The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1919-08-27
Training School to Develop More
Officers for Tasks of
Reconstruction.
TO HAVE LARGER BUILDING
College Gives Men and Women Severe
Tests for Social Welfare Work
students Trained With
Care and Patience.

| army took in the war called many Of
| It's officers and men to France many
| are still there and may be for some
time, and since the army and its work
has been growing and expanding there
is at present Il real need for more
officers. few days ago the army
graduated Il class Of iifty-four officers,
thirty-thrce Of whom were women.
When the next class is sent out it
will be twice this number.
This institution trains It's students
with infinite care and patience 1t
has its training college at 333 West
Twcnty-Sccond street, which is in
charge Of Colonel Charles Miles, who
has been a member of the army for
thirty-cight years. In the near future
the army will either purchase or erect
a larger and more cOmmodiOuS college
building at an expense. if necessary,
of between 100000 and $500,00O.
Many College Graduates.
Many officers today in the Salvation
army are college or university grad
yates, and others were just graduated
from the worlds school of hard
knocks. They are oil, however, men
and women of more than average in.
tcligcncc, and some have made really
great sacrifices for the privilege OF
wearing the simple blue uniform Of
the organization. OF the class just
graduated one young man won honorS
and degree ut Cornell university,
and seventeen Of them were in the
countryS service during the war, one
Of whom won the croX de guerre.
Since the war many soldiers and sail
ors have expressed desire to join the
organization.
1t is not an easy matter to become
an officer in the Salvation army be-
cause the organization Is exceedingly
particular about getting the right kind
Of men and women to guide It's des-
tinies, and, although many are called
few are chosen, and person before
becoming an officer is put through n
rather severe acid test. Some can
didatcS are quickly disillusiOned Mt
the outset by the smallness Of the pay,
for lieutenants and captains receive
but 50 and $12 week. and must pay
for their board and lodging out OF
this sum, and they also pledge them
selves to remain with the army for
life. They must devote all their encr-
gieS to the organization, and are not
permitted to labor outside Of their
work for remuneration. A ma tiOr-and
one must have worked long and faith
fully to attain such q high rank-re-
ccivcS salary Of $21 q week and
small allowance for house rent and
for each child. Most Of the higher
and older officers in the army could
go out into the world and make fat
living without any difficulty and they
have been frequently offered lucrative
positions, which they have refused be-
cause they have preferred to be faith.
ful to their trust
TO become an officer in the Organi-
Zation a candidate must possess a
certain degree of natural intelligence,
must love the Lord and his ncighbor
and must possess the indctinahlc some
thing known rs the Salvation army
spirit.
Must Prove Worth.
Before being admitted to the train
ing college a candidate is first as
signed to an army corps for a period
Of six months. He is there given an
opportunity to prove that he is made
Of the right sort Of stuff by showing
his willingness to do chccrfully any
kind Of task assigned him. He is
Immediately sent out on the streets
with the corps and often to a tough
ncighborhood in the city where he
may encounter a decidedly unfricndly
element. Almost at the start he mast
make his prayer or plea to the night
crowd on the street corner. If at the
end Of his period he has shown the
proper spirit he is then sent to the
army training college. The course
here Is nine months. lie purSucs
course Of Bible study, learns the Gus
toms and laws Of the organizations and
attends lectures. If he does not pos
scss the sticking qualities demanded
Of Salvation army officers. or shows
that he IS not fitted for the work, he
Is frankly told 50, and is advised to
return to his home town where he
may nevertheless work for the organ
ization, and take up for his life work
some other line OF cndcavOr for which
he Is better fitted. At the college the
army exercises q wccding-Out process
| so that 1t may make no mistake In its
| selection Of officers. Many who aspire
! to attain rank are quick to realize
that they are not intended for such
rigorous social welfare work, and are
frank to say so when they realize the
sacrifice and hard work 1t cntails.