Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-24
DOING A NOBLE WORK
Rapid Growth Of the Volun-
teers of America.
ON DEMOCRATIC BASIS
WHEREIN IT DIFFERS FROM THE
SALVATION ARMY,
Remarkable Record Of Mrs, Booths
Prison League-Aiding the Poor
and the Criminal.
Written for The Evening Star.

been at work for about eight years, since
left the Salvation Army, but l think 1 may
fairly say that we are making good
Figures are powerless to set forth much
Of the philanthropic and Christian efforts
Of the Volunteers, but figures will at least
show that our philanthropy is on a large
scale.
During the past year about LOO women
have been tenderly cared for in our homes
of mercy, and some 80 260 beds in all have
been provided in those institutions. / need
hardly say that this is one Of the most diff
ficult features OF our work, and it's pecul-
lar character, being somewhat unthankful
and hard, causes it's increase to be slow.
The ], 100 women referred to are those who
have been not only cared for, but perma-
. nently aided. Many others have been tenn
pOrarily relieved.
THE Volunteer officers and workers have
visited and aided no less than 63O,17 fami-
lies during the year in and around the
SlumS of the large cities where they labor.
No less than 234,5O0 persons were lodged
in our various homes and institutions for
working and destitute men and women, not
including the many thousands who were
given temporary relief during the strikes
in several parts of the country. There
were 366,03I persons led with supStantla!
meals in these institutions, exclusive of
those persons temporarily aided with food
during holiday seasons.
Our philanthropic work Is carried on
through the instrumentality Of homes, and
by other means, in Chicago, Joliet. Boston.
Fort Dodge, Kansas City, Denver, Mime
apolis. Worcester, Lynn, Maiden, Mass;
Lewiston, Toledo, Erie, Pittsburg, Bunalo'
Newcastle, Pa; Philadelphia, Newark,
Flushing, L. l.; New York city and other
centerS.
Inevitable Mistakes.
IT admit that we may help people who do
I,ch holm G
that we should sometimes do SO. The need
at times has been so great that our zeal to
help the poorest and most dependent classes
must be our plea for having harbored any
undeservng ones. You cannot always wait
TO find out whether = starving man is meri-
torious before you feed him.
Apart from the humane philosophy of
lessening the taxation upon society, we are
only following the example of the Samari-
tan in trying to alleviate the suffering of
men and women who are without homes or
friends or support. Unfortunately, society
has always it's parasites, who are hard In
deed to shake off; but it, through such in
situations as our homes we can find among
even these a spark of manhood or woman
hood and lead them to a reformed life
surely shall. be pardOned for having
given one chance to the incorrigible.
THAT is the distinguishing feature of our
work-we try to get down to the lowest, the
most helpless, the most criminal, and show
them the way to brighter and better life
Perhaps you will be able to better estimate
the many sided advantages of our volunteer
philanthropic work If l divide 1t into three
branches.
Homes and Meals.
First, there are the homes which proba-
bly, are the most meritorious of all, namely,
those for working, wage-earning men, to
prevent them from deterorating and drop
ping down to the grade which self-respect-
6raa6 that of pOVertV and de-
pendence upon charity for a livelihood.
Then there are the homes which prove
refuge for hungry, poVerty-rldden and
friendless men and women on the waters
of city want and despair-the homes for
the temporarily drifting. Thirdly, there is
the department in connection with these
homes which provides meals at a nominal
cost at the price of labor, or which dis
tributes them free to the hungry
Our fresh air work in the summer time
gave over 100000 women and children from
the tenements days fresh air and healthy
change in the country There was also
much good accomplished through the Volun-
teer reading rooms sewing classes, distr1-
button of literature, hospital nursing, find
ing of employment, Thanksgiving and
Christmas dinners, temporary financial re-
lief boys fresh air camps and many other
worthy undertakings.
The Volunteer Prison League.
probably the best-known branch Of our
WOTk Is my NllS OluiilScI IiSoh A<Cd6 NC,
with the three Hope Halls for discharged
prisoners at Flushing. L. l.; Chicago, and
Fort Dodge, Iowa. 1 do not think history
records more remarkable and far-reaching
work for moral reform. Mrs. Booth has
established the league in twenty-five state
prisons, and others are clamoring for It,
The prison authorities indorse 1t most heart
ily and of the %, 600 members OF the league
1t is safe to assert that at least 70 per cent,
on the most conservative estimate, are lead
ing reformed lives. During the past year
marked reforms have been introduced into
the prisons in several states. and legislative
action has been taken, directly or indirectly,
through the influence of the league Inc
league not only seeks to reform the prison.
ers and help them to lead an honest HE
when they come out of jail, but 1t also
aims al amelioyating evil conditions In the
prisons and improving the laws concerning
prisoners in different parts of the country.
"All our philanthropic work. of course, Is
carried on upon strictly undenominationa!
basis. The door opens just as freely to all
creeds and colors and nationalit1es. AS Tor
our own special religious work, find, from
the regimental reports of our officers that
1.060,955 persons attended the Sunday and
mcknight services during the year while,
despite the unusually cold spring, there
ga altered at our 13, 1854 open air services no
fewer than 1888, 633 individuals.
when we started this work, after left
the Salvation Army. we never dreamed that
it would grow so rapidly, or. in fact. that
it would ever attain it's present national
proportions. 1t has now spread all over the
country The principal centers from which
it Is directed are New York city, Chicago.
Pittsburg, Buffalo, Kansas City, Boston and
San Francisco .ssGr
Few people are aware that the VOlun-
teers have lately become, by afhliation. even
more than a national organization. They
are now extending their work into other
countries. l am not at liberty to speak
about this matter, as the details have not
yet been completely settled, but there Is
reason to believe that in the future our
work will assume a worldwide character.
Volunteers and SaIvationists.
Gen. Darlington Booth was asked to state
what were the marked differences between
the Volunteers and the Salvation Army in
regard to principles, methods, policy and
organization. He declined to do so.
II am my fathers son." he said, "and my
father, as you know, Is the head of the
Salvation Army. l would rather not speak
on that subject"
Another officer holding high rank in the
Volunteers, however, was willing to ex-
pound the differences.
1.-The main difference" he said, lis that
the Salvation Army is run on an autocratic.
not to say despotic basis, while our organ
ization is entirely democratic, and therefore
more in harmony with American ideas. All
the officers in the Salvation Army are ap-
pointed by autccratic mower while our