The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1895-12-23
RlscUtRs OF THE SINFUL
How the Salvation Army Musters
Its Recruits.
SIGNING SOLDIERS PASSES
Interesting Stories Told by the OFF,
GERS Of the Gospel Army-Net Only
the Poor Are Saved, hut Occasion
ally u Distinguished Convert Joins
the Ranks.

Ihere are many. strange and curious
characters from 1.-THE humber walks of
ire among the people who seek salvation
and the experiences OF the young women OF
lhe salvation Apny who devote their time
entirely 10 religious work among the pool
aYf iOwiy are varied and remarkable.
The Ariny's battlefelds are the city's
sluins, and their Onsiaughts are made or
those whose vic1ousness Is due 10 ignor
ance and lack OF teaching, rather than
sin for its own sake. From such people
vast amount OF knowledge OF human
ways can be obtained. and the Saliva.
ti9nists learn almost as much as they teach
Inc work or the Salvation Army here
Is IN charge or two young ladies', who have.
since chlluhood almost, been active work
ers Tor the cause. Adit. Isabelle Wood Is
Az the head or the local branch and Cant.
Eva Dunlap Is her assistant. At the meet
lngs they are aided by soldiers selected
IRON the ranks OF regular converts.
Inc Darracks' are 10 u big brown front
avenue between Ninth and Tenth streets.
Across the front. IN mighty letters OF red.
Save" and the big hall ON the second floor
is the scene Of nightly assemblages. such as
can be found In no other place or worship
in the city.
On the third floor are the living rooms
of the Officers. fitted up with the ia ste and
comrort that only woman's hand could
give It,. There the officers eat and sleep.
and transact all the business connected with
the army.
STRANGE AND CURIOUS WORK.
In response to suggestion from a Times
reporter that she tell something about the
work OF the army, and her own experiences
among the people. Adjuiant Wood said:
There is, OF course, a great deal that is
strange aud curious in our work. but for us
there is very little variety. Our converts
are mostly from among the poorer class.
and there really isn't much Of interest from
tne poorer classes"
Frequently. The army is of course in
tended to reach the poor, but great many
OF our members are people who occupy
good positions. At one or our special meet
ings recently We made a convert OF a man
who is in the Bureau OF Engraving and
PRINTING. Up to the uiGht he dropped into
our han he mad been drunkard. ssfam-
lily was neglected and often In want. while
he spent his earnings in drink. When he
came to US that night he was on the brink
OF committing suicide. Now he is a diff
ferent man in every way and not only him
self, but his family, is benefited by his
conversion. That's very Interesting TO u.s.
OF course but it isn't to outsiders"
The reporter disagreed with the adiu-
taDt, however, and tried to get her remiuIs-
cent, SO she said:
THE best way to find out what queer
experiences We have is to go through
them yourself. Come around to the meet
ing tonight"
reporter was on hand and watched the hall
fill up. When the hour OF the meeting ar
rived II was full, and more varied audi
eDce could never be found outside the hall
Scattered here and there through the han
were neatly-dressed men aud women, some
OF them members of the army, and some
like the reporter, there out OF mere Gu
riosity-
AN ARMY MEETING.
Surrounding them on all sides were the
humber soldiers OF the army. The typical
hobo, with his tattered garments and un
shaver face, was conspicuous, and couple
OF old eol0red a uDties sat one a bench a "a inst
the wan and paid close and devout attention
10 tine services.
The diminutive negro janitor, one of
the converts in whom the adJutant takes
joining Justify in the singing and at prayers
taking up his station on the 'Penitent
Form in front of the platform.
4 This little negro is an excellent example
of the class of work the SaNationists are
doing Turned adrift on the world by ig-
noraDt and heariess parents. " 18th no
OF ways 10 earn a living, his
only resource was TO steal. He became one
OF The toughest of street gamins, with
police court record as long as The worst of
them have.
time I'd see policeman on de street I'd
run an hide. Dey wuz always chasln me.
Now ain afca rd oh dem nor nobody cause
belong to de Lord"
"A SPECIMEN CONvERT.\
The boys earnestness when he tells how
wicked he was, and how good he is, is i'm
He was. though, all he Describes
until one of the soldiers OF the army took
him In hand, and allowed him to work
around the hall rs sort OF lanitor. Now
he follows the army, and tries as hard as
any of them to make converts.
The nightly services begin with sing
ing at O'Clock, and then the adiutant
or Capt. Dunlap talks To. the audience.
During the services several of the female
workers 90 through the hall and single out
individuals to talk to and try to save. No
Dne, however lowly, is without the pale OF
heir good inf}uepces. and no task too hard
FOR them to undertake.
At the close OF the services the ad1utant
all who desired to become con-
rerts to hold up their hands. and, after Il
good deal of persuasion and eloGuence. on
Ter part, two hands went up. Then those
holder ones left their seat sand kneit around
he "Peniient Form where all the soldiers
we're kneeliny.
IN THE ..PENITENT FORM
The frs t one to sho W evidence of religious
ervor was young man, rather better-look-
Ing than the average man i'll the hail. He
vas no hesitancy about his movements. he
aised his hand boldly and wake dup to the
,enitent form and knelt beside the black
Joy without a backward glance. As the
Il