The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-08-26

The Injuries which she received on
last Wednesday in the runaway proved
fatal. Her heavy fall upon the street
car tracks caused two broken ribs on
her left side to puncture the lung. Her
advanced age made recovery from this
severe internal injury an impossibility.
Every effort known to medical science
was resorted to in the hope OF saving
her. By her bedside this morning, as
the light was Pickering out slowly from
her life, as it was seen that the slender
thread which links mortality and i'm
mortality was slowly being severed, on
Bonded knees. the Salvation army lad
dies and lassies. with whom she had so
faithfully fought, prayed that she
might be spared to them longer 1t
was pathetic scene. 1t was sor-
rowful.
Mother Florence was "a public
benefactor-so therefore she will be
buried in public. This morning when
the arrangement for the funeral were
under consideration by her Salvation
army. comrades it vas deemed wise to
obtain the AUDI or iafn forsthe services.
The request was granted by the city
officials. so at 2 80 o'clock on Sunday
afternoon, Lieutenant Colonel Addie OF
Louis and Lieutenant Colonel Scott of
Kansas city viii preach the funeral
services in the big hall. The casket
will be opened and the public may
view the body before the services from
1890 to o'clock Interment will be
IN Topeka CSUl0lCASs
Mother Florence was 81 years and 3
months old. She was born at Nor
wich England, and was of English
descent directly, and not Irish as was
commonly supposed When the saliva
ton army movement was commenced
in England by William Booth, Mother
Florence and her father joined. They
were sent to Canada and recalled for
service in India. On the way to the
latter place they were shipwrecked,
thrown upon an island, and after al
most perishing were picked up by a
passing ship. Upon their return 10
England, they were again sent to can
ada. Before her second return to can
ada she was married to Robert Flor
ence in England At Toronto she took
charge of the Drunken Womens
home and it was here that she was
first called Mother Florence. from
that day to this she has always been
called by that name. After working
very successfully for a number of years
in Toronto she started on a trip
through the middle states. Just at
that time the prison Gates work was
commencing, This is to meet paroled
and freed prisoners at the gates ana
get them places to work and in every
way try to make them lead better lives
For four years Mother Florence labor
ed at this work and was then ordered
to return to Canada, where she again
resumed duties in general army work,
and began her great mission in life,
namely, the rescue of fallen girls.
s'She can name thousands, said Cap
tain Parr of the local Army this morn
ing. land that is not exaggerating. the
number of fallen girls whom she saved
from lives of i1l-fame. She had won
derful power. Where others seemed to
be helpless she could just walk into
these places and talk to the girls and
they would listen Before long they
learned to love her and then their rescue
was but a matter of a little while
For several years she worked hard
through the red light districts of To-
ronto' Then she was ordered to come
to Topeka. She arrived in this city
eight years ago, just when the new Sal
walton Army hospital had been launch
ed. Mother Florence was put in charge
of it. and remained so until it was aban-
doned. Then she took up her old work,
general army and rescue" She was
appointed War Cry sergeant rms
means that she had charge of the SAFE
of the Official army paper. She sold l50
COPIES of the paper each Week Ihey
cost her S1h cents each and the pront
was hers. Then too she took collections
in all the joints and low. places about
the city. Of the latter she received 20
per cent. This was her only means OF
s,1n,,oI-t But she used very little OF II.