Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-07
CAPT. pIRT's STORY.

tain the interest in its meetings The officers
told STAR representative interesting stories Of
their experiences.
CAPT. BIRT's STORY
Capt. Brit said: 81 was born in England and
while was still little boy my parents re-
moved to this country. so that 1 have really
always been an American. Six years ago we
were living in Sharon, Pa, when Brigadier
Fielding Of the Salvation Army, who BY the
way started its work in Washington. came there
To- open meeting. l went out of curiosity
to see what it was like, got interested and after
attending II off and on for eleven
months was converted. 1t in an old skat-
ing rink, where, in my worldly days. / had
often had what / used to call good time ;"
But since then l have had better times
every day Of my life than ever had before.
did not at once go into the army as an
officer; in fact, for sixteen months
only worked with the army as a
soldier. until Brigadier Fielding invited me to
become an officer and. believing that God called
worldly prospects and devoted my life to the
service OF Christ III the army. / was sent
first to the training home in New York
where for four months / was trained and
taught as cadet, learning there not only
spiritual truths and practical methods for
spiritual work. but the humble details of cook
ing and generally caring for my material wants.
On graduating l was made lieutenant
and sent to Baltimore, and afterwsrd
served at Norfolk, Newbern, y. c., Beaufort,
Annapolis, Baltimore. Havre de Grace and then
to open the work with Capt. and Mrs. Stevens
at Salem, Va; then with Maj. French to open
corps No. at Baltimore; then to hold special
meetings at Roanoke. Va. and finally to Wash
ngton."
When questioned az to how he spent his
time the captain said: We'll, beginning Sunday
morning, we are up at $50; at 7 we
have prayer meeting for the work
OF the day, then We eat breakfast and then hold
an open air meeting. Our open air meetings
are usually either in Market space or down at
the wharves. At IL o'clock we have holiness
meeting at the hall. After dinner we have
another open air meeting. followed by a meet
ing IN the hall at 8 O'Clock. and after supper
another open air meeting, followed by the
meeting in the hall at o'clock. In between
the meetings we visit the sick or any especially
needy case that we know about. On Monday,
after We have cleaned up the hall, we make out
our regular reports. The rest Of the day we
spend IN visiting the comrades Of the army,
that Is the soldiers and the converts, especially
those OF recent meetings, and also the sick, and
then those who have seemed to especially need
Us IN the meetings, particularly the drunkards.
for the army, you know, aims especially at
those who need Christ most those who
are generally regarded as being beyond the
reach of Christian influences. AT $50 we have
prayer meeting for members of the army,
from which we go TO our open air meeting at
7:l5, returning at for the evening meeting in
the hall. after which we have smother meeting
for soldiers of the army. The routine on other
that on Saturday, when the War
Cry comes, we sell that on the streets
and in the saloons and to regular Gus
toners IN private houses. This is trying work
but most profitable, for many man and woman
has been coverted by the War Cry Saturday
nj tall owe he ha los
cal effort for drunkards We close the meet
ing early and go around the saloons and streets
looking for them and trying to bring them to
Christ"
The roughs do not attempt to interfere with
you or your meetings. do they?'
'Oh. no. not here. but / have been through
that kind of persecution elsewhere. / remem-
Der when i was a cadet they used to throw the
lids OF a stove at us when We we're trying to
hold meeting in Brooklyn. and they used to
strike us with their fists were coming
and going on the stairway. In fact the
police used to have to escort us to the ferry
boat in New York city. While marching In the
street was struck in the head with a stone; in
Baltimore / was struck at an open air
meeting. We never retaliAte nor meet force
with force but We Just say, "God bless
you and then. il il is in the meeting
We talk with the man and pray with him. and II
II Is IN the street We jus; go right on. Once In
Baltimore, / remember, the captain and
picked up drunken man in the street. q young
man well dressed and with a good watch and
chain. and took him to our hall lest some one
should try to rob him. and as soon as he be-
Came conscious he wanted to lick u.s. but we
talked with him and prayed with him and he
came around all right We often speak to men
In the street who have been drinking, and
while was IN Baltimore l was used in this way
10 prevent two men from committing suicide,
a. thew afterward testified"
LIEUT.. DAvIsoSs EXPERIENCES.
Lieut.. Dawson said in reply to the questions
asked; Il WIS born in England and have only
been IN this country year. but l am here to
STAY Ten years ago when i first saw the army
IL England L ridiculed it. and with other young
men even tried to interfere with its marches
and meetings. Those we're the times of perse-
cution for II in England. Why. / remember
seeing an officer of the army. whom afterward
I came to love, walking through the street at the
head Of some soldiers with the blood streaming
IN : HAtA;;';h