meet In q Graveyard.
God blessed his efforts among these
people and many were converted. lie
soon found that these people had no
place to 60 in the evening but 10 the
saloon or low theater. SO be decided 10
hold meeting every night of the
week, as the Salvation Army soldiers
do to this day. Their first meeting was
in an old tent on q hurying ground.
but the tent was blown down the first
Sunday, and SO . stable was secured.
From the very first Booth made evan
gelists of his converts. and SO the work
spread in geometrlcal ratio. 1t was
soon found necessary TO put on dis
tingulshing badge, both as q protection
to themselves and also TO let others
know who might wish 10 apply 10 them
Tor any kind of help The organlza-
ton was called the Christian Mission at
that time.
Ten years ago Miss Bpoth went to
Paris and secured room there; po-
liceman told her that she had all The
cutthroats Of Paris at her first meeting.
She preached. while they kicked her,
assaulted her and threw rotten eggs ut
her, but at last her efforts were re-
wsrded and many were converted.
There are now fifty or sixty stations in
France. From Switzerland she WAS
driven out 81 the point of the bayonet
ut first, but now the army is allowed to
preach in certain cantons under certain
conditions.
Twelve years ago the first Salvation
lists came TO New York city and their
first meeting was held in what was
called the vilest saloon in the United
States. Eight years ago some of the
army were invited to come TO Grand
Rapids.
Collections are taken up at every
meeting of the army. Out of the
money rent, gas and fuel are paid for,
aud the surplus, If there is any. goes to
pay the salaries of the officers. The
MEN are allowed 81 q week, but If
there isn't enough surplus to pay that
amount they take what they can get,
and nobody owes them anything. Ali
arc recommended to wear the uniform
and badge. About half of those who
are saved at the n eetings Of the army
go into the service.H
Every thing that the army does has
sprung Of the necessity of the case.
The common council, mayor and all
the city officers have done all they
could 10 drive the army out of Grand
Rapids on account OF the noise they
make in the streets. ,tut It Is the be-
lief of the army that If they would die
continue their noise they might as well
shut up the barracks.
Rank in the Army.
After song by one OF the lass les.
Captain Hsrgreaves, who is in charge
of the soldies here, was asked 10 speak.
lie said that after q man is converted,
VI Otttitlfs pItttntis tfatiBss
him a recruit: If he wishes 10 JON and
become soldier, they Try him for two
or three months, and then, If they find
him worthy. he signs the articles of
war. and is sworn IN publicly. A sold
Ter can wear shield, Guernsey or
Jersey. and a cap or q bonnet. with the
red band. Field officers are distln-
gulshed from soldiers by wearing
blue, yellow, or red braids on their
dress. A captain wears two rows of
red braid on ms collar; . lieutenant.
who assists the captain, wears yellow
braid, while a cadet wears two rows
OF blue braid. An ensign wears an
epauiet without star: an adiutant,
a silver : on collar and q star on the
epsulet; . major wears two eisre,
hrigadier. three stars; a colonel,
four stars; commander, i've
stars. and so on, the number
of stars increasing with the rank.
There are msny branches Of the work,
such ss the "Rescue Home" where
fallen women are cared for: the ''slum
Ssviors." who visit the siurns of the
large cities; the 'sPrlson Gate Brigade
who 60 10 the gsfes Of prisons 30 talk
with the newly rflessed pnsoners. the
Red Mars" when takes men away
from the lsIis and gives them food aud
work, II possible, the Midnight RS
cue" who members look for drnak-
ards in the bitches aud alleys; the "fs-
hrsr Hfrra~sf - q "A tha ssEr...4 ~u4 Ek.x4