The Region - News from May 10, 1987

The Salvation Army has celebrated 100 years of serving “soup, soap and salvation” to the down and out of Los Angeles with hosannas and an old-fashioned tent meeting. Women carrying tambourines and dressed in the blue uniforms worn by “Hallelujah Lassies” of a century ago led a march of city officials, Salvation Army officers and children to the Olvera Street courtyard, where they reenacted the group’s first Los Angeles street service. The Salvation Army was founded in London in 1865 by William Booth, a Methodist minister who declared war against prostitution, hunger, alcoholism and the white slave trade. David Riley, the army’s Southern California divisional commander, said hundreds of thousands of people received food, clothing, shelter, counseling and spiritual guidance from the Salvation Army last year.