4

SALVATION LASSES AT HOME

Mrs. Peattie Writes of the Blue Frocked Sisterhood of the Lord.

Their Life in the Cadet School - Rules Concerning Their Conduct and Actions-Room for the Banner.

Among the many commonplace sights of Omaha there is one sight which is never exactly commonplace. It is, indeed, almost heroic. It is the little band of men and women that in storm and sunshine, when the pavement is slippery with mud or hot with mid-summer sun, march the streets in the name of their Lord, and kneel among the secular surroundings, making a cathedral of the common street, and there make their plea with high heaven for the souls of those who so thoughtlessly pass them with smile or jest.

Without doubt, here in Omaha today, in the midst of the greed, that disguises itself as shrewdness, in the midst of the materialism that masks as industry, in the midst of the selfishness that governs almost all of us, the Salvation army remains an [honest?] protest against our display, our selfism, and our pride of purchasable things. Time was when this band of men and women was much persecuted. People objected to having them march the streets. They did not think they had a right to sing. They could find no reason for their disinterestedness, and so they accused them of being immoral. A number of young attorneys who has not so many prejudices as the laymen - and particularly the churchly laymen - protested that a group of religious singers had as much right to make a noise on the street as a band playing for the benefit of the base ball park or the [schuetzen?] verein. A number of them offered to argue the case for the Salvationists in the courts, after they had been withstrained from open air meetings as a public nuisance, and one of them did this, and the court decided that no law was broken and no right of any man injured by the singing of these worshipers upon our public streets. There are still some who seem to think that this music is blasphemous because it is not always in tune, and who consider that the matter of religion ought to be treated with more conservatism. But they can do no more than [rail?]. The law protects the Salvationists. To most of the citizens of this town, however, the train of bonneted women and uniformed men, with their two flags, one of the army of the Lord, the
other of the army of the republic, with their cymbals, cornets, drums, their sharp, metallic, nervous voices, their absolute indifference to public contumely, their unqualified sacrifice to an unpopular cause, has come to have in it something so familiar and pleasant that the smiles which used to be scornful have become indulgent, and if any misfortune were to overtake the Salvation army here there would be much sorrow.

The little band numbers about eighty souls at present. It is never very large, for the reason that many of the soldiers are migratory. They stay in one place but a short time. They are restless -they are rovers. However, the barracks on the corner of Davenport, near Seventeenth, is well filled nightly, and the crusade for souls goes on there with as much fervor as ever the crusade for the sepulcher of the Lord went on in the dim days of the eleventh century. To many an outsider this work may appear to be entirely haphazard.

But, on the contrary, it is well regulated. There is great system employed. The states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, South and North Dakota, Colorado and Wyoming are under the charge of Major George French. The "war office" is in the New York Life building on the second floor, and here the books are kept, the reports revised, the orders issued and all personal and general matters attended to. There are 1,500 Salvationists in this district under the command of Major French. This commander has manifold duties, and it goes without saying that to be successful he must be a man of much tact, firmness of character and unwavering belief in his cause.

It may surprise a good many to know that tho Salvation army has a school in this city for women cadets. This has been in existence about three years, and during that time has graduated a number of women who have gone out to active field work. At present it has seven students under the tuition of Ensign and his wife, an Irish woman of gentle birth and the same unqualified enthusiasm for her work that characterizes Mrs. Ballington Booth. Lieutenant Ruby, a young woman, is Mrs. Reid's assistant. The school for men cadets is in Iowa. An effort was made not long ago to have it stationed South Omaha, but a desirable place could not be obtained. The school for girls here in Omaha is stationed next door to the barracks. The training school rules are of interest. At the head of the printed rules are these two bits of scripture reminder: "By love serve one another," and "He that is greatest among you shall be your servant."

These girls are awakened by bugle call. Roll call follows, then breakfast, then general work. After that a silent half hour, for introspection. Then bible reading and prayer, after that the study hours. At the close of the morning session is five minutes prayer for the Salvation Army, and then dinner. Then follows a little time for resting and dressing, and at 2 o'clock the cadets must be neatly dressed for the street, where, till 5 o'clock they sell the War Cry, from the proceeds of which the training school is supported, or they visit in the slums of the city, praying with those who permit it, talking to the children, or the women, and speaking words of encouragement and religion wherever they may. After supper there comes prayer for the field, then the meeting at the barracks, and then bed, with all lights out at 10:30. The rules to be observed in the household are as follows:

1. Every cadet is expected to rise directly the bugle blows in the morning, except through sickness or especial leave of absence granted by the officers in command.

2. No cadet is allowed to leave the house without the sanction of the commanding officer.

3. Cadets having articles lying around will be looked upon as very careless and untidy.

4. Cadets are not allowed to go out to meals.

5. No person, whether officer or friend, is allowed to visit the garrison without a written permit from the major.

6. Officers visiting the garrison will be expected to conform to the rules, and by so doing be an example to every cadet.

7. Every cadet will be expected to treat every officer with due respect.

Every cadet is responsible that his or her dress is kept in a neat and tidy condition, ready for inspection at any time. Every cadet is expected to wear full uniform, unless permission not to do so is granted by officer in charge. No cadet is allowed to write more than two letters a week, unless special permission is granted. All mail for cadets will be handed them by the garrison officer immediately after meals. Cadets appointed to visit corps must go there direct and back, not staying to talk to soldiers after meeting is closed. No cadet is supposed to enter the hall

SALVATION LASSES AT HOME
---
Mrs Peattie Writes of the Blue
Frocked Sisterhood of
the Lord
---
Their Life in the Cadet School - Rules Con-
cerning Their Conduct and Actions-
Room for the Banner.
---
Among the many commonplace sights
of Omaha there is one isght which is
never exactly commonplace. It is, in-
deed, almost heroic. It is the little band
of men and women that in storm and
sunshine, when the pavement is slippery
with mud or hot with mid-summer sun,
march the streets in the name of their
Lord, and kneel amond the secular sur-
roundings, making a cathedral of the
common street, and there make their
plea with high heaven for the souls of
those who so thoughtlessly pass them
with smile or jest.
Without doubt, here in Omaha today,
in the midst of the greed, that disguises
itself as shrewdness, in the midst of the
materialism that masks as industry, in
the midst of the selfishness that governs
almost all of us, the Salvation army
remains an [honest?] protest against our
display, our selfism, and our pride of
purchasable things. Time was when
this band of men and women was much
persecuted. People objected to having
them march the streets. They did not
think they had a right to sinng. They could
find no reason for their disinterested-
ness, and so they accused them of being
immoral. A number of young attorneys
who has not so many prejudices as the
laymen - and particularly the churchly
laymen - protested that a group of re-
ligious singers had as much right to
make a noise on the street as a band
playing for the benefit of the base ball
park or the [schuetzen vercin?]. A number
of them offered to argue the case for the
Salvationists in the courts, after they
had been withstrained from open air
meetings as a public nuisance, and
one of them did this, and the court de-
cided that no law was broke and no
right of any man injured by the sinnging
of these worshipers upon our public
streets. There are still some who seem
to think that this music is blasphemous
because it is not always in tune, and
who consider that the matter of religion
ought to be treated with more conserva-
tism. But they can do no more than
[rall?]. The law protects the Salvationists.
To most of the citizens of this town,
however, the train of bonneted women
and uniformed men, with their two
flags, one of the army of the Lord, the
other of the army of the republic, with
their cymbals, cornets, drums, their
sharp, metallic, nervous voices, their
absolute indifference to public [con-
tumely?], their unqualified sacrifice to an
unpopular cause, has come to have in
it something so familiar and pleasant
that the smiles which used to be scorn-
ful have become indulgent, and if any
misfortune were to overtake the Salva-
tion army here there would be much
sorrow.
The little band numbers about eighty
souls at present. It is never very large,
for the reason that many of the soldiers
are migratory. They stay in one place
but a short time. They are restless -
they are rovers. However, the barracks
on the corner of Davenport, near Seven-
teenth, is well filled nightly, and the
crusade for souls goes on there with as
much fervvor as ever the crusade for the
sepulcher of the Lord went on in the
dim days of the eleventh century.
To many an outsider this work
may appear to be entirely haphazard.
But, on the contrary, it is well regu-
lated. There is great system employed.
The states of Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska,
South and North Dakota, Colorado and
Wyoming are under the charge of Major
George French. The "war office" is in
the New York Life building on the sec-
cond floor, and here the books are kept
the reports revised , the orders issued
and all personal and general matters at-
tended to. There are 1,500 Salvationists
in this district under the command of
Major French. This commander has
manifold duties, and it goes without saying