The Birmingham age-herald., 1905-09-03
SALVATION ARMY
 MET WITH SUCCESS Crusade in Mining Districts Productive of Much Good WILL BE TRIED AGAIN Services By Sunshine Brigade at East Lake This Afternoon-MaJor
 Berriman VIII Speak.
 Good Music.
WILL BE TRIED AGAIN

Maj. J. M. Berriman of the Salvation army. who recently lead the Sunshine Brigade" in a campaign in Walker coun- ty, Is very much elated over the re- markable success of those meetings.
 A series of meetings in the mining dis tricts is an entirely new experiment, and for this reason the army officers are the more pleased with the success of the meetings.
 At the request of Belton Gilreath. presi- dent of the Gilreath Coal and Iron com pany, Major Berriman decided to take the Sunshine Brigade" to Pocahontas for series of meetings. The first meeting was held in the Methodist church there, but the attendance at the other meetings was so large that the church building could accommodate only a small portion of the crowds.
 The place of meeting was moved to Chickasaw grove, and here hundreds of people listened daily to the gospel as expounded by Major Berriman and his co-workers. Many of the men and women who listened to the services had not been inside of a church for years, and a large number had never attended re- ligious meeting.
 An Unusual Case.
 Many pathetic sights were witnessed by the members of the brigade, sights that would impress the most pronounced atheist with the powerful effect of the words of the gospel on hardened unbe- lievers," said Major Berriman yester day.
 q was particularly impressed with the conversion of one old miner. When first told of the meetings to be held he per- sistently declined to attend, but after persuasion he said that he would go to see what kind of a circus it was. He was what would be considered an unre- deemable atheist, ready on all occasions to ridicule the Bible and the principle of Christianity
 "The first meeting the old man attend ed seemed to make little impression on him. The second meeting, however, brought the results. He withstood the &C., ceptance of the gospel as long he could, but finally he was compelled to yield.
 After he was converted, the old miner was the best friend of the Salvationists in the camp. He emphatically declared that he had attended the most impressive religious service he had ever heard of, and that he felt that the brigade had done more for him than anybody else had in his life
 "The unusual and interesting part of the story comes later. A few days after his conversion he was seriously injured in an accident. It was thought for a while that he could not live and realizing his condition the old man summoned several of his former companions in vice to his bedside.
 "Enthused with the principle of Chris tanity, the old miner made one of the most eloquent prayers that I have ever heard He prayed that the souls of his companions might be saved as his had been"
 ing services at Chickasaw seventy-one people were converted. At Carbon Hill. From Pocahontas the brigade went to l Carbon Hill for a weeks services. Here they again started the services in the Methodist church, but were forced by | the large crowds to go to grove in the vicinity. At Carbon Hill the workers met with little less success. In the week 59 people were converted. At the three meet ifgs held there last Sunday at least 2000 people were present.
 Owing to the success that attended these meetings Major Berriman has de- cided to continue the plan. As other ar- engagements have been made for the re- mainder of this year, no more services can be conducted in the mining districts until spring.
 At that time, however, Major Berriman will organize several brigades and will cover every portion of the mining dls- tricts The success of these meetings has been reported to the national headquar- ters of the Salvation Army and 1t Is very probable that the plan will be tried in other sections.
 Services will be conducted at the East Lake Casino this afternoon by the Sun shine Brigade" Major Berriman will make an address. and music in abundance will be furnished. In the evening meet- ing will be held at the Central Presby- terian church on the corner of Fifth ave- nue and Eighteenth street