The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1905-01-02
SAL WALTON ARMY
ENTERTA|NS TOTS
Annual Christmas Tree Given
Yesterday Afternoon
300 POOR CHILDREN
STAFF Captain J. M. Berrlman Says the
Rescue Home In Birmingham
VIII Probably be Opened
Middle Of January.

The officers of the Salvation Army in
Birmingham made the hearts of three
hundred poor children glad yesterday
afternoon. The occasion was the annual
Christmas tree and entertainment or the
the Army to the children. 1t was held
in the Hall of the Army on Second Ave-
nue., between Twenty-frst and Twenty
second Streets beginning at o'clock
The officers had issued general invi-
tation to the poor children to come and
make themselves happy. The invitation
was gladly accepted and long before the
appointed hour the little boys and girls
commenced to arrive in large numbers.
There were children twelve or fourteen
years old and others who were in charge
of their parents.
Located in one corner of the large
hall there was gaily decorated Christ
mas tree, and It was this that brought
forth the fruit of Joy for the little I'M
fortunates. This wonderful tree bore
bags of candy, nuts and fruits. which
were distributed by Captain and Mrs. R.
Boucher and other Army officers.
STAFF Captain Assisted.
Staff Capt. j. NJ. Berriman of Atlanta
and Envoy Widgery were present and
assisted in making the affair a pleasant
one. Those officers furnished the music
for the children to sing by. One or two
others recited, and the affair was in every
way a success.
The special two-days campaign which
has been conducted in Birmingham by
Captain Berriman and Envoy Widgery
came to close last night with services
In the hail. Several meetings were held
yesterday and all were interesting. There
were number of conversions
IT am en- route to the western end Of
my territory and stopped over in Bir-
mingham for a day or two" said Captain
Berriman, who is in charge of the south
ern division of the army. Reports from
all over my division show the army to be
in good condition"
"Our Christmas dinners to the poor
were especially successful this year. es-
innate that in the southern division, at
least 10000 poor people were fed at Christ
mas time by the Salvation Army. Except
in Birmingham and New Orleans, l am
in favor of the basket dinner being estab-
lshed at Christmas time. In New Or
leans and In this city, however, there
are SO many transients that 1t is neces-
sary for the army to serve dinner in the
hall and also provide baskets for the
poor.
The Rescue Home.
II hope that the Rescue Home for fall
len women for the southern division,
which has been established in Birmng-
ham, will be ready for the opening about
the middle of this month or the first Of
next. The painters, carpenters and plum
>bers have been at work for several weeks
and are getting things in good shape
have applied to Mrs IIigginson who is
the general secretary In charge of the
rescue work of the Army for matron
and as soon as this officer arrives, with
her assistants the Home which is located
on Avenue e and Twenty-second Street,
will be opened. The Army will send an
Adjutant or a staff Captain kere to take
charge of the Home.
II have already purchased some of the
furniture for the Home, and will pur-
chase the balance when return from my
trip through the Western section"
CAPTAIN Berriman leaves this morning
for points in Mississippi.