Battle Against Satan Takes a Devil of a Turn : Salvation Army Aide Fires Freeway Salvo

Rush-hour commuters accustomed to devilish traffic jams were called upon to denounce Satan in a bold and curious crusade launched by a maverick branch of the Salvation Army on Friday.

Uniformed members of the religious organization’s San Fernando Valley headquarters hoisted large banners above three Hollywood Freeway overpasses during the intense morning rush hours warning that old Beelzebub himself may be tailgating on drivers’ souls.

While the devil did not appear, the California Highway Patrol did, moving the religious demonstrators to the sides of the overpasses to avoid creating a safety hazard. But Capt. John Purdell, leader of the religious band, said he remained confident that the freeway crusade would help drive Los Angeles residents away from violence, pornography, drugs and abortion and into the arms of the church.

“We may be perceived as real ignorant freaks, and I am sure that we will be” said the tall, silver-haired Purdell. “But there is no better public relations man than God.”

Seat of All Sin

Purdell and his cohorts aimed their 8-by-8-foot banners at commuters passing through the Hollywood area, which some religious leaders view as the seat of all sin in Los Angeles. One of the signs proclaimed, “Satan is a liar and the father of lies.” The others invited passers-by to join the Salvation Army in its Christian worship services.

Purdell’s superiors received no warning of the plans for the unorthodox outreach program, and the group’s Southern California leader on Friday said he was opposed to anyone placing banners over freeways. Nonetheless, Salvation Army spokesman Russell Prince praised Purdell’s longstanding reputation for flamboyant and controversial activities within the charitable religious organization, which is known, among other things, for its bell-ringing kettle collection program at Christmastime.

The 57-year-old Purdell, who has been called a “holy maverick” by his colleagues, spearheaded a protest when Salvation Army solicitors were banned from some shopping malls last Christmas. Purdell and his followers were arrested for trespassing at a Northridge mall before the manager finally welcomed them back, proclaiming, “I am not a Scrooge.” Purdell is also credited with running a highly effective food and shelter program for the homeless.

Aggressive Officer

“He is an aggressive Salvation Army officer who, quite frankly, has achieved some excellent results,” Prince said. “He’s a great fellow, and we have a lot of respect for him. He’s cut in the mold of our founder, who stood up to a great deal of controversy.”

Purdell, a former executive of a Glendale drapery and carpet-cleaning firm who joined the Salvation Army with his wife a decade ago, said the organization’s message of salvation must be spread to the broadest possible audience. While there were no epiphanies reported Friday, there was a healthy amount of honking and signal-flashing from freeway drivers targeted by Purdell.

He called on other Salvation Army branch leaders to join him in the freeway crusade, which he deemed a success.

“These words must confront as many people as possible,” said Purdell, who moved his banners to the Burbank Boulevard overpass of the San Diego Freeway late Friday.

“This is a call to arms. We are in a war here. That’s why we wear uniforms.”