Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1896-02-27

gious truths.
1.-THE rescue workers." said the com.
mandor, don't try to crowd religion
down the throats of those who are walking
In the shadow Of despair They sit down
with them and talk to them; they offer
them refuge which is not prison, q
place whore everything Is made bright and
pleasant for them, where no attempt Is
mado to enforce rigorous discipline. but
where love reigns, and where the atmos-
phere Is made as homeliko as IL oan be-
And they are seldom willing to lcnve this
refuge for their old life. II they 20 out
from 1t, they go to better homes"
The Work of the Songs.
Commander Booth said he believed the
songs OF the Army had done more than
anything else to assist in the missionary
work.
"a great writer" he said, "once said
that he cared not who made the laws of q
people II he could mako their songs. be-.
lievo the Salvation Army songs have done
great work in retaining the fallen"
asked tho commander II he did not
find that they repealed the better educated
In some instances.
1--WE have SONGS" he said, (which will
compare In beauty with those which Watts
and John Wesley gave to the world-songs
set to beautiful music. To tho refined ear
thore may not be anything attractive in
tho music Of The Sidewalks Of New York, ;
but our popular songs ore not intended for
the cultured cor. They are meant to at
tract and hold the attention of those whom
We are seeking to reclaim In the slums Of
great cities. They are meant to draw d
certain class of people to our meetings
Often these people come to laugh, but Il Is
bettor they should do that than that they
should spend their time in the saloon
drinking. The songs make our meetings
jolly and lively and attractive, and that Is
what we need. The ecclesiastical too often
repels. On the same principle we do not
begin to talk religion only In our Stun
work. Our Stun workers begin with
something practical. No use In talking
religion in a house where filth reigns and
starvation is claiming Its victims unless
you also give thom brond help and labor
Of love. Our people don't go to the home
Of the suffering to talk about God being
love without showing willingness to
manifest that love In practice. Tho first
thing they do Is to bustle about, get O
brush and begin to scrub the floor, build
q little fire, put the teakcttle on prepare
dren. The people look on in amazemept
at first and say: Don't do this. We
haven 3 any money to pay you for It, We
don't want any money, say our workers
They can't understand that for n time
Then some one tells them that these arc
the Salvation Armys Stun angels, and
they begin to comprehend. The way to
reach the hearts Of the poor and tho suffer
ing is through practical charity first
through help and brotherhood. don't be-
lieve in indisoriminate charity, though, do
youP'
/ said that the reports OF the Charity
Organization society ought to teach any
one the evils OF indisoriminate charity.
There Is much philosophy In their
work." said Commander Booth. "They
do great deal Of good. Charity too often
pauperizes."
But what do you do when man
comes to you and asks for helps" asked.
"Ho comes to our refuge and says he
Is poor and hupgry-that he hns not tast-
ed food for 80 hours perhaps. We put our
arms around him and say: God bless you.
You are welcome. Sit down and eat. Wo
give him u substantial meal. What next9
We tell him to go down stairs and CHOP
wood to Darn the next meal. He does not
have to earn the first II no Ia hungry. But
II he wants to have another he must earn 1t.
1--WE place very little faith In q man
until we get him IN the uniform Of the Ar
my" snid tho commander, discussing tho
reformed with whom his people have to
deal. when you get man In uniform,
he becomes a responsible person, for that
shows we have known him long enough
to thoroughly try him and find out that
he Is earnest and sincere in his profession.
And we have no one about us whom we
do not feel we con trust; there is no one
In these headquarters who could not be
trusted with $1,000 to take to tho bank.
However smart q man may be and how
ever we'll adapted to the work. l will not
have him In position Of responsibility
unless can trust him. We are betrayed
occasionally, OF course. Even among
Christ's 10 there was one traitor, and 1t
will always DO so in human society, but
my trust has never been misplaced In any
great degree, am happy to say"
The commander himself passes on all
recommendations for promotion In the
Army, and all Its officers, like himself,
have risen from the ranks. All have been
recruits. There Is no royal road to author
ity In the Salvation Army. In the theory
Of Its management every man is promoted
according to his merit and his zeal and fit
ness for the work.
asked tho commander II there was any
reward for tho officers of his Army except
the approval Of their own consoiences.
"There is nothing certainly of worldly
gain or financial advantage, but they have
bread to eat and clothing to wear from
day to day." he snid
The Foreign Mission Fund.
There has been some criticism Of the
Army for sending large sums abroad and
referring to this Mr.. Booth said: 1--WE
have sent considerable sums abroad which
we consider is kind Of missionary work.
The United States of all countries Is most
liberal In Its missionary funds. We have,
Of course, had n hard fight here In the
starting and maintaining of our own
work, which has absorbed the larger
amount Of all funds given. Certain sums
Of money have boen sont to England from
the fact that we had certain amount Of
trade with the international headquarters.
We do not In any sense draw from the
funds Of international headquarters this
movement having been during the past
nine years entirely self supporting
"The means Of support for tho national
headquarters hero como from the profits
of The War Cry and from tho donations of
friends. Our sick and wounded for the
helping of disabled officers comes from the
quarterly collection taken up throughout
the country. Our slum and rescue work
Is supported by special contributions sent