The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1907-08-01
SALVATION ARNYS Work
Reaches Millions Approachable
In no Other Way.
SOME UNIQUE METHODS

Some Figures That Give an Idea Of
the Great Good the Workers Do In
the slume-tow the Movement Was
Started by Woman-Pioneers In
America.
According to the annual report of
the Salvation Army, the work accom-
plished during 1906 was phenomenal.
Nearly 12.000,000 persons attended ser.
vices in their halls during the year.
which of course does not include the
other millions they reached in the
streets--millions that no other denom-
ination can get at. More than 12.000,-
600 meals were furnished to hungry
men and 100000 beds supplied. They
visited and assisted 100000 families
who were in distress. They distri-
buted 600 tons of coal and 10000
pounds of ice. 1900 homeless child.
rem were gathered in by these POKE
bonneted angels Of the slums and plac-
ed in the snug, warm rescue homes
the army manages to maintain with
the nickels and dimes It's workers pick
Up by passing the tambourine.
The army Is doing a grand settle
ment work in the slums of the large
cities. A body Of women In plain
Fingham dresses and aprons will rent
g. room In the worst tenement house
they can find, clean It up, put In sim.
PIE furniture and then begin to neigh
lor among the pitiful peopla about
them. They nurse the sick, teach tho
1.l.ff to- sns . tNFi,,
sewing and cooking classes plan fresh
air excursions for sickly little ones,
take care of neglected children whose
mothers are away at work and shroud
tie dead. This Is one way OF using
the dime you put into the tambourinc
But there are still other things that
they DO with it.
The army owns nearly 5000 acres
Of farm land, divided into colonies,
at Fort Romie. Cal. Fort Amity, Col.
and Fort Herrick, Ohio. The settle.
mcnt workers In the slums gather up
families who are having a hard time
Of II and encourage them to make IL
new try at life In the open air. The
family Is settled on a good piece OF
land with the privilege OF buying It
later. Many OF those located in this
unique way are making money as
chicken raisers, truck gardeners. etc.
A woman first thought OF reaching
the people of the slums by means OF
the Salvation Army. She was the
wife of a preacher and saw that the
good message her husband was trying
to impart was going over the hrads
of the people Of the great submerg-
ed under world of London. She says
that the big churches with their or
gans and orderly equipment remain
ed vacant of the poor. She conceiv-
ed the idea of going on the street
and making a poise TO attract eyes and
ears that had long been dulled to
thoughts Of higher living. The level
then struck Is still beyond the pale
of ordinary church work. This wom-
an was the wife Of William Booth and
their first service was held In an old
tent in a burylng ground In White
chapel London, on Sunday, July 2,
1865.
A young girl in London had been
converted from the slums and wanted
TO reach the people of her class, even
at the expense of her own dignity.
She arrayed herself in eccentric style,
with streamers of varied hues floating
from her dress and hair and carried
large placard which read; II am happy
Eliza" She paraded the streets and
alleys of the poorer quarters and soon
had an immense crowd following her,
many of them old friends and asso-
ciates She Of course led them to the
gospel meeting house, where they
heard the music and sermon.
The pioneers in the work Of the Sal
vation Army of America were one
commissioner and party OF six
girls who were sent over by Gen.
Booth In 1889 One member OF this
party, Adjutant Ella Westbrook, Is
sttll living. The first service in Am
erica was held In an old chair factory
IN Philadelphia. Commander Booth
Tucker, one of the highest officers In
the army, was Judge on the Queens
Bench In India He received by
chance a copy of the War Cry. He
read It and applied for six months
leave or absence. He Went TO London,
where he visited Gen. Booth and saw
the operations OF the army In It's
campaign against vice At the end
OF six months he resigned his posi-
tton as Judge in India and applied for
admission to the army as an officer.
He later married the daughter OF
his commander. This devoted woman,
Emma Booth Tucker was killed In an
railroad wreck near Kansas City not
long ago. Gen. William Booth, found
er and head of the>> Salvation Army
is still living, and the veteran will
visit the United States IN March on
his way TO Japan. His daughter Eva
Booth Is In New York in charge OF
the work IN this country.
Llnh DrIrao IN DaUs0n CltN.