THE ARMY OF SALVATION

Seventh-Day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · May 27, 1880

FromThe Advent Review and Sabbath Herald, Vol. 55, No. 22

THE ARMY OF SALVATION.

SINCE the time when the Reformation opened the way for personal conviction and freedom of action in regard to religion, there has been an infinite variety of ways adopted of propagating the faith, some of which are so fantastic and singular as to open new fields of speculation in regard to human nature. Every century has had its own peculiar demonstrations, frequently so numerous as to give the historian some trouble to record them. Our own has not only been remarkably prolific, but within the past few years we have had three movements of the kind, slightly different in character, but all having the single end in view of advancing the cause of morality and religion. The Moody and Sankey meetings, which excited both hemispheres, the Crusading movement, which ran its brief but exciting career in a few States in the North, and the Murphy movement, are all within the briefest recollection. Now we have the “Salvation Army,” which proposes once more to awaken the masses to their deplorable condition, and to incite them to a fresh struggle toward better and purer living.

The organization of men and women which has adopted this pretentious title is an English one, and is the outgrowth of an unsectarian Christian mission begun in England in 1865 by the Rev. William Booth and his wife, of the Methodist Church. The idea of the mission was to reach the worst classes of the population in the poorest and most crowded quarters of the city, and also to evangelize the non-church-going people of a higher grade. Gathering around him a band of earnest Christians, Mr. Booth commenced a series of open-air meetings, and in a short time the nucleus of the present organization was formed. In 1878 the title of “The Salvation Army” was adopted, as being less calculated to repel the persons it was designed to gather, and who do not like to be spoken of as needing mission effort. For a time the Army seemed to be under bad generalship, and a number of the rank and file fell into the hands of the police. In spite, however, of all opposition it finally began to make headway, and to command a certain amount of respect. Last fall the Army took London by storm, and has been playing its batteries in that wicked city ever since.

The plan of operations adopted by the Army resembles that of our own Crusaders in some of its features, though it is not to be compared with it in others. Flaming handbills are issued, announcing that the “war against the devil” will commence at a given time and place; that Mr. and Mrs.—— will “do the first shooting,” and promising “great slaughter by the Salvation Army.” The “first shot” is understood to mean the first address or hymn; and when it is proposed to sing or pray, the announcement is sometimes made that “Brother So-and-so will now shoot,” or the invitation, “Let us shoot,” given, followed by the number of the hymn. General Booth has been heard to declare that “heathen England” appalls him, and his mission is to lift up and save the poor, the ignorant, and the neglected masses. Ninety per cent of the whole population never go inside a place of worship, and to save these he declares is the special mission of the Salvation Army. He also maintains that the masses “never think of Heaven or hell,” and his first object is to “get them to think of hell that they may flee from it, and of Heaven that they may strive to get there.” So far, the principal field of operation has been England and Wales, but the Army has also invaded Scotland and Ireland. They have also planted their outposts in Jersey, with a view to descending upon France. America has long been an objective point, and at last they are here.

It is hardly necessary to observe that the members of the Salvation Army are fully satisfied of the holiness and efficiency of their mission among the classes unapproachable, as they maintain, by other means than they employ. When reproached with sweeping the gutters in search of proselytes, they reply that they are “ready to net the sewers,” and that their mission is especially to the hopelessly drunken and profligate. Their Christianity seems to be of the aggressive type—a sort of military propaganda due to a large interpretation of the command to “compel them to come in.” Their plan of procedure throughout England has been as follows: When it has been decided to “attack” a town, a convenient building, such as a theater, a circus, or a deserted factory, is hired, and constitutes the head-quarters of the mission. Then a small band of brethren and two or more sisters are dispatched on service. Any open space, frequented by the lower class of the population on Sunday morning for the purpose of indulging in dog-fighting and similar recreations, is pitched upon. The militant band at once commence proceedings by singing hymns, and when they have collected a crowd, they deliver short exhortations. These speeches are very short, and are always followed by at least two verses of a hymn. Singing is a chief feature of the services, and the “Hallelujah Lasses” is the quaint designation of the female portion of the Army. This title was given them in derision, and finally adopted by them, though not without some reluctance on their part. The songs are a conglomeration, but mainly adaptations of the Moody and Sankey hymns. All kinds of popular melodies are used—comic, sentimental, and sacred. When women join in the movement, they give up all fineries, and dress in the plainest manner, dispensing with jewelry and every species of ornament.

So soon as a few, either of the converts or of the simply curious, are gathered together, a move is made for the establishment of a temporary chapel. In going and returning from their services, the brethren and sisters will march through the streets, singing, “Oh, you must be a lover of the Lord,” or some of their favorite hymns. When they have secured a hall, every effort is made to induce the crowd to enter, and when as many as can be persuaded have entered, either an ordinary service, prayer-meeting, or testimony-meeting is held, and those present are exhorted to lead Christian lives, and enroll themselves in the Salvation Army. This last-named act is an important part of the programme, not absolutely insisted on, but strongly urged as a test of sincerity. Mr. Booth believes that the energy natural to new converts is a force to be utilized. Not only is the new convert, if he be thoroughly sincere, full of fire and energy, not unmixed, perhaps, with spiritual pride at his regenerate condition, but he is nearer to those needing conversion than the brother who has lived cleanly for years past. No sooner, in the language of the Army, is a good soldier enrolled, than he is turned into a recruiting officer, and sent into his native alley to drum up fresh recruits.

The first detachment of the Salvation Army that has visited our metropolis came over recently on the steamer Australia. They traveled by steerage, and landed at Castle Garden with the immigrants. The party consisted of George Railton, who comes as Commissioner, accompanied by a captain and six lieutenants. These are all young ladies, and all wear a peculiar uniform of blue faced with yellow. A ribbon is stretched across their caps, with the words, “The Army of Salvation.” In appearance they are all stout and able-bodied persons of about thirty years, and seemingly well adapted to any enterprise that requires energy and endurance. Their passage was paid to this country by the home association, but this they are expected to refund. The intention of the band is to carry out the gigantic and ambitious scheme of traveling all through this country, and establishing branches of their organization in every city and town. They also expect to receive sufficient voluntary support here to enable them to carry on their work. The initiatory undertaking of the band was a service of song at Castle Garden soon after their arrival.

Energy and perseverance in any undertaking are apt to bring their reward, and there can be no question that the labors of the Army have met with great apparent success. They seem to seek out and take into their organization persons from the very worst classes, and yet the work does not fall to pieces. The number of members is now estimated at 100,000. In September last, according to a circular furnished by Mr. Railton, there were in England 122 corps, under the command of 195 officers, using for services weekly 148 theaters, music halls, warehouses, and other buildings, holding at the annual rate of 45,000 open-air services, and 60,000 in-door services, and preaching to 74,000 persons in-doors every Sunday evening, and to 2,000,000 in the streets every week. Through its instrumentality 257 persons have become wholly employed in religious work, and 3,256 others stand ready to speak or labor in the cause whenever called upon. The Army is said to be approved by twenty-three Mayors and magistrates, seventeen Superintendents of Police, and one hundred and twenty-nine clergymen. Its funds are raised mainly by collections taken at the services. Last year there was raised in this way £12,000, while the general fund only amounted to £4,540.

That the labors of the Army will meet with as much success on our shores as on the other side of the ocean, if not more, there can be little doubt, if they employ the same number of workers, and exhibit the same amount of energy. Our people seem to take kindly to these movements, as is shown by the enthusiasm over other evangelists who have preceded them, and performed their work in the same fiery and energetic way. The question, however, that cannot help presenting itself to thoughtful minds is, whether the results are not transitory, and the reaction hurtful. There seems to be an absence of propriety in the manner in which these multitudes are assembled and the meetings carried on. But at the same time it scarcely behooves those who are doing little or nothing to help and regenerate their fellow-men to be too critical regarding the methods of conscientious persons who are devoting their lives to such work.—Harper’s Weekly.