Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1892-01-30
WORTHY OF HIS HIRE
sALvATloMsTss SALARIES BARELY
ENOUGH TO LIVE On

In Fact, the Salvation Army Officers Have
to Practice Much Self Denial to Live
Comfortably on Their Weekly stipenis.
The Head Gets Seven Dollars Week.
People who entertain doubts concern
ing the financial administration OF the
Salvation Army in America, and who
fancy that the leaders of the movement.
Marshal Darlington Booth and his wife
are rather luxurious people. deriving a
handsome support from Salvation Army
funds, would be somewhat surprised by
view of the Booth inenage, while an
investigation of the manner in which
moneys are received. expended and ac-
counted for to the last penny by the
treasurer reveals SO complete and simple
d system that the merest tyro in inan-
cial affairs can readily understand its
methods.
The Booths used to live in tiny fiat
In New York until Master Willie.
blooming lad of four years, grew too big
| for his surroundings He needed more
sunshine and purer air than he could get
In the small rooms and not too pleasant
street, where he had to take his daily ex-
ercises SO the family moved across the
| river to modest little house set high in
quiet, breezy place
| Mrs Booth crosses one of the Jersey
| ferries every morning coming from her
| house to her little Office at the national
headquarters of the Salvation Army III
Reade street.
| She says very frankly that it is cheap
er living over there; takes no more time
| to reach the Office; is UNNECESSARILY bet
| ter and healthier for her son. and be
| sides affords her an occasional opportun
! ity for the rest which she needs from
| time to time and could rarely secure
when living in town.
| The desirable end would be defeated
by publishing her address, so many PEG
Pile wish to see the young woman who is
fond of calling herself the mother OF
! the army in America, and who in spite
| of her evident youth really does moth
or" the forlorn of all ages, sorts and con-
| ditions, who turn to her for counsel and
! comfort
MRS. BOOTH GETS 81 A WEEK.
But it is only her presence which lends
charm to the small. spare abode. its
| plainness is only relieved by flowers and
photographs. There is "a piano. of course
Salvationists always make provision for
music, and good many books, not secu-
| lar, but relating to the various branches
| of the work she is devoted to
! Household service is done by q Saliva
| ton lassie who also takes care OF the
| child.
| His mother finds time to fashion the
| little lads garments and to do many
dainty bit of embroidery of Latin mot
| toes or Scripture texts, with which his
costumes are embellished The extreme
| frugality of the Booth establishment
would mean perjury elsewhere in this
case it translates self denial, which is
part of the faith ard the daily habit of
these young people
In speaking of the grave misapprehen
| sions OF their motives and methods
which is SO prevalent, Mrs Booth said:
My father-i in law, General Booth, is
! the founder and great head of the move
ment He has never received one penny
from the Salvation Army funds in any
way whatsoever.
my husband and are the leaders OF
the army in America. We do what is
virtually the work of a bishop in a do
cese extending from ocean to ocean.
"a am told people think we are paid a
great deal of money. Now, what will
you say to the exact figures? Remem-
Der. we share the work between us. We
receive exactly seven dollars week
apiece. Therefore fourteen dollars
week is our bishops salary. How does
that compare with the salaries of minis
tiers? This money is absolutely all we
receive from the army Moreover, my
husband and l look upon it as loan,
which we hope one day to repay with in
terest.
NO SOLDIERS PAID.
I'VE do not desire, nor could we if we
wished, touch dollar of the army
funds. Every cent contributed OF de-
rived from any source whatever must
pass through the hands of an account
ant, whose books are regularly submit
ted to a chartered auditor, Mr.. J E.
bliss, anu dttGSteQ DGlCI6 d uOtd1 pun
lie, Mr.. Morris 81. Smith"
These gentlemen, by the way, are not
Salvationists. Mrs. Booth also said:
81 do not know of a single soldier in
our ranks in the United States who is
paid cent for being there Self sup
port is our great principle for individuals
as well as for stations
Those who join us are expected to
help carry on the work by giving the
money they formerly expended in world
ly pleasures or needless Injuries. Sal
vationists do not take vows of poverty,
but they are pledged to a self denial
which often means the same thing.
when a new station is established
help must be given of course until it is
able to stand alone. The travelling ex-
penses of officers who are to found it are
paid. Officers are generally sent out in
pairs to establish mission. These ex-
penses are taken from the reserve fund
Next hall is rented for the meeting
and sometimes band must be hired
Often by the time this is done there isn't
a cent left. The slight fee for admit
tance to the meeting and voluntary con-
tributions are relied on to defray all ex-
penses. These are paid before the off,
GERS get anything. But the laborer is
worthy of his hire and they are sure of
stipend of four dollars week within
hundred miles of New York and three
dollars and fifty cents outside of that
limit.
ANY excess over and above their ex-
penses is turned into the general fund
and credited as repayments. For in
stance, one year against an outlay of
something like $4,000 stands $4,000 re-
payments. In this way the army growth
is promoted in new quarters. New
York World