STATE HIGH COURT JUDGE LIMBAUGH LAUDS SALVATION ARMY

Without hearts brimming with compassion and the qualities of open-mindedness, empathy and altruism, the Salvation Army couldn't fulfill its mission, said Missouri Supreme Court Judge Stephen N. Limbaugh Jr.

Limbaugh spoke Monday night at the Salvation Army's Annual Civic Dinner, which recognized volunteers and civic groups that support the army. About 75 people attended the event that also included performances by the Cape Timbrel Brigade and an annual Salvation Army report.

The Salvation Army has a proud history in Cape Girardeau because the qualities most needed to fulfill its mission are present, said Limbaugh, who is of Cape Girardeau

When people transcend the selfishness of the world then others can see the "sparks of God's divinity" within every person, he said. It takes minds free of prejudice, empathetic people and selflessness to make the efforts a success, he said.

The Salvation Army teaches selflessness and helping others. With programs like summer camps for children and adults, character-building programs, community activities and social-services programs, it is evident that the Salvation Army is one of the greatest charitable organizations in Cape Girardeau, Limbaugh said.

It is certainly one of the oldest. The Salvation Army was founded by William and Catherine Booth in 1865 in England. It came to the United States in 1880 and to Cape Girardeau in late December 1897.

During all the years, the Salvation Army has motivated people by meeting their physical needs and turning them to God, said Salvation Army Major Robert Gauthier.

As a troupe of girls called the SA No Limits performed an interpretive dance, the words of a song by Kirk Franklin played in the background. "Friends are there to catch you when you fall; Here's my shoulder, you can lean on me."

That song tells of our mission, said Major Joyce Gauthier. "We lead people to God. When there is no other place, there is God you can always lean on."

The Salvation Army has been a place to go when in need for many in Southeast Missouri and Southern Illinois. Nearly 25,000 people received some type of emergency assistance from the Salvation Army during 1999. And 742 people were lodged overnight, as the region's population of homeless or displaced people increased. That number was more than double the previous year's total, Robert Gauthier said.

The Salvation Army offers its values of open-mindedness and care for all people without discrimination.

Prejudice "is the scourge of our society," Limbaugh said. It has become so pervasive and invasive that it affects everyone.

"We are all part of God's world and are essential to the well being of our society," Limbaugh said. "God gives us value and grace and dignity."

When our vision isn't clouded by prejudice we begin to see the value of other people, he said. "When we see through God's eyes, we are all created equal."

It doesn't matter whether our gifts are great or few, but what matters is how we use them, Limbaugh said.

People who have the gift of empathy have greater tendencies to show love and compassion than those without such a gift. "The gift of empathy is a huge life-force which inspires us to help other people," he said.

Helping others without thinking of ourselves is an altruistic act, he said. While some philosophers would argue that every human act is underscored by a selfish motive, Limbaugh said there are times when that simply isn't true.

"There are more instances when the selfish motives are dominated by the selfless motives," he said. Whether it is working to improve the lot of humankind or simply donating blood to the American Red Cross, people perform small and private acts of altruism daily.

"This should be our goal," he said. "I'm convinced that each of us has a profound capacity for that in our character. It is when we transcend that selfishness that we see sparks of God's divinity within us."

SUPPORTERS HONORED

Awards were given to the following groups Monday night for their support of the Salvation Army:

Kiwanis Club

Young Doers 4-H Club

Pioneer Orchard

Centenary United Methodist Church

Harold O. Grauel Lodge 672

Cape Girardeau Road Runners Club

Westminster Christian Preschool

Telephone Pioneers

Exchange Club

Boy Scouts of America

Breakfast Optimist Club

Cape West 14 Cine

Blanchard Elementary

Schultz School

Orchard Elementary in Jackson

Rose Tallent

Julie Davenport

Primary Annex in Jackson

Central High School

Cub Scouts

Area Wide United Way

Clippard School

Alma Schrader School

Delta School

Food Giant

West Park Mall

Wal-Mart Supercenter

Target Stores

Sears

Schnucks

Sam's Club

K's Merchandise

Big K-Mart

J.C. Penney

Hobby Lobby

VFW

Cape Girardeau Police Officers Association

Cape Girardeau Fire Station No. 1

Board of Probation and Parole

Zimmer Radio Group

Southeast Missourian newspaper

KFVS TV-12