The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-05-26

Today'S announcement from the Salvation Army, released by Treas urer Thomas Moore, was to the ef- feet that the drive had reached the s, 900 mark. With this total realized 8 concerted effort will be made now to attain the initial goal SC tat $8,- 900. It is expected by the members of the drive committee that large contributions, now being tabulated in the factories and larger business houses in the city will be handed in soon and that these will serve to swell the total considerably.
 Adjutant Hugo Wiberg in a radio appeal last evening spoke as fol- lows:
 want to talk tonight about one phase of the Salvation army's work that is little known and very often much misunderstood, it's religious life. The Salvation army is primarily branch of the church of Christ, and the dis tinguishing feature in its relig- ious life is its insistence upon ac- tive participation rather than pas- sive adherence on the part of its followers.
 The primary object of the aver age Salvation army meeting is the enlistment of recruits for its cru- sade. The unconverted are re- garded as rebels against Gods government; they are called up- on to surrender, to seek pardon and deliverance from sin, and to enroll in the army as fighting soldiers.
 It should be observed by those who are disposed to criticise the free spirit of these meetings that Salvationists enjoy their religion; they do not subscribe to it mere ly as a duty or obligation. This joyful attitude is exemplified in the character of the music which takes so important a part in all the services. Every corps is ex- pected to create brass band out of its membership, and if mem- Der can play guitar, mandi- lin of ever 8 harmonica, he is melted to make use of it.
 Ever soldier is given something to do, and he remains in good standing only so long as he does it. He is expected whenever pos sible to participate in open air meetings on the street corners; he may teach a class in Sunday school; he may learn to play an instrument and join the band, or he may be asked to assist the corps officer in visitation among the poor and the sick or in gen. eral charitable work. There are scores of duties to be performed, and something to which every member can readily turn his hand, no matter what his individual ap- titudeS or inclinations may be.
 Such an eXacting standard of Christian service in the Salvation army reacts in 8 measure against its own numerical strength. The membership of almost any corps could easily be doubled if passive adherence were accepted, and if demands upon the time and at- tention of the individual were not so heavy. Thus many of the con- certs join a church rather than don the uniform and accept the responsibilities of Salvation army warfare. In this way the organi- zation performs a continuous and incalculable service to the church. es of all denominations. It is claimed that one of the great cardinals of the Roman Catholic church once said that the Sal- vation army was a recruiting sta- tion for the churches. The strength of Salvation army relig- ion is in its simplicity. The doc- urine is a militant form of funda- mentalism, adhering unquestior,- ably to the precepts and prom ises of the Bible, without theo- logical hair-splitting and with very few rites and ceremonies.
 Although the army meets a dis