The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1903-05-14
N PATH OF
SALVATION
Becoming an officer in Army
Difficult Job
QUALIFICATIONS MANY
Shoulder Straps Cannot be
Had for Asking
QUALIFICATIONS

Cleveland. O., May 1S.-"How can
become an officer in the saliva
ton Ar1ny?" is the query that Col
Hiltz. of the Salvation Army, receives al
most daily from persons in all parts OF
his province. who desire to become ON
GERS. Some persons think that they can
he officers in the Salvation Army by
very simple process.
The man or woman who desires 10 De-
come an officer and thinks that the SalVa-
ton Army shoulder straps can be OBTAIN
ed for the asking in much mistaken
Every candidate for an officers place
must 90 through an exacting eXamlna-
ton.
When any person desires to become an
officer in the army. he or she must fill out
an apvlication blank which is sent to-
qether with the photograph of the apph-
cant TO the officer in command of the
,,rovince. Every person who desires 10 at
tain this posftion must be a soldier in the
Salvation Army corps for at least SIX
rrontbs and the officer in charge of the
corps sends his recommendations dis
annroval Of the candidate, to the proNih-
ciaI officer. who, in this province is Col
r. T. Holtz The provincial officer then
masses upon the candidates application
and sends his recommendation to Ne"
York where it is acted upon by candl-
dates board which assemblies once
week
The candidate for an officersmp must
fill out a blank containing more than one
hundred searching questions, some OF
which are as follows,
What is your height
Are you short of any front teeth? If
SO. will you get others put in If ac-
cepted?"
What serious illness have you had, and
when?"
Have YOU ever had fits of any kind??'
do YOU consider your health good and
that YOU are strong enough for the work
OF an officer
Give date Of conversion
DO YOU intend to live and die in the
ranks Of the Salvation Army
..Aave YOU ever been an open back
slider"
Are you7in debt?"
''Did YOU ever use intoxicating drink"
Did you ever use tobacco or snuff?'
Are you in a situation
'Can YOU start the singing well and
readily"
can you give solos?"
do you prominse not to engage IN any
trade. profession. or other money-mak-
ing occupation except for the benefit OF
the Salvation Army, and then only with
the consent of headquartersg
Are you willing to come into training
that we NAV see whether you have the
necessary qualifications for an officer in
the Salvation Army; and, should we con-
clude that you have not the necessary
qualifications, do you pledge yourself to
return home and work in your corps
without creating any dissatisfaction
The Salvation Army is rather rough on
the little god Cupid, and any candidate
who is in love has little chance of being
accepted as an officer. The queries in
regard TO counting are especially interest
ing. Some of them are as follows:
Are you counting? If so, give name
and address Of the person. If not, are
YOU writing someone with view to an
engagement? How long have you been
engaged or writing? what is the persons
age? what is the date Of birthday? How
long enrolled as a soldier? what uni
form does the person wear? How long
worn? Has the person applied for the
work? n not. when does the person in
tend doing SO? DO the parents agree TO
the person coming into training?
do YOU understand that YOU may not
be allowed TO marry until three years at
ter your first commission as an officer.
and do you engage to abide by this?
IF You are not counting. do you pledge
yourself to do nothing of the kind while
you are candidate. during training and
for at least twelve months after your ap-
pointment as a field officer?
DO YOU promise rot to carry on court
ship with anyone in the town to which
you are appointed
Do Won promise never to commence. or
allow To commence or break off anything
Of the sort. without first informing your
divisional officer and headquarters of
your intention to do so?
DO YOU promise never to marry any
one. marriage with whom would take you
out OF the army?
DO you agree 10 the following regula-
tions as 10 ccurtship and marriage? 10
officer accepted viii be allowed 90 marry
until he or she has been 1T least three
years in the field. except in cases Of long
standing enEagcEments before application
for the work. Headquarters Will not
agree L. the marriage Of any officer
(man)-except under extraordinary cir
cumstances-untiI twelve months after
conscnting % his engagement. Consent
win not be given 10 the engagement OF
any officer unless the Young woman is
likely TO make a suitable wife for an Of
ficer. and II not already an officer is
prepared 10 come into training at once.
Consent viii be given TO engagements
between women officers and soldiers. on
condition that the latter are suitable
for officers and are willing 20 come into
trimming II called upon
II the candidates are accented they ara
sent 70 a training school either At New
York, Chicago or san Francisco. where
they are obliged 20 undergo a severe
training. At the end Of the six months
OF hard training. requiring especially
great self-sacrihCe. they are made officers
There are at present seventeen candidates
al the New Yorw Salvation Army train
ing home who desire 10 become officers
from Col. Holtz's province.
Before candidates are accented by the
army they are given sealed envelopes
which they must hand unopened 10 their
physicians. Inside Is a sealed envelope
addressed to The Salvation Army head
quarters AT New York. and on n slim Of
paper several quotations regarding tbs
candidates physical condition. The phv-
sici2n answers the questions and sends 10
headquarters report OF the candidates
physical welfare.
II the candidate has gone through an
the course Of sprouts" 50 u speak. that
IS required, the man or woman who stfu