The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-04-30
EVANGE[|NE BOOTH |S |MP PRESS|vE IN SE ERMON AT b|JOU
Austere And Sincere Salvation Army Leader Makes
 Appeal

Austere of manner and appealing of personality, the sharp rays of the footlights shining through the gray uniform giving her an air all most of demureness, sympathy and kindness shining from her eyes and forsooth a glint of the firmness of steel intermingled in her gaze, Com mander Evangeline Booth. of the Salvation. Army, addressing a we'll filled auditorium at Loew's Bijou theatre Sunday night impressed her audience perhaps more by thS abso lute and cutting sincerity of her na ture rather than by the actual eX pression of her sermon.
 Commander Booth was scheduled to speak on ''The Midnight Tragedy but at the last moment chose the parable of the Prodigal Son as being more appropriate. Prior to her ser mon short speech of introduction was made by Col. William Evans, while Lieut.. Col. Josephine Atkinson presided over the service.
 In her address, Miss Booth opened by quoting from the parable of the Prodigal Son and declared that all the world was opposed to waste of any kind. waste being exemplified in the young mans squandering his substance in riotous living after hav- ing left the fathers roof. She gave illustrations of various types of waste in inanimate materials, and then said none was so great nor so pitful as the waste of human beings.
 In closing, a call was issued to all those willing to volunteer for Christian service to stand. Quite a mn h.r- In
 Afternoon Meeting.
 We preach what We believe, prac- tice what we preach and believe what we practice-that Is the secret of the success of the Salvation Army" was the simple statement of Miss Booth answering the mute question of an overflow audience at Loew's Bijou Sunday afternoon. sym pathetic and appreciative of the or ganization's work.
 Miss Booth was introduced to Br mingham, for the fifth time, by He represented her as worthy sue cessor to her late father in his chosen lfework.
 Paints Picture of Work.
 Painting picture of the Salvation Army's creation and fight for exis- tence in words so colo,Tul as to carry away even the speaker, while soft strains of Abide With Me" came from a far corner of the stage, sung by army work CTS, Miss Booth left tears shed and unshed on the rapt countenances of her audience.
 How her father, a poor minister looking for broader fields, with his fraiI wife for companion, went out into the London night, among the rowdies of the street, the 1oafers and drUnkards, and preached his belief, Commander Booth recalled as the origin of the Salvation Army. Then redeemed criminals and drunkards joined in the army work, making up the street bands whose work brought back home memories to men fallen to the gutter, flinging them to their knees, knees that had never bent in the worship of God burying them selves in the dust of the street.
 Obstacles surmounted by the army were shown by Miss Booth, who re- counted work in emergency homes, hospitals. tails and working mems homes, until the army spread to every corner of the globe.
 The Alabama Boys Industrial School band played several selec- tions, the congregation sang and Maj. Walter Mabee sang solo. Dr. George Stuart pronounced the inNo- cation and Dr. Henry Edmonds the benediction. Staff Captain BayeS made announce hents regarding army work following Miss Booths speech. A collection was also taken for the army.