The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1896-04-24
LOVERS In THE RANKS.
Courtships in the Salvation Army
Are Under Strict Rules.
There Is No Privacy About Engagements,
and There Is No backing Out
Outsiders May Not Court the
Army's Daughters

Love at first sight doesn't GO in the
Salvation Army. There's no room there
for lovesick maids or for signing swains,
and such amusements as flirtations are
frowned upon from headquarters down
to subalterns. No exceptions are made
to these rules in any case. They apply
to the commanders as well as to the
humble recruit just received on proba-
ton.
Thisw was admirably exemplified in the
case of Commander and Mrs. Booth
more than ten years ago. Ballington
Booth. son of the general. met and fell
in love with Maud Charlesworth, who
had recently joined the army in London.
She was only l. and he was %. The rule
says that Salvation Army woman
must be 81 before she marries and there
was nothing for the couple to do but
wait. Gen. Booth hustled his son off TO
Australia to look after the new field
there, and to make sure that his af-
fection for NJ Maud was lasting. As
soon as staff Capt. Charlesworth he
came of age she married the com
mander of the american forces.
This marriage was remarkable from
engagements IL the army last about two
years. The first year it is termed court
ing, and no girl in the army can be
courtcd until she has served at least one
year. If formal engagement follows
il must last at least one year. There's
no backing out, however. after the en-
~a@erlcut has Eccn entered into, al
though there is nothing binding on
-,
As soon as TIE courting begins every
body i. appraised Of the relations. for
the superior officers Of t. amy must
interest themSeIvCz in the couple. y
girl cannot be courted by an outsider
unless he promises to enlist in the army
and then he cannot marry her If he is
below her rank. If the lover is below
her rank he must show ability that viii
bring promotion. and this ability must
he certified by his superior officers he
fore the engagement can be announced.
This requisite ability must be positive.
moreover. The young man must be in
dorsed as being capable of filling po-
sition at least three stations above that
which he holds when the courtship
ended.
All the Salvation Army laws relating
not affect the rank and file of the en-
listed men and women. They are left
free To do as they choose. The laws are
framed. though. to protect the women.
because three-fourths of the officers in
the army consist OF women They are
rs rule superior in mentality to the
men, and the aim of the rules is to spur
the men ON 10y making them work hard
i.
army do not amount to much until they
begin 10 court girl, when they take
a brace" and soon win promotion. 1t
might be noticed in passing that this is
frequently true of men in other walks
of life. The Salvation Army insists on
this display of energy before man can
aspire to tine hand and heart of one of
the army's daughters. no matter how
humble she may he.
Before persons can be in line for the
position of officers they must state
clearly whether or no they are in love-
and must subscribe to each of the seven
rules regarding courtship and marriage.
The most important of these is the one
forbidding engagements with outsiders.
There must bc unquestioned proof that
the outsider will become an officer in
| the army before even the cOurtShip is al
lowed. Strict as are the rules, they are
not always lived up to. Girls even in
| the Salvation Army will fall in love and
| in forbidden directions. Disobedience
| to the rules means discipline and some
times expulsion. and not infrequently
the army loses a bright young female
officer simply because she insists on
loving and clinging to a man who will
! not join the army.
| Officers must not be allowed to carry
| on any courtship in the town where
they are appointed. Their influence is
| destroyed when it is known that they
| are engaged to soldiers. The laws add
that soldiers so situated should ask for
removal when surrounding influences
are found to be too strong
In everything lovers are told that
| helpmates must be chosen for the war -
and consent will never be given TO anV
| engagement or marriage which would
take the officers out of the army In
| explaining the object of this law the
field book states that the army cannot
| afford to educate and train officers to
have them leave. In leaving they are
impressed that they violate their most
solemn pledges.-N. Y. Press.