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The War Romance of the Salvation Army

E >> Evangeline Booth and Grace Livingston Hill >> The War Romance of the Salvation Army




But if she is courageous, she is also wise as a serpent, and knows when to
keep her own counsel.

During the early days of the war when there were many important matters to
be decided and the Commander was needed everywhere, she came straight from
a conference in Washington to a large hotel in one of the great western
cities where she had an appointment to speak that night. At the revolving
door of the hotel stood a portly servitor in house uniform who was most
kind and noticeably attentive to her whenever she entered or went out, and
was constantly giving her some pointed little attention to draw her
notice. Finally, she stopped for a moment to thank him, and he immediately
became most flattering, telling her he knew all about the Salvation Army,
that he had a brother in its ranks, was deeply interested in their work in
France, and most proud of what they were doing. He told her he had lived
in Washington and said he supposed she often went there. She replied
pleasantly that she had but just come from there, but some keen intuition
began to warn this wise-hearted woman and when the next question, though
spoken most casually, was: "Where are the Salvation Army workers now in
France?" she replied evasively:

"Oh, wherever they are most needed," and passed on with a friend.

"I believe that man is a spy!" she said to her friend with conviction in
her voice.

"Nonsense!" the friend replied; "you are growing nervous. That man has
been in this hotel for several years."

But that very night the man, with five others, was arrested, and proved to
be a spy hunting information about the location of the American troops in
France.

Now these incidents do not belong in just this spot in the book, but they
are placed here of intention that the reader may have a certain viewpoint
from which to take the story. For well does the world of evil realize what
a strong force of opponents to their dark deeds is found in this great
Christian organization. Sometimes one is able the better to judge a man,
his character and strength, when one knows who are his enemies.

* * * * *

It was the beginning of the dark days of 1917.

The Commander sat in her quiet office, that office through which, except
on occasions like this when she locked the doors for a few minutes'
special work, there marched an unbroken procession of men and affairs,
affecting both souls and nations.

Before her on the broad desk lay the notes of a new address which she was
preparing to deliver that evening, but her eyes were looking out of the
wide window, across the clustering roofs of the great city to the white
horizon line, and afar over the great water to the terrible scene of the
Strife of Nations.

For a long time her thoughts had been turning that way, for she had many
beloved comrades in that fight, both warring and ministering to the
fighters, and she had often longed to go herself, had not her work held
her here. But now at last the call had come! America had entered the great
war, and in a few days her sons would be marching from all over the land
and embarking for over the seas to fling their young lives into that
inferno; and behind them would stalk, as always in the wake of War, Pain
and Sorrow and Sin! Especially Sin. She shuddered as she thought of it
all. The many subtle temptations to one who is lonely and in a foreign
land.

Her eyes left the far horizon and hovered over the huddling roofs that
represented so many hundreds of thousands of homes. So many mothers to
give up their sons; so many wives to be bereft; so many men and boys to be
sent forth to suffer and be tried; so many hearts already overburdened to
be bowed beneath a heavier load! Oh, her people! Her beloved people, whose
sorrows and burdens and sins she bore in her heart and carried to the feet
of the Master every day! And now this war!

And those young men, hardly more than children, some of them! With her
quick insight and deep knowledge of the world, she visualized the way of
fire down which they must walk, and her soul was stricken with the thought
of it! It was her work and the work of her chosen Army to help and save,
but what could she do in such a momentous crisis as this? She had no money
for new work. Opportunities had opened up so fast. The Treasury was
already overtaxed with the needs on this side of the water. There were
enterprises started that could not be given up without losing precious
souls who were on the way toward becoming redeemed men and women, fit
citizens of this world and the next. There was no surplus, ever! The
multifarious efforts to meet the needs of the poorest of the cities' poor,
alone, kept everyone on the strain. There seemed no possibility of doing
more. Besides, how could they spare the workers to meet the new demand
without taking them from places where they were greatly needed at home?
And other perplexities darkened the way. There were those sitting in high
places of authority who had strongly advised the Salvation Army to remain
at home and go on with their street meetings, telling them that the
battlefield was no place for them, they would only be in the way. They
were not adapted to a thing like war. But well she knew the capacity of
the Salvation Army to adapt itself to whatever need or circumstance
presented. The same standard they had borne into the most wretched places
of earth in times of peace would do in times of war.

Out there across the waters the Salvation Brothers and Sisters were
ministering to the British armies at the front, and now that the American
army was going, too, duty seemed very clear; the call was most imperative!

The written pages on her desk loudly demanded attention and the Commander
tried to bring her thoughts back to them once more, but again and again
the call sounded in her heart.

She lifted her eyes to the wall across the room from her desk where hung
the life-like portrait of her Christian-Warrior father, the grand old
keen-eyed, wise-hearted General, founder of the movement. Like her father
she knew they must go. There was no question about it. No hindrance should
stop them. They MUST GO! The warrior blood ran in her veins. In this the
world's greatest calamity they must fulfill the mission for which he lived
and died.

"Go!" Those pictured eyes seemed to speak to her, just as they used to
command her when he was here: "You must go and bear the standard of the
Cross to the front. Those boys are going over there, many of them to die,
and some are telling them that if they make the supreme sacrifice in this
their country's hour of need it will be all right with them when they go
into the world beyond. But when they get over there under shell fire they
will know that it is not so, and they will need Christ, the only atonement
for sin. You must go and take the Christ to them."

Then the Commander bowed her head, accepting the commission; and there in
the quiet room perhaps the Master Himself stood beside her and gave her
his charge--just as she would later charge those whom she would send
across the water--telling her that He was depending upon the Salvation
Army to bear His standard to the war.

Perhaps it was at this same high conference with her Lord that she settled
it in her heart that Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker was to be the
pioneer to blaze the way for the work in France.

However that may be he was an out-and-out Salvationist, of long and varied
experience. He was chosen equally for his proved consecration to service,
for his unselfishness, for his exceptional and remarkable natural courage
by which he was afraid of nothing, and for his unwavering persistence in
plans once made in spite of all difficulties. The Commander once said of
him: "If you want to see him at his best you must put him face to face
with a stone wall and tell him he must get on the other side of it. No
matter what the cost or toil, whether hated or loved, he would get there!"

Thus carefully, prayerfully, were each one of the other workers selected;
each new selection born from the struggle of her soul in prayer to God
that there might be no mistakes, no unwise choices, no messengers sent
forth who went for their own ends and not for the glory of God. Here lies
the secret which makes the world wonder to-day why the Salvation Army
workers are called "the real thing" by the soldiers. They were hand-picked
by their leader on the mount, face to face with God.

She took no casual comer, even with offers of money to back them, and
there were some of immense wealth who pleaded to be of the little band.
She sent only those whom she knew and had tried. Many of them had been
born and reared in the Salvation Army, with Christlike fathers and mothers
who had made their homes a little piece of heaven below. All of them were
consecrated, and none went without the urgent answering call in their own
hearts.

It was early in June, 1917, when Colonel Barker sailed to France with his
commission to look the field over and report upon any and every
opportunity for the Salvation Army to serve the American troops.

In order to pave his way before reaching France, Colonel Barker secured a
letter of introduction from Secretary-to-the-President Tumulty, to the
American Ambassador in France, Honorable William G. Sharp.

In connection with this letter a curious and interesting incident
occurred. When Colonel Barker entered the Secretary's office, he noticed
him sitting at the other end of the room talking with a gentleman. He was
about to take a seat near the door when Mr. Tumulty beckoned to him to
come to the desk. When he was seated, without looking directly at the
other gentleman, the Colonel began to state his mission to Mr. Tumulty.
Before he had finished the stranger spoke up to Mr. Tumulty: "Give the
Colonel what he wants and make it a good one!" And lo! he was not a
stranger, but a man whose reform had made no small sensation in New York
circles several years before, a former attorney who through his wicked
life had been despaired of and forsaken by his wealthy relatives, who had
sunk to the lowest depths of sin and poverty and been rescued by the
Salvation Army.

Continuing to Mr. Tumulty, he said: "You know what the Salvation Army has
done for me; now do what you can for the Salvation Army."

Mr. Tumulty gave him a most kind letter of introduction to the American
Ambassador.

On his arrival in Liverpool Colonel Barker availed himself of the
opportunity to see the very splendid work being done by the Salvation Army
with the British troops, both in France and in England, visiting many
Salvation Army huts and hostels. He also put the Commander's plans for
France before General Bramwell Booth in London.

As early as possible Colonel Barker presented his letter of introduction
to the American Ambassador, who in turn provided him with a letter of
introduction to General Pershing which insured a cordial reception by him.
Mr. Sharp informed Colonel Barker that he understood the policy of the
American army was to grant a monopoly of all welfare work to the Y.M.C.A.
He feared the Salvation Army would not be welcome, but assured him that
anything he could properly do to assist the Salvation Army would be most
gladly done. In this connection he stated that he had known of and been
interested in the work of the Salvation Army for many years, that several
men of his acquaintance had been converted through their activities and
been reformed from dissolute, worthless characters to kind husbands and
fathers and good business men; and that he believed in the Salvation Army
work as a consequence.

On many occasions during the subsequent months, Mr. Sharp was never too
busy to see the Salvation Army representatives, and has rendered valuable
assistance in facilitating the forwarding of additional workers by his
influence with the State Department.

It appeared that among military officers a kind feeling existed toward the
Salvation Army, though it was generally thought that there was no opening
for their service. Their conception of the Salvation Army was that of
street corner meetings and public charity. The officers at that time could
not see that the soldiers needed charity or that they would be interested
in religion. They could see how a reading-room, game-room and
entertainments might be helpful, but anything further than that they did
not consider necessary.

Colonel Barker presented his letter of introduction to General Pershing,
and on behalf of Commander Booth offered the services of the Salvation
Army in any form which might be desired.

General Pershing, who received the Colonel with exceptional cordiality,
suggested that he go out to the camps, look the field over, and report to
him. Calling in his chief of staff he gave instructions that a side car
should be placed at Colonel Barker's disposal to go out to the camps; and
also that a letter of introduction to the General commanding the First
Division should be given to him, asking that everything should be done to
help him.

The first destination was Gondrecourt, where the First Division
Headquarters was established.




II.

The Gondrecourt Area



The advance guard of the American Expeditionary Forces had landed in
France, and other detachments were arriving almost daily. They were
received by the French with open arms and a big parade as soon as they
landed. Flowers were tossed in their path and garlands were flung about
them. They were lauded and praised on every hand. On the crest of this
wave of enthusiasm they could have swept joyously into battle and never
lost their smiles.

But instead of going to the front at once they were billeted in little
French villages and introduced to French rain and French mud.

When one discovers that the houses are built of stone, stuck together
mainly by this mud of the country, and remembers how many years they have
stood, one gets a passing idea of the nature of this mud about which the
soldiers have written home so often. It is more like Portland cement
than anything else, and it is most penetrative and hard to get rid of; it
gets in the hair, down the neck, into the shoes and it sticks. If the
soldier wears hip-boots in the trenches he must take them off every little
while and empty the mud out of them which somehow manages to get into even
hip-boots. It is said that one reason the soldiers were obliged to wear
the wrapped leggings was, not that they would keep the water out, but that
they would strain the mud and at least keep the feet comparatively clean.

[Illustration: Lieutenant-Colonel William S. Barker Director of War Work
in France]

[Illustration: "Introduced to French Rain and French Mud"]

There were sixteen of these camps at this time and probably twelve or
thirteen thousand soldiers were already established in them.

There was no great cantonment as at the camps on this side of the water,
nor yet a city of tents, as one might have expected. The forming of a camp
meant the taking over of all available buildings in the little French
peasant villages. The space was measured up by the town mayor and the
battalion leader and the proper number of men assigned to each building.
In this way a single division covered a territory of about thirty
kilometers. This system made a camp of any size available in very short
order and also fooled the Huns, who were on the lookout for American
camps.

These villages were the usual farming villages, typical of eastern France.
They are not like American villages, but a collection of farm yards, the
houses huddled together years ago for protection against roving bands of
marauders. The farmer, instead of living upon his land, lives in the
village, and there he has his barn for his cattle, his manure pile is at
his front door, the drainage from it seeps back under the house at will,
his chickens and pigs running around the streets.

These houses were built some five or eight hundred years ago, some a
thousand or twelve hundred years. One house in the town aroused much
curiosity because it was called the "new" house. It looked just like all
the others. One who was curious asked why it should have received this
appellative and was told because it was the last one that was built--only
two hundred and fifty years ago.

There is a narrow hall or court running through these houses which is all
that separates the family from the horses and pigs and cows which abide
under the same roof.

The whole place smells alike. There is no heat anywhere, save from a
fireplace in the kitchen. There is a community bakehouse.

The soldiers were quartered in the barns and outhouses, the officers were
quartered in the homes of these French peasants. There were no comforts
for either soldier or officer. It rained almost continuously and at night
it was cold. No dining-rooms could be provided where the men could eat and
they lined up on the street, got their chow and ate it standing in the
rain or under whatever cover they could find. Few of them could understand
any French, and all the conditions surrounding their presence in France
were most trying to them. They were drilled from morning to night. They
were covered with mud. The great fight in which they had come to
participate was still afar off. No wonder their hearts grew heavy with a
great longing for home. Gloom sat upon their faces and depression grew
with every passing hour.

Into these villages one after another came the little military side-car
with its pioneer Salvationists, investigating conditions and inquiring the
greatest immediate need of the men.

All the soldiers were homesick, and wherever the little car stopped the
Salvation Army uniform attracted immediate and friendly attention. The
boys expressed the liveliest interest in the possibility of the Salvation
Army being with them in France. These troops composed the regular army and
were old-timers. They showed at once their respect for and their belief in
the Salvation Army. One poor fellow, when he saw the uniform, exclaimed:
"The Salvation Army! I believe they'll be waiting for us when we get to
hell to try and save us!"

It appeared that the pay of the American soldier was so much greater than
that of the French soldier that he had too much money at his disposal; and
this money was a menace both to him and to the French population. If some
means could be provided for transferring the soldier's money home, it
would help out in the one direction which was most important at that time.

It will be remembered that the French habit of drinking wine was ever
before the American soldier, and with 165 francs a month in his pocket, he
became an object of interest to the French tradespeople, who encouraged
him to spend his money in drink, and who also raised the price on other
commodities to a point where the French population found it made living
for them most difficult.

The Salvation Army authorities in New York were all prepared to meet this
need. The Organization has one thousand posts throughout the United States
commanded by officers who would become responsible to get the soldier's
money to his family or relatives in the United States. A simple money-
order blank issued in France could be sent to the National Headquarters of
the Salvation Army in New York and from there to the officer commanding
the corps in any part of the United States, who would deliver the money in
person.

In this way the friends and relatives of the soldier in France would be
comforted in the knowledge that the Salvation Army was in touch with their
boy; and if need existed in the family at home it would be discovered
through the visit of the Salvation Army officer in the homeland and
immediate steps taken to alleviate it.

Perhaps this has done more than anything else to bring the blessing of
parents and relatives upon the organization, for tens of thousands of
dollars that would have been spent in gambling and drink have been sent
home to widowed mothers and young wives.

This suggestion appealed very strongly to the military general, who said
that if the Salvation Army got into operation it could count upon any
assistance which he could give it, and if they conducted meetings he would
see that his regimental band was instructed to attend these meetings and
furnish the music.

Several chaplains, both Protestant and Catholic, expressed themselves as
being glad to welcome the Salvation Army among them.

Among the Regular Army officers there was rather a pessimistic attitude.
It was in nowise hostile, but rather doubtful.

One general said that he did not see that the Salvation Army could do any
good. His idea of the Salvation Army being associated altogether with the
slums and men who were down and out. But on the other hand, he said that
he did not see that the Salvation Army could do any harm, even if they did
not do any good, and as far as he was concerned he was agreeable to their
coming in to work in the First Division; and he would so report to General
Pershing.

St. Nazaire, the base, was being used for the reception of the troops as
they reached the shores of France. Here was a new situation. The men had
been cooped up on transports for several days and on their landing at St.
Nazaire they were placed in a rest camp with the opportunity to visit the
city. Here they were a prey to immoral women and the officer commanding
the base was greatly concerned about the matter and eagerly welcomed the
idea of having the Salvation Army establish good women in St. Nazaire who
would cope with the problem.

The report given to General Pershing resulted in an official authorization
permitting the Salvation Army to open their work with the American
Expeditionary Forces, and a suggestion that they go at once to the
American Training Area and see what they could do to alleviate the
terrible epidemic of homesickness that had broken out among the soldiers.

In the meantime, back in New York, the Commander had not been idle. Daily
before the throne she had laid the great concerns of her Army, and daily
she had been preparing her first little company of workers to go when the
need should call.

There was no money as yet, but the Commander was not to be daunted, and so
when the report came from over the water, she borrowed from the banks
twenty-five thousand dollars.

She called the little company of pioneer workers together in a quiet place
before they left and gave them such a charge as would make an angel search
his heart. Before the Most High God she called upon them to tell her if
any of them had in his or her heart any motive or ambition in going other
than to serve the Lord Christ. She looked down into the eyes of the young
maidens and bade them put utterly away from them the arts and coquetries
of youth, and remember that they were sent forth to help and save and love
the souls of men as God loved them; and that self must be forgotten, or
their work would be in vain. She commanded them if even at this last hour
any faltered or felt himself unfit for the God-given task, that he would
tell her even then before it was too late. She begged them to remember
that they held in their hands the honor of the Salvation Army, and the
glory of Jesus Christ their Saviour as they went out to serve the troops.
They were to be living examples of Christ's love, and they were to be
willing to lay down their lives if need be for His sake.

There were tears in the eyes of some of those strong men that day as they
listened, and the look of exaltation on the faces of the women was like a
reflection from above. So must have looked the disciples of old when Jesus
gave them the commission to go into all the world and preach the gospel.
They were filled with His Spirit, and there was a look of utter joy and
self-forgetfulness as they knelt with their leader to pray, in words which
carried them all to the very feet of God and laid their lives a willing
sacrifice to Him who had done so much for them. Still kneeling, with bowed
heads, they sang, and their words were but a prayer. It is a way these
wonderful people have of bursting into song upon their knees with their
eyes closed and faces illumined by a light of another world, their whole
souls in the words they are singing--"singing as unto the Lord!" It
reminds one of the days of old when the children of Israel did everything
with songs and prayers and rejoicing, and the whole of life was carried on
as if in the visible presence of God, instead of utterly ignoring Him as
most of us do now.

The song this time was just a few lines of consecration:

"Oh, for a heart whiter than snow!
Saviour Divine, to whom else can I go?
Thou who hast died, loving me so,
Give me a heart that is whiter than snow!"

The dramatic beauty of the scene, the sweet, holy abandonment of that
prayer-song with its tender, appealing melody, would have held a throng of
thousands in awed wonder. But there was no audience, unless, perchance,
the angels gathered around the little company, rejoicing that in this
world of sin and war there were these who had so given themselves to God;
but from that glory-touched room there presently went forth men and women
with the spirit in their hearts that was to thrill like an electric wire
every life with which it came in contact, and show the whole world what
God can do with lives that are wholly surrendered to Him.

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