Waterbury Democrat., 1901-01-28
GENERAL BALL1NGToN BOOTH.
spoke to an Audience of About Nine Hundred Men.

HuuuFeu Men.
 1t was well pleased audience or aoo 9r more men that filed slowly out Of oaeques Opera house yesterday after noon at the conclusion Of the Sunday meeung for men only held under th. auspices of the Young Mems Chris+tan n association. And well indeed they should be pleased for q more attrac- uVe program could not have been ar. rangeu Tor similar gathering. Sec letary Ross and his assistants must na 'e Felt great pride to see such a urge ana remarkable body of men present, and to have perceived that thelr Jealous efforts in behalf of these sunday meetings are being successful.
 Charles F. Chapin presided at the meeting. which was opened with pray CT by the Rev John \. Lewis. of St Johns Episcopal church. A sacred se- iecuon was sung most sweetly by Miss Aulette Wilson. for which. R. A. Las lett smith accompanied at the piano. General Ballington Booth. organizer and commander in chief of the Eolun- teers of America. not only entertained those present with an address, but also sang in excellent voice q sacred hEmn and rendered several selections on an AnSlo-Germanic harmonica Col onel Fred Lindsay. Mr Booths private secretary. who acted as accompanist at the piano for General Booth, later played the piano with one hand. while he gave an excellent solo on the, cor net which he held with the other hand.
 After the former leader of the Sal. vatlon army in America had been ap- propriately introduced. by the presid- ing officer. Mir Chapin. General Bal 1iDotOn Booth faliyara1 ron, .l-ah hy, and eloquent address, part of which was as follows:
 Tt is not too much to assert that the closing years of the nineteenth century have not produced q more helpful home missionary cause than the Christian enterprise known as the Volunteers of America. Created in the midst of political agitation. and reared during the absorption of q na- tional war, so tl1at it's resources were taxed to the utmost limit. it has never the1ess maintained it's existence. and has massed it's forces almost through out the United States. to form an agency potent for moral, philanthropic and religious benefit. Furthermore. we find ourselves at the threshold of the fifth year of our incorporation. bet ter organized and qualified to confront the problems for helping and uplifting the unchurched and unchriStianiZed people Of our land.
 Though we recognize that the rep resentation made by figures is often inadequate in setting forth the char acter and advance of a war like that done by these Christian Volunteers. yet we cannot refrain from quoting a few figures recently reported. Dur ing the last nine months 1.113.6S3 per | Cs,rv> day and week night meetings within our Volunteer halls. Reports further show that 1.733.637 individuals were attracted to the 11.532 open air ser vices conducted. This is an annual aggregate attendance of 3.19.426 per sons. a congregation of nearly 4.000.OcO people. These gatherings (not includ- ing the thousands who have received true. blessing and inspiration to good work through church and outside meetings) have resulted in 4,132 con verts. #* It will be found that the Volunteers are Christian in action. American in principle and phfianthrop- ic in effort
 The generals speech was delivered in q masterful manner and held the rapt attention of his hearers through out. At the conclusion of his remarks he was heartily applauded.
 Mir Ross made the announcement that Colonel Edward John Higgins, chief of the staff of the Salvation ar my of America would be the principal speaker at the meeting on next Sun day, at the same time making the re- mark that the '. NJ. c. A. platform was broad enough for all denomina- tions and all classes of people en- gagged in Christian work.
 A large meeting at the First M. F. church was addressed by General Booth last evening, at which he de scrihed the doings and workings of the Volunteers of America