the leadership of Commissioners Frederick and Emma Booth-Tucker.
Lt. Colonel Emma Bown (1858-1924) was Mrs. Catherine Booth's secre-
concerned about the welfare of others and was quickly promoted to handle the
affairs of the new project known as the Dive, Tenement and Garrett work.
ters," as they were called, lived within the
slums of urban areas. The work took place in
New York City, Brooklyn, Boston, Philadelphia,
Chicago, Buffalo and St. Louis. The Slum Sis-
ters visited houses and apartments, scrubbed
floors and cleaned walls, washed babies, cooked
meals, delivered food and even prepared the
dead for burial. These officers would also hold
Salvation meetings and preach of salvation in
a practical way. They dressed in poor-looking
clothing and lived in the slums to make sure
they were on the same level as their neighbors
in need.
She was devoted to the Army's mission and
the New York Rescue Home. This home was
opened in 1896 as a haven for "fallen women"
and those with nowhere else to go. The clients
lived in the home, where the Salvationist staff
members would pray for them and help those
with skills find jobs. Sewing and laundry were
taken in and clients earned money to better
themselves. Lt. Colonel Bown saw evils exposed
as the work took place day by day, yet her com-
passion for those in need never wavered. Bown
was a warrior fighting poverty, persecution and
abuse. Her motto was "never be afraid of diffi-
culties, for difficulties rightly faced bring the
greatest blessing."
and Research Department at National Headquarters
in Alexandria, Virginia.