The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-12-15
The SQZDdtion Arn7y'S Work

During the present week when the
unfinished drive" for the $50, 900 fund
| which is required to finance the work
of the Salvation Army in Birming
| ham is being conducted (only $4,000
of the amount having been raised be-
cause the semi campaign
was inaugurated at the time of the
Salvation Army drive" and the Army
/ gracefully postponed its drive until
now, it isn't amiss to glance for
moment over some phases of the Sal
walton Army and its work, not
throughout the world, but right here
in Birmingham.
The salvation Army is the most ex-
tensive and the most unique of Chris
tianitys charitable enterprises. 1t
opens it doors and its heart to all
people who need it's aid-ChriGtians
Jews. Mohammedans, those of no re-
ligion. those who oppose all religion
And yet it's purpose is first and al
ways religious. and all its minlstra-
lions are performed frankly in the
name of Jesus Christ.
The, salvation Army, organized on
military lines, has developed and en-
ploys all the efficiency of a disc-
plined military organization, yet it
works to heal instead of to wound
to lift the burden of fear instead of
to repress by intimidation. to save
! human life instead of to destroy It.
and to bring Joy into human hearts
instead of to break them 1t feeds
instead of plundering, leads gently
instead of driving, and builds up in
stead of tearing down. But toward
the evil forces of sin-wrong think
ing, wrong impulses, wrong conduct
lit turns a force bent on annihila-
ton. not of the sinner, but of the sin.
1t has had a wonderful history No
other modern form of organized re-
ligion had so humble birth, yet in
the lifetime of its founder it had at
tanned a universality gained by but
few other movements. 1t has made
its way by sheer merit OF results past
the opposition, vulgar and refined
of the low and of the high to the
recognition and honor and admira-
ton of the leaders of thought and of
heart of all nations Its work has
spread to almost every nation of the
earth. In spirit. in zeal and in eff
ficieney 1t has steadily advanced at
an accelerating pace.
It has had wonderful results. 1t
has taken multitudes of men and
women in all the varying degrees of
sin and degradation, and has made
them happy and useful citizens and
Jealous workers for the uplifting OF
their former associates.
Through an advisory board" of
which DR.. Percy H. Woodall is chair
man, the personnel containing the
names of some of the most prominent
and influential men and women in
| Birmingham great effort has been
put forth by the Salvation Army to
| raise funds to enable the local work
to be continued and among those
! most interested is MIR. C. N. Wiley
one of Birmingham's most loyal and
public-spirited citizens.
Mr.. Wiley has given a great deal
of his time and energy lately to the
work of the drive for the Salvation
Army and accepted the Craftsmanship
of committee from the advisory
| board to investigate the work of the
Army here and how they use their
funds and for what purposes.
II am glad to report" said Mr..
| Wiley yesterday, that after careful
/ investigation and minute attention to
| detail the work of the Salvation Army
| in Birmingham registers 100 per
cent.
THE four branches of the Salvation
Army work, the relief work, the res
cue home work, the Industrial home
and the spiritual are all accomplished
| through smaller sum than almost
: any other organization could possibly
work on.
Il found upon investigation OF the
disbursement of funds that only
per cent. of the money subscribed
here gets to the national organiza-
ton for the upkeep of a school
for reserved officers, the mainten-
ance of rescue work and the pension
fund for retired army workers, the
qualifications being that they must
! have served in the army for As
years. The maximum pension is
very small because of the small sal
aries paid to members of the army.
THE rest of the money raised in
BirmiR CHAM goes to the work here.
1 had never known any thing about
the Salvation Army until l became
an interested member of the advis-
/ DRY board; all that / knew was
that they held their little street
corner meetings-with tambourines.
banjos and drums-singing an