The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1905-03-25
AMERICAN SALVATION ARMY
TWENTY FIVE YEARS OLD

NEW YORK, March 25.-Today
there was begun in this city a great
jubilee celebration of the twenty-fifth
anniversary of the establishment of
the Salvation Army in America. The
affair will continue four days and
promises to be notable in the annals
of the worldwide organization. A
quarter of a century ago the number
of Salvation Army members in Amer
lea was eight. In striking contrast,
there are now gathered here to take
part in the jubilee some 500 officers
representing every state and terri
tory of the nation and many of the
Canadian provinces. These officers,
in addition to the local contingent,
will conduct a series of jubilee meet
ingS during the next few days in
some of the largest meeting places
of the metropolis as well as in the
headquarters citadel in Fourteenth
street.
The first country, outside of Eng
land. to be affected by the work of
'hS cuiNulioi army WAS AIileIltd. AS
far back as 1872, when it was in its
embryonic condition, and was known
only as The Christian Mission" one
of its converts, Brother Jenny"
found his way to Cleveland and there,
to use General Booths expression in
answering his letters" raised the
banner of the mission" 1t was i'm
possible at that early date to send re-
Inducements, and hence the work fell
through with the departure of Jenny
In 1879 a second start was made by a
family named Shirley. This time it
was in Philadelphia, in an old fac
tory. The urgent appeal for help sent
to General Booth met with an imme-
date response, and in February, 1880,
Commissioner George Scott Railton,
with band of seven, landed in New
York city. Opposition, ridicule. per-
secution and even Imprisonment were
met in those days. None of those
things, however, served to dampen
the ardor or Quench the zeal Of the
little band of workers, and ere long
it was apparent that the Salvation
Army had come to America to stay.
The first convert of the army in
America was Ash Barrel Jimmy" A
notable character he was; drunk
ard a general nuisance. He got his
name from the circumstances of his
| rather strenuous conversion. Jimmy"
was accustomed to search in the
refuse barrels and garbage cans for
food. One cold night. when drunk,
he lost his balance and fell in a bar
rel head first He was too drunk to
help himself. and as the hours passed
his head froZe fast to the side of
the barrel. A passing policeman saw
the feet sticking out and rescued him.
Jimmy" was frozen so fast to the
barrel the policeman seized him by
the feet and dragged him. barrel and
all, to the station house. Then, when
he was sufficiently thawed out, they
sent him. by way of a joke. to the
Salvation Army. From that time
Jimmy" was changed man. He
was converted In the army meetings,
and became useful and earnest
member of the army. rising to the
rank of captain and remaining in the
ranks until he died. a few years later.
The army confined itself for years
almost entirely to purely spiritual
operations. But with the arrival of
the late leaders, Commander and Mrs
Booth-Tucker. in 1896. the latter of
whom was killed in a railway wreck
at Dean Lake, Mo, on October 2S.
1898. the social and philanthropic
side of the movement was brought
| to the front. and institutional work
of most active form was begun.
Farm colonies, with the object of as
sisting the poor but worthy and in
dustrious married man to obtain a
home. were established in Ohio, Col
| orado and California. The difficulties
| met with in their establishment were
| overwhelming and seemingly endless,
yet today these colonies, i'm excellent
condition, exist as proof positive that
the scheme Is not visionary, but a
practical one. and capable OF almost
unlimited extension and improve
ment.
Hotels for workingmen-and the
same for women-have been opened.
where clean, comfortable accommoda-
lions can be secured for merely
| nominal sum. Rescue and children's
homes, and many other institutions
for helping the poor and needy. are
also successfully conducted by the
army.
At the present time the standing of
the Salvation Army In America,
roughly estimated. is as follows: Of
flcers and employees. 3706: corps and
outposts, 736; Institutions for poor
and needy 1i3; farm colonies. 3 ex-
pended annually In poor relief. $780,
900.
During the last IS years the mighty
organization has come to be recog-
nlzed by all classes alike, not only in
America. but In almost every part of
tho globe. as among the greatest
agencies In existence for the reclama-
ton and reformation OF criminals OF
all grades. and for the practical. per-
mnnent aiding, without pauperlzing,
OF the poor and unfortunate.