The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1894-10-22

The largest congregation which has
been in the Central Union Church
since DIR. Talmage preached there
some months ago, assembled last even
ing. Adjutant Egner and his ascot
ates conducted the service, the former
telling some OF the circumstances OF
the forming of the Salvation Army
and also giving a few statistics OF It's
monetary affairs. He said, in part:
"I love to tell the people about the
doings of the army, If by doing so L
can accomplish any good, but would
rather go TO work practically. L was
asked to hold this meeting, and con-
sented, as understand that there are
many people here in Honolulu who
know nothing of the workings of the
army. have been for the last eight
years actively connected with the
work of the army in America, and
during that time have learned a
great deal about its workings
GAS you know, General William
Booth Is at the head of the army.
Very early in his Christian life, an
American clergyman visited England
and held some remarkable meetings.
At one of these meetings, Mr.. Booth
was greatly impressed, and shortly
afterward he started leading series
of street meetings At the age OF
twenty-four he entered the ministry
and had remarkable success In saw
ing souls. He felt that his mission in
life was to go out and seek the lost
and neglected classes. He took the
east end of London, and those OF you
who know that part of the city, know
what an awful place it Is. He resigned
from the Church and, at the age of
twenty-six, he married. His wife was
with him heart and soul in all his
work, and he has said many times
that mad it not been for her, he would
have given down under his trials many
times.
"On July I'd, 1865, General Booth
held what afterwards turned out TO be
the first Salvation Army meeting. L
have heard il said that at that meet
ing the crowd was made up OF the
worst class of people of those slums-
cutthroats and thieves. For a while
il seemed as though the crowd would
kill the general and his associates. He
closed his eyes and prayed for them
many of those rough men present were
weeping. The work spread, and calls
began to come from other parts of Lon
don and of England
General Booth at first said that his
idea was only to convert people and
send them to the churches. But 1t
was found that they were not wanted
there. This may sound cruel, but 1t
is so. do not mean to say the lead
ii "A tn
these converts were men taken from
the lowest ranks OF life, and they were
not accustomed to the ways or the
church. They did not know what an
usher was, and when they went to
church they would take any seat they
wanted, and often they would be
asked TO leave. Another reason was
that they did not want to go. They
felt more at home at the places where
they had been converted, and besides,
they felt that they wanted to help
convert others. So they went to Gen
eraI Booth, and asked him to let them
stay and work with him. He consent
ed, and the nucleus of the Army was
formed.
1.-THE work spread rapidly and very
Unexpectedly assumed the military
form now in use. In 1878 what was
called the council of war was held. In
existence. One year later there were
fifty, and ever since that time there
has been a steady and great increase.
Soon after this it was decided to call
the organization the Salvation Army
instead of the Christian Union, by
which name il had been formerly
known
az am not going TO give you many
statistics, as they might not interest
Ill Lr,t Il fax ri
ing the standing OF the army. L have
not any late statistics, the latest De-
ing those of four years ago, but these
will give you an idea Of our work. At
that time we had four thousand corps
in active work, with ten thousand
commissioned officers We had =
hundred training homes. These lat
ter will require a little description.
They are homes where young men and
women are trained for active work in
the army. They stay there three, six,
nine and sometimes twelve months,
and then they are ready 10 take the
field. The principal training Is In
active and practical work. At the
Oakland home, for instance, three
days of the week were given up TO
study. We studied the Bible, the
army rules and regulations, and
practical theology. Tue other days
were occupied in visiting. do not
believe there is q house in Oakland
which has not been visited by an
army cadet, who has asked permits
sion to enter and pray. They were
not always welcomed with open arms,
but we are pushing kind of people,
and if we were refused admiItance We
would pray on the steps or on the
sidewalk. Then again, part of our
time was put in by selling the War
Cry. We love to push the sale of
that paper. 1t does great good, and
reaches places which cannot other
wise be reached. The vilest of vile
dens of iniquity in America has seen
our soldiers enter with this paper in
their hands, and some are always left
in every place.
= aLVe have fifty rescue houses for