The Pleasantville press. (Pleasantville, N.J.) 1912-1929, 1922-04-29
Comments
On Salvation Army
Local Resident Recalls Some of
the Treatment Accorded Sal-
vationists in England.

just now the Salvation Army has
been making its fourth annual home
service appeal and stories of the
army's wonderful achievements have
been told by campaign speakers
Everybody knows how the soldiers ap-
preciated the work of the Salvation
Army in Europe, and in the army
camps at home and during and since
the World War the army has come
the good of mankind. II was not al
into its own as an organization fol
ways thus, however. and it is of the
times when the army was ridiculed
frowned upon and even put in jail
thai Farmer speaks.
Mr.. Farmer, now 81 years of age,
was born in Bristol, England. He
came to the United States 81 years
ago. His place of residence has most
ly been Atlantic City and Pleasant
Vile. In his comment on the army
he says hat about the year 1860 there
was started in London a new religion
known as the Salvation Army. II had
its origin, not in a costly church, but
in the dirty, crime-ridden slums OF
the largest city on earth. II was in
such places as the White Chapel Dis
trict, Petticoat Lane, Leather Lane
and Black Fryar's Road that the army
worked among drunkards, thieves and
murderers. The majority of the peo.
pie who inhabited these Sums did moi
know what the name of God meant.
There were not over a dozen OF
them mnder the leadership of the great
Booth. Their mission was to feed the
hungry, pick the drunkard from the
gutter, attend to the sick and clothe
the naked. while giving them the
benefit of gospel teaching. Their or
gan was a drum and tambourine and
their pulpit "a a dry goods box.
Their prayer meetings We're held in
the gutter, no matter what the condi-
ton Of the weather. They were
laughed TO scorn and stones and bad
eggs often were hurled at them dur
ing the services. They had their
drums destroyed and were even taken
to prison for thirty days as a, public
nuisance
1t was in 1868 that the army's
worth was first appreciated. In an
epidemic of cholera they worked and
nursed the sick when no other per
son would go near the afflicted ones,
and o one of the army contracted
the disease. Then people began to
help the army more and more. One
stormy night they rescued a drunken
criminal from the gutter and in the
morning fed him He became con
verted and went out and preached the
good work of the army. From that
time until the World Wal the battle
was fought, up hill at times, but
finally with victory browning cease
less effort.
One incident nearer home shows
what the army is composed of. For
years Captain Kellar and his wife
chased the Atlantic City firemen from
blaze to blaze, giving them hot coffee
and sandwiches while they fought
fire. Later Captain Kellar was given
an automobile for his work, which
was so much appreciated by the fire.
men. Only a short time ago he was
transferred to Boston TO give that big
city such a service. No man ever left
Atlantic City with better references
or higher commendatory letters than
Captain Kellar. Men in every walk
of life wished him God speed" as he
went to his new and larger field of
work. incidentally, when the Allan
tic City firemen came to Pleasantville
only a short time ago to render aid
at the fire on Main street, ear Wash
ington avenue Captain Kellar was