St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-05-30
cova1sH,p m sAlvATloM ARMv


couR1shlp m SALVATION ARMY
ssr,et Rules Reeulate Aaaiss q Lsvs aaA
Marriage Ansag the ssaaSsFA
Love at first sight doesn't 90 in the
Salvation Army. There's no room there
for lovesick maids or for signing swains.
and such amusements as fiirtations 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 proha-
ton.
This was admirably exemplihed in tho
case of Commander and 1frs. 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 1: and he was %. The rule
says that q 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 OF to
Australia to look after the new field
there. and to make sure that his at
fection for Miss Maud was lasting. A.
soon as Staff Capt. Charlesworth he
came of age she married the COM
mander of the American forces.
This marriage was remarkable from
the length of the engagement. Nest
engagements in the army last about two
years. The first year it il termed court
ing, and no girl in the army can be
courted until she has served at least one
year. II formal engagement follows
it must last at least one year. There's
NO backing out. however, after the en-
gagement has been entered into, al-
though there IL nothing binding ON
either side during the counting period.
AZ soon as the courting begins every
body is appraised Of the relations, for
the superior officers Of the army must
interest themselves in the couple. A
girl cannot be c0urted by an outsider
unless he promises to enlist in the army
and then he cannot marry her II he il
below her rank. IL the lover is below
her rank he must show ability that will
bring promotion. and this ability must
be 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 a. being capable Of filing po-
sition at least three stations above that
which he holds when the courtship
ended.
All the Salvation Army laws relating
to marriage are for officers. They do
not affect the rank and file Of the en-
listed men and women. They are lett
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 il to spur
the men on by making them work hard
for what they desire. Some men in the
army do not amount to much until they
begin to court . girl, when they take
q brace" and soon win promotion. II
might be noticed In passing that this il
frequently true Of men in other walks
of life. The Salvation Army insists on
this display of energy before man can
aspire to the hand and heart Of one Of
the army's daughters. mo matter how
humble she may be.
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 = the one
forbidding engagements with outsiders.
There must he unquestioned proof that
the outsider will become m oflicer In
the army before even the courtship II al
lowed. Strict ~ are the rules, they are
not always lived up to-. Girls even In
the Salvation Army viii fall in love and
in forbidden directions Disobedience
to the rules means discipline and some
times expulsion, and not infrequently
the army loses bright young female
officer simply because she insists ON
loving and clinging to 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 IL
destroyed when it ia known that they
are engaged to soldiers. The laws add
that soldiers 80 situated should ask for
removal when surrounding influences
are found to be too strong"
In everything lovers are told that
helpmates must be shosen ''for the wal" T"
and consent will never be given 10 any
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 canns't
afford to educate and train officers 10
have them leave. In leaving they are
| impressed that they violate their most
solemn pledges.-N. Y. Press.