William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, was brushing his manelike white hair when his son Bramwell stepped into the room. "Bramwell!" he cried. "Did you know that men sleep out all night on the bridges?"

"Well, yes," the son replied. "A lot of poor fellows I suppose do that."

"Then you ought to be ashamed of yourself to have known it and to have done nothing for them!" his father retorted. And when the son began to talk about the Poor Law program, General Booth waved a hand and said, "Go and do something! We must do something!"

"What can we do?"

"Get them a shelter!"

"That will cost money," replied Bramwell.

"Well, that is your affair. Something must be done. Get hold of a warehouse and warm it, and find something to cover them. But mind, Bramwell, no coddling!"

That was the beginning of Salvation Army shelters.