Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1916-02-05
Loue Finds It's
Course Euen in
Salvation Army
Two Captains, Now One, Win
Brilliant Victory in Spite
of HandicapS

A Salvation Army lassie may fall In
love there Is no actual regulation
against that. but her affection must
be restricted and restrained by rules
And so when Capt. Reta Pickering and
Lieut.. William r. Parsons renewed,
after IL years, an attachment begun
in their Sunday school days, they
found themselves involved in a dis
Couraging network of complexities,
says New York publication.
1t is an Army regulation that any
friendships Of the members of the
Army must be announced by the par
ties concerned. Then a certain Intel
ligence Committee" directed by Mrs.
Booth, wife of the commander, takes
action in regard to their meetings and
even their correspondence. -
II permission be granted the couple
may go together" carefully chaper-
oned, of course. But, upon the an
nouncement of en- actual engagement
land you may as well announce it, for
your sins will find you out. anyway,
they are separated for at least SIX
months. Communications are limited
by the Board. rs IA
Kept Decision Secret. ~. =. .... -.
Capt. Pickering and Lieut.. Parsons
kept their little secret for some time,
but finally attracted the attention of
the ever watchful board About this
time Parsons was detained in the
Hahnemann hospital His fiancee
alone was refused permission to see
him, Just because he cared for me-"
she says, and the reason seems cruelty
ironic as she explains. -
That was the hardest of all, that
he should be i'll and not able to go
to him.. The doctors and nurses were
all most sympathetic, and offered
again and again to arrange a meet
ing, but, of course, we'd never think
of breaking the rules But, we found
a way to avoid them. Mother went
often and, of course, many messages
were passed back and forth in that
way. Letters being forbidden, sister
used to copy the notes Billy'd write.
That was rather clever; wasn't tit"
Admirable little piece Of strategy!
No wonder they appointed her cap
tain!
Forced to Separate.
Upon his recovery the lieutenant
was despatched to Rochester Capt,
Pickering continued at her New York
post. She Is an invaluable officer of
the army. When but two years old
she was consecrated to its service, but
up to the age of Is her ambitions had
been In the direction of kindergarten
teaching
Then "the call came" Being in.
spired to serve the world" she dis
continued her course at the Brooklyn
High School and engaged in practical
relief and evangelistic work.
The term of forced separation had
been almost completed and the two,
surviving every test, were anxious to
be married.
Always some incomprehensible OBJ
stacle! The rank of the bride-to-be
was far in advance Of that Of the pros.
peetive bridegroom. and she would be
forced to sacrifice her success and as
sumo his degree. The youthful cap.
tain puzzled and planned.
Finally she decided to appeal to the
Powers. Her only plea was the sim
plest, yet the most compelling, I'VE
love each other" And she won!
Commandant Eva Booth, the Guard.
ian Angel of Salvation Army lovers,
settled it all with a stroke Of the Off /
cia1 pen. The lieutenant was made a
captain. -
The wedding ceremony took place
in the Memorial Hall in which the
couple once attended Sunday school.
Born and Bred in Army. ...s.- o..
The young people were actually
born and bred in the Army. The
bride is the daughter of Major and
Mrs. Myles Pickering.
The baby Reta was born "a years
ago, in sight of Canterbury Cathedral.
The bridegroom is the son of STAFF
Captain and Mrs. Walter Parsons. He
is % years old and graduate of Ran
Academy and the Vir-
ginia Military Institute.