The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1913-09-12
Work For Past Year
Tod By Capt. Buyer
From thursdays Daily.

From Thursdays Daily.
Captain and Mrs. Franklin Pierce
Buyer of the Salvation Army conduct
ed services in the Salvation Army
hall last evening to commemorate
the first anniversary of the advent
of the army to Mankato. The serv
ices were impressive and well befit
ting to the occasion. The force of
the statements that were made were
made much stronger by the splendid
work which the army has done in
this city during the past year, and
were prophetic of the success that
will certainly continue. The follow
ing report is submitted to the public
of the work which has been carried
on here:
ITO Soldiers, Recruits, Converts
and Citizens of the City of Mankato
On September 2, 1912, we opened
our meetings here in the open air
and the inside services in the can
vas tent at the place where the new
First National bank building now
stands. Captain and Mrs. Buyer,
Adjutant L. Cunningham and Envoy
Smith were in charge. Interest be-
gan to grow, people began to come
and soon the tent was crowded to it's
full capacity. When we first opened
our work here several business men
doubted the need of the Salvation
army here, but the Captain, with
firm determination said, We've
come here to stay if we have to
live on bread and water The
army brigade began personal
visitations and soon saw the appal-
ling need of the work of the army.
Homes of Drunkards.
"Drunkards' homes were given
attention and places provided for the
homeless, friendless and penniless,
the forgotten, those turned (out of
doors, and girls, widows and orphans
fed, clothed and cared for. We now
occupy the Union block. There are
twenty six rooms upstairs and all
are occupied. When' we are able to
meet the balance of our indebted
ness, $500, the army work will be
quite well on self-supporting ba-
sis. We need the Union block as
the armys permanent home, and il
any one should doubt the reliabili.
I'd ty of this report when read, he is
welcome to interview the captain
and go over the books with him
The local corps which was one year
old last night has twenty-one local
officers, and forty-eight enrolled
soldiers, most of whom are in uni
FORM The corps also has the dis
-tinCtiOn of having two lassies now in
the Chicago Training college pre-
pairing to carry the gospel message
of liberty to their down trodden
sisters. This Mankato can well
feel proud of. The cadets are Miss
Viola Smead and Miss Martha
Dethloff. We have ordered and sold
11,760 copies of the War Cry, the
official organ of the Salvation Army
We have held over $50 public serv.
ices during the year and have seen
come forward 800 penitent people
of whom some have been the low
est drunkards of the city. There are
over half a dozen families here, who
before the coming of the army, re
lied upon the taxpayers of the coun
ty for support
Cut Cost of County Support.
Not one Of these families has re
coivod n oont from tho county, cipnc
the first of last November. They
have been Industrious and have
earned their way, improved them
selves and their homes and families
moved out of their old dingy, dirty
ruined quarters to decent cottages
in a reputable neighborhood. The
Salvation of Jesus Christ is the
only remedy for the slum condition
in any city.
Look at the men who, a year agi
were drunkards and booze fighters
Today they are in full uniform
clean, upright and honest, and liv
ing the commemorate life worthy of &
true citizen. Hats off gentlemen, to the
army and it's devotion to poor
down trodden men and women. The
dear people of Mankato have proven
their confidence in the army an(
its workers by the financial ait
given us. Our total collections from
September 2, 1912, to September 8
1913, are $3,50116 The total money
expended for general purposes dur
ing this time is $9,501, balance OF
hand, 16 cents. BY this it will bt
seen that the army has proven &
valuable asset to Mankato.
The Senior Corps.
Our senior corps attendance, in
side, for week nights only, for the
year totals 23.216 people. The to
tai attendance for the Sunday serv
ices is 1887 people. making the
total of all 1928 people. Our JUNO,
corps attendance, including children
from the Band of Love societies, thu
Junior Sunday schools and the
Young Peoples legion is over $500
Over 100 men, homeless, last wintel
were fed, clothed and sheltered
Ninety-nine well filled Christina.
baskets were distributed to worth,
poor people. The army furnished
the baskets and the Elks club th,
clothing. Captain and Mrs. Buye
want to publicly thank the com
rades, recruits, converts and tn,
general public, for their liberalit,