SALVATION ARMY. 



711 



Moore was sent out to take command. After 

 severe fighting and persistent efforts, it mus- 

 tered five corps and eleven officers in 1882. 

 Since then its prospects have brightened con- 

 tinually. At present there are 75 corps and 

 160 officers. Of these, only eleven are English ; 

 the rest are the product of the soil. It is op- 

 erating in more than thirty towns and cities of 

 the Dominion of Canada, and in the chief cities 

 of fourteen States of the Union. This does not 

 include California, which is a separate com- 

 mand. The American headquarters are at the 

 Lyceum, Washington Street^ Brooklyn, N. Y. 

 Major Moore is on the wing most of his time, 

 in Canada and the States, visiting the various 

 corps, dedicating barracks, presenting colors, 

 and directing affairs generally, besides writing 

 for the "War- Cry." 



It appears from their official organ that the 

 Army have been subjected to more arrests and 

 imprisonments in this country than in all other 

 countries together. The charge on the police 

 record is " disorderly conduct," for marching 

 in the streets. Yet they are defiant in prose- 

 cutions, claiming that " God has a right to the 

 streets." The first necessity with them is, to 

 attract attention ; it is necessary to awaken the 

 people, in order to rescue them. This is the 

 only explanation necessary as to the proces- 

 sions, carrying of colors, and beating of drums. 



The uniform consists of military tunic and 

 trousers of navy blue, sparingly trimmed with 

 red braid, and marked with the letter S on the 

 collar. Their head-gear consists of a military 

 helmet with flaming frontal piece bearing the 

 words : " Blood and fire ! Prepare to meet thy 

 God ! S. A." The women wear a neat skirt 

 and bodice of the same color and trimming, 

 with a u poke " bonnet encircled with a red 

 band bearing in gilt the inscription, " The Sal- 

 vation Army." 



They believe they are acting in accordance 

 with the mind of the Spirit in utilizing the 

 services of female speakers ; that as the devil 

 has freely used this instrumentality for the de- 

 moralizing of men, they are at liberty to em- 

 ploy the same agency for the recovery of men. 

 As a matter of fact, they find the female agency 

 the most effective, especially among rough 

 men. Sin and Satan, death and hell, are as 

 real to them as " the enemy " is to the men 

 who fight with carnal weapons ; so also are 

 the possibilities of victory. Their uniform 

 makes them realize this everywhere they go ; 

 it attracts attention, and serves as a safeguard 

 against worldly conformity. 



The usual military titles general, colonel, 

 major, captain, etc. ar conferred on the offi- 

 cers of various grades. When asked the reason 

 of this, they reply: "Because we find them 

 ready made to our hand, they harmonize with 

 our organization, and readily convey to the 

 minds of the common people the rank of the 

 officer; and because they are considered to be 

 less objectionable to the mass of the people 

 than those used to describe church officers." 



The Salvation Army has a regular system of 

 government, and from one central head its au- 

 thority reaches through the varied grades of 

 office, controlling and directing all. It is at 

 once the most aggressive and the most success- 

 ful missionary organization in the world. 



The Army has no political character or aims. 

 It teaches obedience to the laws, and respect 

 for their administrators. Its great business is 

 to bring men to God, that is, to all that is good 

 and virtuous. It is an uncompromising enemy 

 of tobacco and strong drink, and every form of 

 ruinous self-indulgence. 



As its object is to conquer sin, and not to 

 capture the righteous, it openly avows its ob- 

 jection to receiving church -members into its 

 ranks. It prefers the uncared-for; hence it 

 seeks to operate more especially upon the great 

 mass of indifference found among Catholics 

 and Protestants alike. It seeks after souls 

 abandoned by others, those whom the isolated 

 forces of religion have not reached, adapting 

 its invitations and means to meet their tastes, 

 and attract them to its meetings. 



" The Salvation Army," says a writer in the 

 " Barry Gazette," " strives to be temperance 

 society, church, Sisters of Charity, civilizer, 

 and Christianizer, all in one. By its ' knee- 

 drill,' 'sharp-shooting,' 'sword-exercise,' and 

 'heavy-artillery meetings ' as they are pleased 

 to call them it has conquered the enemy on 

 all sides, and brought many valiant soldiers 

 into the service of the Great Captain. The 

 meetings have been crowded for months, and 

 more than rival the run of the best plays. 

 Many who at first go out 'of curiosity, are after- 

 ward drawn by the power of the Spirit; and 

 many who go to scoff, remain to pray. Al- 

 ready a great improvement is noticeable in the 

 lower classes, in increased industry, better ap- 

 parel, and more orderly conduct." 



Their methods, though contrary to the gen- 

 eral usage of religious denominations, are sim- 

 ple, plain, direct, and unique; yet none the 

 less, they believe, in accordance with Scrip- 

 tural teachings. Their posters, placards, and 

 other advertisements are studiously made as 

 far as possible from anything like the usual 

 religious announcements. While they may 

 offend refined taste and the religious preju- 

 dices of cultured people, they attract the very 

 class they want to reach gamblers, drunk- 

 ards, harlots, thieves, and neglecters of God 

 generally. They study the law of adaptation. 

 A few headings from "The War-Cry" will 

 serve to show the class of people they address : 

 "The Boy and the Broom-stick," "The Last 

 Black Eye," " Salvation in the Sawdust," ** A 

 Wakefield Jail-Bird to the Front." 



They frequently occupy old and dilapidated 

 buildings, and sometimes the best that a town 

 affords ; but such places as the old jam-factory 

 in a populous neighbor hood suit them better. 

 A place of this description was taken in a city, 

 and the public were invited to "come and get 

 real jam, and see Jesus." They could taste be- 



