The age-herald., 1901-02-13
SALVATION ARMY IN LOCAL FIELD
Scope of Its Work To Be
 Greatly Enlarged
AN IMPORTANT MEETING
Col. Richard E. Holz, Division Com mander, Here for the Purpose of Establishing Relief Department.
 Meeting at 1st Presbyterian.

far-reaching interest at the First Presby- terian Church last night It was con ducted by Col. Richard E. Holz, com- mander of the division composed of Ohio and the South, who outlined plans for enlarging the scope of the work In this city.
 Members of the army were present in considerable numbers and these, togeth- CT with friends of the cause, made up quite a large audience.
 The Rev. pr. A. B. Curry, pastor of the church, opened the exercises with short speech introducing Colonel Holz. He said 1t gave him great pleasure to welcome the Salvation Army and its division com mander. Many of our fellowmen here in this community-our neighbore-do not come to the churches, for reasons sat- isfactory to themselves, Dr. Curry said, but the Salvation Army goes to them. These army workers thus reach class that the churches do not reach. We should give them our sympathy and love and material assistance, for we are all working for the same ends-the spread of Gods word and saving of souls. Dr. Curry concluded his remarks by present. ing the commander and turning over the conduct of the meeting to him.
 The Meeting.
 Colonel Holz, dressed in regulation uni form, after brief acknowledgment of Dr. Curry's sympathetic speech, began the religious exercises by giving out the hymn, Work, for the Night is Com ing," which was sung by the congrega- ton standing.
 Dr. Curry led in prayer, after which c. H. Straubel, of Colonel Holz's staff, was invited to the pulpit platform to sing gospel song He accompanied him self on the banjo, and at the end of each verse the congrega ton joined in singing the chorus.
 Colonel Holz read the gospel lesson, which was the parable of the talents. He then called upon one of his lieutcnants for musical number, with harmonica accompaniment.
 The introductory exerciacs being con cludcd, thc commander made an iEterest- Ing address, In which he gave many en-
  ArIny and t,id Of the efforts that woit.l be put forth in B'rminshlm to extend tic score of the wcri. r., to this time tfc principal s r-'!cc which the lttlc and of Christian sollitrs has been doing hore has been in the line Of holding so spel meetings These r.ecting on the street corners would be kept up, of course; but in addition Colonel JIolz purposed he said, establishing here relief work, which is found SO helpful In tic larger cities of the country. lie hoped to secure a sut- able hall and install the necessary equip ment for serving meals to the poor at a nominal charge. Assistance would also be given to worthy objects of charity.
 History of the Army.
 The Salvation Army was started in London in 1865 by William Booth, it's pres- ent general. It's first home was in frail tent in disused Quaker burying ground. It next occupied penny gaffs," dime museums and variety theatres with a view to reaching the goddess in their own resorts. Military titles, uniforms and or ganization were introduced in 1878.
 IH5 IlONcHlcht 5Ooh dSouHCo iHtcliid- tional proportions. Europe. Asia, Africa and America were invaded. At present the work is being carried on in forty-nine different countries and in twenty-nine df- ferent languages. It has 16,000 officers giv- ing their entire service to the work, and hundreds of thousands of men and wom- en doing volunteer service in the ranks.
 Colonel Holz called attention to the re- markable development of tho social relief operations among the poor There are now scattered throughout the principal cities of the world 550 distinct institu- tions, under the charge of POO officers and employees, with daily capacity for 1S.0o0 persons Through the rescue homes for fallen women, there pass annually more than 5000 girls of whom about 80 per cent are permanently restored to lives of virtue.
 The progress of the social relief opera tions of the Army in the United States has been altogether phenomenal, Colonel Holz said, so that in point of numbers and general development it is ahead of every other country in the world. There are now 1S7 institutions with accommoda- tion for 7200 persons, while three farm colonies have been established for the purpose of creating homes for the worthy poor of our cities.
 A Good Field.
 Colonel Holz felt that this relief work would be encouraged and gradually de- veloped here. He announced that Gen. eral Booth, the commander-in-chief would visit the United States next fall and Birmingham was to be included in the points he would inspect. Colonel Holzs address was listened to with close and sympathetic attention.
 The commander is a fine looking, well- bred man of middle age and his manners are engaging. He has had wide experi- ence in Salvation Army service; was for time connected with headquarters work in New York and was for seven years secratary of the relief department. He has installed Captain Mason in command of the Birmingham post and Lieutenant Higgins as his chief assist ant. These officers have been recently on duty in Atlanta.
 ALABAMA NEGROES