Bisbee daily review., 1905-11-02
SALVATIONlSTS ACTIVE
 IN THE COPPER CITY
COLONEL GEORGE W. FRENCH ADDRESSES LARGE AUDIENCE IN DOUGLAS HALL LAST NIGHT
of the Salvation Army and Then Preached Sermon Those Who Heard the Distinguished Gentleman Were Deeply impressed.


 Were Deeply Impressed.
 Colonel George W. French, one of the foremost officers of the Salvation Army in America, delivered an ad- dress and sermon at the Methodist church last night, both of which were intensely interesting to congrega- tion which filled the edifce 10 over. flowing.
 The subject of his address. which occupied the first part of the evening. was the Salvation Army, and after one had heard his discoure it was easy to realize how Colonel French had risen to his present posi- ion in that religious charitable or ganization.
 Especially interesting was his ex- position of the work of the rescue homes and shelters. There is prob ably no sociological problem so az itating thinkers of the present day, aside from the labor problem, than the rescue of fallen women and the supplying of work to both men and women which will keep them self supporting. when all channels of in-
 
 Our rescue homes," said Colonel French, ''are located as advanta- geously as We can devise in every large city in the country. A vast number of women. too, tired or dis gusted with the life they have been leading, pass through these homes and afterward go back to the life,I which seems to have a fascination for them, but many are brands that are plucked from the burning In fact, our records show, and we keep a watchful eye on our girls after they leave our homes that 80 per cent of those who apply to us are directed so that their future life is virtuous. I do not mean by this that we make Christians of them. Far from that, regret to say, in too many cases. But we do turn them from evil ways and show them how and where they may obtain living and the comforts of an honest life, so far as their ability enables them to do so, without the utter deg radiation which must of necessity fol low a woman who abandons her womanhood. The work of the rescue homes of the Salvation Army, for the good they do, cannot be overesti- mated as to value, and there is plenty of room for many more of them.
 ''The shelters, and especially the shelters for men, have a demand made upon them continually which would surprise the outsider not familiar with army work. Here we furnish men and women with a living in re- turn for work of various kinds, ac cording to their occupations or call ings. This is furnished only to those who cannot get work in the regular channels, and we know that when we take a case of this kind every reason. able means of obtaining employment has been exhausted This is not charity in any sense. The people we house in this manner pay for their living with productive and valuable labor of various kinds, and we serd them to commercial occupations as rapidly as places can be found for them. This is done, of course. to re- lieve the army of the burden, anj we are continually rushed to find places, for the demand for living from the unfortunates who apply to us is such that it is all but impossible to attend to all. Yet, We never turn away a case where it can be learned that the man or woman in question is willing to work if work can be found for him to do. Those who will not work when work presents itself the army does not shelter, nor will it ever become a place of refuge for the support of men or women who live on the principle that the world owes them a living, the collection of which does not in clude honest, productive labor
 The masterly oratoTy If Colonel French had its effect upon ais audi ence not one of whom was sorry to be told of the work which this won derful organization has accomplished since it's inception in the brain of the great Englishman. General Booth, and to realize what it proposes doing in the future.
 The sermon which followed the ad dress after a short intermission was based on the text, What shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world and lose his own soul?" And in this Colonel French demonstrated keen thinking power and that theo- logical knowledge which is required to make of a man a great preacher It is not too much to say that the hearts of every thinking member of his congregation was touched by his appeal for grace in life and the proper living of this life, that the works of God might not be obstructed and that His purpose would prevail without obstacle.
 Colonel French was. to have arrived yesterday afternoon before o'clock, and MT and Mrs. s. W. French had arranged to entertain him and Cap tain and Mrs. Ebert at dinner before the meeting, but owing to a serious accident to the engine of the train. his arrival in Douglas was delayed until almost o'clock. Colonel French was hnrrled from the depot to