Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-08-06
THE SALVATION ARMY DRIVE

IHE SALVATION ARMY DRIVE
OF all the organizations created to meet the exigen-
ctes OF the war or which. being already in existence. turn
60 their attention to'war work. none has surpassed. and
few have equaned. the Salvation Army in the thorough
ness and excellence Of the work performed. The organ
ization was admirably fitted for the work which it I'M
dertook. BY a stroke Of genius its great founder embodied
many features of army organization and discipline in the
society, and this system enabled the society to fit readily
into the work in the camps and on the front lines. Again,
the Salvation Army has been accustomed to dealing with
conditions as it found them, suiting itself to time and
place and circumstances. In the great cities it's workers
know the slums, for they have lived in them. In India,
IN south Africa, in a multitude of distant and unfamiliar
places. its willing soldiers speak the language, and wear
the sarb, and live the life Of the people, preparing the
way for the gospel Of regeneration by a demonstration of
the spirit of human brotherhood in truth and reality.
Hence the Salvation Army was merely carrying out the
spirit which had always actuated> it when its men and its
women-God bless hem-took their places side by side
vations and sufferings of those soldiers, and permitted
neither labor nor danger to stand in the way of their min
lstrations to those who were cold, and hungry. and weary,
and respondent. g
To many of US the public routine work of the Saliva
ton Army has been something strange and srotesoue.
Sometimes the street corner meetings which all Of us
have witnessed have brought forth coarse comment from
oSaAoe1 but III II Otu 1t will be well for any who
are prompted to offensive testing at the expense Of the
Salvation Army to make sure there are none present who
wear. Or who have worn. the uniform of the American
army, for the sentiment Of the American army is tersely
set forth On the words of the returned soldier who said:
Tn for the Salvation Army, good and strong. and 1 take
OH my nat to a poke bonnet wherever I see one"
The soldier does not love the Salvation Army merely
for the coffee and doughnuts. which it provided. Only
those who have tasted these when endurance seemed to
have reached it's limit can understand how accountable
they were. But the thing that has given the organization
an enduring place in the regard of the soldiers of this
war is the spirit of devotion and comradeship which the
Salvation Army people brought to their work. There was
no air OF superiority, no rendering Of aid at a distance.
but the soiled, ragged and dispirited soldier was to the
Salvation Army worker in very truth a brother. No SOL
der ever served with greater forgetfulness of SELF than
these workers, and none ever held personal danger in
greater contempt Through mud and slush, through cold
and storm and shell fire, wherever the need was there
were THESE men and women to be found, ndnistering to
the physical comfort of the soldiers, and Inspiring them
with the smile Of announcement and the hearty hand
clasp. Emphatically, the Salvation Army has made good
Readers of The Herald know Of the plans that have
been formulated for the raising of funds with which to
build and equip a suitable building for the permanent
headquarters Of the Salvation Army in Grand Forks The
sum OF $4,000 is asked. and the local Elks' society, itself
a great beneficent society. has gladly undertaken to ham
die the campaign. No more worthy and appropriate
movement was ever undertaken. and The Herald feels
sure III a appeal Tor this fund will strike a responsive
chord in every heart in the city. There are few families
in the city some member Of which has not benefited ner-
sonany from the ministrations Of the Salvation Army
There is none to which the magnificent work which the
Army is doing has not come home with a new and better
understanding. Aside entirely from the benefits to he de.
rived from the future work of the society, it is a privilege
to contribute something to this cause as a measure of
of magnificent work splendidly done.