The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-05-28
SALVATION ARMY
ANSWERS JOHNSON
gRIGADIER COUSINS DEFENDS Or
=, CARNATIONS METHODS.
Points Out Wherein Critic Is in Error
In Some of His Assertions and Init
mates that Work Army Is Doing
Would Go Undone if Left to Other
Denominations.

The letter of the Rev. Irving P.
johnson, printed in T h e Journal Of
Sunday, in which the writer upholds
Mr.. SOlenberger in his criticism of the
charitable work of the Salvation Army,
has called out the following reply from
J. Nv. Cousins, brigadier in charge Of
provincial offices Of the army:
Brigadier Cousins Reply.
To the Editor of The Journal:
'sIn reply to the letter written by
Rev. Irving P. johnson Of the Gethse-
name Episcopal church of Minneapolis,
which appeared in Sundays Journal, in
which the reverend gentleman has quite
a little to say about charity work IN
this city, and In which he makes an un-
warranted attack on the Salvation
Army.
'SHe mentions that Thanksgiving
dinners are given by the Salvation
Army in Minneapolis. No public
Thanksgiving dinners have been given
and I think it out of place for min
lister of the gospel to make such an I'M
states that each case of charity finds
its way into the public press. This
statement is also erroneous, as the num-
Der of persons assisted with fuel, gro
ceries, medicine, clothing, ETC., during
the last twelve months was 6,627, and it
would be impossible to report each case
thru the public press.
'Mr. Johnson states that the Sal
walton Army refuses to cooperate with
any other boards of relief. This is
also a misstatement, as the army has
worked harmoniously with the city poor
department, Humane society and other
charitable organizations in the city.
"He further adds that the Saliva,
tion Army refuses to give account of
funds received and spent. We have
published financial statements from
time to time, of the relief operations of
the army in Minneapolis. We have
placed in the printers hands a book OF
Information which will also show the in
come and expenditure of every branch
of work in this city for. the last year:
This book will be placed in the hands Of
contributors and others.
cit is true that we gave fire Christ
mas dinners to the needy poor last
Christmas. A good many of the names
were obtained from other charity organ
izations in the city, while the balance
were obtained by our own officers, and
personally investigated by them.
eff Mr.. Johnson begrudges the aged
and needy poor square meal on Christ
mas day, the friends of the Salvation
Army and public of Minneapolis do
not. Poverty should lose it's privacy
by being relieved, even if it has to be
made public at times. The Salvation
Army is the good Samaritan in this
case, while the priest passes on the
other side.
"Mr: johnson charges the army with
ssectarian narrowness.' This will sound
comes from an Episcopal clergyman
From the following true story your
readers can Judge for themselves
whether or not the Army is narrow:
During the siege of Mafeking in South
Africa there were great many refu-
gees in the city who were hungry and
destitute. It was arranged that the
ministers of the various churches should
take care Of these people, supplying
them with food. shelter, etc. The Epis-
copal minister got up and called to the
crowd Of refugees All Episcopalians
follow me-, then other ministers, men.
tioning the name of their denomina-
ton, called out in "a similar strain, ask,
ing for those who belonged to their par.
tlcular denomination to follow them
also. The Salvation Army captain at
last got up and called. outs in loud
voice, All those who: belong to nobody
follow me, and the result was that he
got the majority of the crowd. In al
to be able to relieve suffering and dis
Army benevolent work it is a ioy to us
tress, no matter whether the object oil
our charity be Jew, Gentle, Protest
ant or Catholic.
-" When the Rev. Mr. johnson uses
his able pen to try and persuade the
friends of the Salvation Army not tt
give toward its operations in evangel
ling the churchless crowd, CONVERTING
and reforming the drunkard rescuint
the fallen, and aiding the suffering ancc
needy poor, he is doing work tha
even the saloonkeepers of Minneapoli
have never done, and that the drum k
ARDS, gamblers and fallen women are no
guilty of. Shame on Christian minis
ter who tries to hinder work he can
not or will not do himself
$50 long as the Salvation Arm,
keeps doing the work left undone b,
scientific religion and scientific charity
so long will lovers of humanity defen,
and support it.
-"John w. Cousins.
Brigadier Provincial Officer. -