The record-union., 1896-10-18
TWO NOTED SALVATIONISTS.
Bfl6adlGF and Mrs. ]. ]. KeppGl to ha
Here Tomorrow.
A Sketch of the Lives of These Vigor-
ous Workers for the Saliva
ti0n Army.

Brigadier and Mrs. ]. j. Keppel, who
Will visit the city tomorrow. though
young in years, are veteran Salvation
lists. While still a youth Brigadier
Keppel was converted in a Methodist
revival meeting. He was employed in
publishing house in New York City,
| and devoted his time to tract distribu-
| ton and house TO house visitation.
One evening, while walking along the
| street, he saw d crowd, and pushing
his way to the front, beheld a little band
of kneeling Salvationists. He listened
10 their prayers and exhortations. and
when they marched to the hall ioined
the procession, carrying his cane and
KID gloves, and occupied front seat in
the meeting. He had felt call to
spend his life in Gods service. and the
heroic sacrifice of this little band that.
IN return for its message of love. was
greeted with sticks and stones. SCOTS
and jeers, appealed to him. and he decid-
ed to cast in his lot with theirs, and Ieay-
ing his lucrative position with its prom
lse Tor the future, he became an officer
in the Salvation Army.
His first station was IN PHILADELPHIA.
This was twelve years age, and then there
were only a handful of Salyatfonists in
the City Of Brotherly Love- Food was
scanty, and at one time the two officers
lived for week on bread and tomatoes.
To-day some Of the little band of SOL
diers who rallied round them are in the
field as officers, and some are still fight
ing on in the old corps but under
changed conditions.
Lieutenant Keppel was promoted to
the rank of A. .. G. while in PhiladeI-
phia. and then was sent to Maine to
assist the Major in charge. There he
met the future Mrs. keppel, then a
Captain in the army. She had been
converted in the army, and few
months after had gone into the field as
an officer, being sent from her home in
Maine to Jackson, Mich. She was full
of the self-sacrifice and devotion wErich
is characteristic OF Salvationists. and
often led street meetings when the snow
was deep; holding meetings one Sun
day IN a blizzard, when no other place
of worship in the town was Open She
was promoted to the rank of Captain
while in Michigan, and sent to New
York, where she filed several stations.
Something more than a year after
their first meeting they were married
in Washington, d. @. Then, having
the rank of Staff Captains, they went
back to Pennsylvania, where their first
station was at Johnstown. From there
they were sent in charge of the Central
Division, which comprised New York
and New Jersey. Then to the Kansas
and Missouri Division, and after that
Iowa, Nebraska, Dakota and Colorado
We're placed under their care. From
there they came to the Pacific Coast Di-
vision, where they have been for the
past four years.
During this time the social work Of
the army has greatly advanced. At
Eeulah, which lies nestled in the hills
back of Oakland, the army has it's Res
cue Home and Home of Rest for worn
out officers. An average of forty cases
pass through the Rescue Home yearly
The Children's Home is in San Fran
cisco. and there from thirty to thirty
five children taken from the homes of
degradation and poverty are lovingly
cared for. These branches of the work
are under Mrs. keppePs supervis-
ion. The Women's Shelter is now
under charge of Lieutenant Jennie De
Merritt. formerly of Sacramento, and if
is wonderful the power which this quiet.
gentle little woman exercises over the
outcasts of the street.
AT the Life Boat bath, bed and break
fast are supplied for five cents to men
who would otherwise have to sleen in
the streets. Progress with the Prison
Gate Home. to be established on the
farm recently rendered the army for
that purpose by Captain George Mont
gomery, is RAPIDLY being made and
Brigadier Keppel hopes soon to have
it in operation. Tt will be the first insti-
tuition of its kind In the United States.
Brigadier and Mrs. Keppei will lead
three meetings at the Salvation Army
Citadel, on Seventh street, between X
and L, on Sunday, one at IL a. m. and
another at 8 p. m. The evening meet
ing VIII be at o'clock.