The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-11-15
NOISY SALVATION WORK.
TRo URLE THAT rs LAID TO THE
ZEAL OF AN ARMENIAN.

cent Complaints - Dennis OF rivalry
with tho Volunteers - Practical Work
being Done by the Two Organizations.
Three questions are asked frequently con-
corning the Salvation Army and the Nolun-
tecrs Il America. They are: In what way do
the two organizations Liilcr;' what practi.
cal work are they doinrT" and rs there any
rivalry between tho two2 From time tn time
of late references have been made In the news
papers to complaints concerning salvation
Army o~pen-air meetings.. and the suggcs-
ton has been made that there has been an at.
tempt on the part of one organization to make
more noise than the other. This suggestion Ia
declared to he n mistake. The Army pcogio
say that, nine times out of ten,.thcy are not
to blame when n COMPLAINT Is entered against
them OF making too much noise, but that the
disturbance is the work OF hoodlums who al
ways hang on to the edge Of the congregations
that they attract. On tho other hand, the
peoulo who make the complaints say that
when n number of salvation lads and lassies,
running over with religious emotion attempt
TO call attention to their cause by drum beat
ing, horn blowing, and tambodrine gyinnas-
tics, to say nothing OF hymns sung TO popular,
catchy tunes, it can't be done in exactly n
lulet way. A representative of the Army had
this to say in Its defence;
I'VE .have had a little trouble witbSour
open-air meetings lately owing largely to an
Armenian officer on the east side. Ho is very
enthusiastic, and had u way of taking n big
horn and marching forth regardless OF time.
place. permit, or anything else. He under
stands now that there must be rule and reason
in those meetings as well as in those conducted
indoors. The people who are disturbed by our
meetings are generally those who would do bet
ter to attend them. AS the meetings are held
early in the evening. it isn't likely that any
body's rest is broken by tic noise. AS for
the complaints, they do not disturb us.s-:or we
are used to opposition"
As for practical work by the Salvation Army,
the greatest amount ut present Is said 10 10
that of the slum and social work departments.
BriEadier Emma J. Bown Is in charge OF the
plum brigade. Ono OF her assistants, STAFF
Captain Elma p. ViCkery, gave this account
Of the lahors OF the brigade:
AT present." sho began, I'VE are ham
pered With a little financial difficulty in the
slum department. Each department OF the
whole Army is supposed to flnaLce itself. When
the sad trouble came about in the Army last
spring. the good will OF many people was
withdrawn from us, and with their good will
went their financial aid. However, Command.
er Booth-Tucke- is pushing the work. and
just as soon as we receive the amount of our
debt. which is S3,0-4.3", we shall be in a posi-
ton to branch out in many directions.
Stun work has been in operation for the
last seven years. In that time we have visited
IN New York and Brooklyn alone 3 ,s07 faini-
lies. and so.134 saloons and dives, and in the
saloons and OH the street corners have dealt
individually with l4l. 1913 persons ABOUT their
souls. During the first year there were but
two officers to do the work. Tie number has
increased until now we have twenty. We have
.,,-., on nAN Ia ,"l --GA n
lodgings, and have distributed innumerable
garments among the needy. and have paid
many. very many, visits to prisons and hos
pitfalls. SO much for what we have done. Now
to get Gown 10 what we are doing, | shall be
gin with tie rescue work, which hAsbeeu
opened a little more than four years IN this
country. Much has been accomplished In that
time. We now have four homes whore we
take fallen girls and women who express a de-
sire to turn over n new leaf. These women re-
main In the homes not less than three months
under any circumstances ana often stay six or
eight months. and in extreme cases longer. In
deed, they are permitted to remain until they
feel themselves strong enough to take up tic
thread or An honest life once more. and we Sc
cure for them WORK before they leave Us. For
the year of 1898 there passed through our four
homes Us women. and of these the cases of
only thirty-six were unsatisfactory. Besides
those "ho remain for IL time in the homes 756
girls have been assisted in some way. The
work or rescuinE these poor creatures is going
on day ana night increasingly. and we haze
every reason t. believe that the results this
year Will be even more gratifying than they
One OF The, most Interesting features of
Stun work IS the shelter WORK. We opened
the first shelter for women at "a Buyard
street, lust east OF the Bowery, last spring.
Unfortunately we had t'ouOl" right at the be-
ginning. Back OF and connected with the
bull ling we SECURED tor the shelter was an
immens" room tat was Immediately seized
upon for a dornlttory. 1t held NJ least seven
ty-tive cots, and II great rnaly large windows
rendered il, light, airy. and sunshlny. But
unfortunately there was only one narrow exit
IN ,hbo r omthor pt IRE, eH " n ~ Inv use h %as to i ron Uy
selves to the small dormitories in the main
buildings; but there is u prospect OF the land
lords altering the large room TO suit our
purpose in tne near future. Notwithstanding
this difficulty, since tne shelter opened 3,+37
bed. and fool morning and eTeaing. for 10
cents, and a dozen homeless children have
been cared for. The shelter is full every
night now. aud when cold weather comes on
In earnest it is likely that all who apply CAN
not he sheltered.
street Is a boon 10 mothers who have to work
out ~ the day. There is only space for
twenty-five youngsters. and quite as may
more have to be turned away nearly every
day. There is one officer to every five chill
dren, and iier duty is to see that the little ones
are well wa he'd, fed. amused. and taurht how
to treat each other. We long for the time
when we can open another such place.
when we speak OF visiting 13.SO7 fami-
ments and ncrely singing II hymn and having
q pra. err with woman and her children.
AS aSt"'' 80 W NNSNAI'ls anu
when th"y go into many "f thosr places dig
nitied by the name OF home. II ,he mother is
sick or sone OF her children are aiiing or she
has too much work to do. they Ditch in and do
what Is TO be done, even II Il is the week 8
washing. Frequently they 20 away after do
Ing II days hard work without saying IA word
about salvation Tor that day. We have been
struggling through the long summer and go-
ing III debt tor TINS branch, which has 10 de-
pond upon contributions: but We are not dis
c~ouragcd and are sure that our friends Will
come To. the rescue with contributions.
Major William Hllpin Is the Socla! Secre-
tary OF the Army.
The Commanders scheme for the develop
ment OF the social work are PROGRESSING most
satisfactorily" he said, "A shelter IGr men
has just been opened on Avenue u, between
Eighth and Ninth streets. with acco.ulnOda-
tons Tor lu1. The lower Moor Is Used Tor an
once and II reading room, ana Is very artruc.
tive with It's coat Oi fresh paint and scripture
texts around the wall. One Gilrcr IS III charge
and he lie assisted by four einploy rcs. NJ ct
inus are held every night. ana The dodgers evil
IDENTITY enjoy them and appreciate the home
feeling, Tor the samc ones conc night after
night. We charge 10 ana 10 cents tor a nights
lodging, which Includes no lUud. In IA weeks
time we VIII open our second mems shelter.
IL is OH the lower end OF the nOwcry, aiiu VIII
100. We expect both to be tull
every night during the winter, and VIII pro-