The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-13
THE ARMY OF
JESUS CHRIST.
A Queer Little Secession
From the Salvation
Army.
1T HAS TALENT" IN IT.
The General" and Organizer
Has a Big Ambi.
ton
BUT A VERY SMALL AUDIENCE
1t Has Temporarily Suspended the
Barber Business on Account
of Drunkenness.

There is queer little religious "army'
operating in Merchants street, just oppo-
site Dunbar alley, with its Morgue and
lately the police station.
The headquarters is a naturally dismal
little room decked out in American flags
and tricolored bunting.
The front of the place is forbidding, the
doors and windows being covered, with
boards nailed over them, and wearing the
appearance of the last stage of dilapida-
ton. Above the door is the legend
"Jesus Christ's Army-services between s
and 10 P. NJ"
Inside the little room there is number
of rude benches, small platform in the
rear, with stand covered with wall paper
and decorated also with an American flag
Above the stand against the wall is the
word "Welcome" in large, red ana blue
letters.
The room is twice partitioned so that
there are three in one. The main d.
vision is in the center. and on the other
side of it. so the general says, are slice pir g
hunks that may be engaged for 5 cents, in
Guiding breakfast.
The other partition is little square in
plain boards in the corner at the door and
forms the generals office, where he keeps
the bass drum and the one hymn book
belonging to his army.
In the corner of the general room with
the benches is greasy and worn BARRIERS
chair and against the plain boards of the
generals Office is notice printed in lead
pencil that the price of shaving is cents
and of hair-cutting 10 cents.
The shaving and hair-cutting branch of
| the Army of Jesus Christ has been tempo
rariIy suspended. A barber was engaged
for some little time, but he was drunk
nearly all the time, and as General Dug
gan explained Yesterday, you know that
wouldn't do. We had to let him CO."
General Duggan is the organizer of the
Army of Jesus Christ. He wears bright
red cap with the name of the army in gold
across the front. The rest Of the uniform
consists of long blue clerical frock coat
with big black buttons up the front and
stand-up collar. He wears no stars or
bars and calls attention to the plainness
of the outfit as showing that he does not
wish to heap distinction upon himself in
the matter of dress.
General Duggan was soldier in the
ranks of the salvation army for several
years, he says, but left it upon discovering
that that organization did not do for the
poor what it professed to; that instead of
giving away the clothes and provisions
donated for the purpose its officers sold
them.
The general organized the new army Just
seven months ago and points with pride
to the achievements of that short time.
| He says he is now feeding from fifteen
to twenty people a day at cents each.
The kitchen is Just back of the general
meeting-haIl. Breakfast is served at
| o'clock, when the men are turned out of
their cots, dinner at noon and supper be-
tween and 5. The religious services be-
gin at o. clock and continue until 10.
At o'clock last night the services were
| in full swing. A man with no uniform sat
at one end of the little platform, Justify
beating q bass drum, while the general
sang the welI-known hymns in vogue with
! the Salvation Army.
There were three men who sat on the
benches in front of the stand. silent
auditors. The bass drummer beat the
drum, but raised not his voice. The gen.
eral changed the tune time and again, and
calling Gods blessing upon his audience.
begged them to join him in the hymn.
But they would not.
An old woman in room above the
saloon across the street. annoyed by the