San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-25
Thousands Given Relief
Every Year and Religious
Services Often Influences
Change in Their Lives.

"Send my boy home to me-" wired
happy mother to Ensign Elsie
butcher, commanding officer of the
Salvation Army in San Antonio.
Fortunately, the boy and his chum
had found their way to the Working
Mems Hotel which is run by the Sal
walton Army at 81 Avenue E.
The boys chum secured employment
in an adjoining city and the young
boy was stranded here without funds.
He did not tell the Salvation Army
officers that he had run away from
home, but he was desperately home
sick. He attended regularly the Sal
walton Army services which are held
in the assembly room at headquarters,
adjoining the hotel.
Finally he confessed conversion and
It'd his story to Ensign butcher. He
had been a Maynard and unmanage-
able boy at home and finally was in
duced by his chum to run away.
Ensign butcher wrote to the mother
telling her of the change in the heart
Of her boy and the mother wired back
Immediately, Send my boy home to
me-"
During the past year, 1857 beds
were given free to unfortunate men
and boys who sought the protection of
the working Mems Home, and 1888
beds were furnished for a small
charge.
Influence in Many Lives.
OF the thousands of men and boys
who sojourned under the roof of this
hospitable home, there were few whose
lives were not changed or affected in
some way by its influence.
Some of the men who came to the
home had never attended a religious
service in their lives, according to En-
sign butcher, while others sat, their
streaming eyes in striking contrast to
their rough and hardened faces, car
ried back to the days when prayers
were said about their mothers knees,
and religious teachings were a part of
the order of their lives.
The substantial property at 81
Avenue + was purchased by the Sal
Walton Army about three years ago.
The need for a shelter for homeless
men and boys became apparent to the
officers in charge and the idea of
founding such refuge was conceived.
There are 80 rooms in the home
and seldom is there night when all
beds are not filled, Ensign butcher
said. The hotel and all local activi-
ties of the corps are under the man.
agement of Ensign butcher and she
is ably assisted by Robert Sears who
runs the hotel. Envoy Nora O'Quinn
and Capt. Mile Casey.
The aim of the Salvation Army of
ficers is not to provide shelter and
food alone for the men, but to intro
duce into their lives an influence that
will make some change in their hearts
and characters.
Must Attend Religious Services.
For this reason, a religious service
is held every evening in the assembly
room and all men in the home are re-
CURED to attend. The services are
simple but eloquent with a sincerely
that reaches the heart.
Dramatic scenes of conversion have
taken place under this roof. One of
the most interesting stories is that
of "Toughy" Lutes.
"Toughy" was just plain. garden
variety of hobo. He was extensively
travelled, more so, in fact. that many
Nh ShNtoht VI ltlSuEt.
During the 20 years of his wander
lngs he had visited every state in the
Union and many countries of the
globe. 'Toughy," however, did not
travel ode luxe" He knew what it
was to beh ungry, to be cold and most
of all to be dirty. Yet, ever he fol-
lowed the mystic trail.
1t led him finally toward San An
tonic. He was riding the beams under
the last car of freight when the
accident happened that changed his
life. He fell, was seriously injured
and narrowly escaped being crushed
to death.
In Hospital Two Months.
He was taken to Salvation Army
headquarters and Ensign butcher had
him placed in Robert b. Green Me-
mortal hospital where he lay for two
months. During those months the
Salvation Army workers frequently
visited his bedside, read to him and
talked with him.
When he was able to be removed
from the hospital he was taken to
the Working Mems Hotel. Here,
"Toughy" fell into the habit of at