The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-03-17 00:00:00

1m! STOURTIP FA rx'E OBSERVEIL,

THE SALVATION ARMY AT EXETER
HALL.

The Salvation Army held three services at Exeter
Hall on Monday to celebrate the second anniver&ary
of the Army's work in the French capital. There
was a remarkably large attendance at the morn-
ing's meeting. As is usual at the Exeter Hall
gatherings of the Army, the spacious platform
was thronged by its members, who appeared
in uniform. Two numerous deputations from
France and Switzerland occupied prominent positions
on the platform. " General " Booth presided. Mrs.
Booth, Mr. B. Booth, Mr. H. Booth, Miss Catherine
Booth —who has just returned from Switzerland—and
the other members of Mr. Booth's family were present,
as were also Miss Charlesworth and her father, the
Rev. S. Charlesworth. The service commenced with
the singing of the hymn, "While I survey the won-
drous Cross."

After prayer and the singing of other hymns,
General Booth gave an address. He adverted to
the criticism to which the Army had recently been
subjected to in the Christian Press, and said he was
afraid those who had predicted the "burst up"
of the Salvation Army were going to be
awfully disappointed. (Cries of "Hallelujah.")
Indeed, he waEt not afraid, but he was sure they were.
He bad to announce, for the encouragement of their
numerous friends, that the Army was never before
in such a magnificently prosperous condition as
it was now (renewed cries of "Hallelujah ! "), In the
first place, there was never so much enthusium in the
Army as there was at the present time. The enthu-
siasm, too, did not expend itself in flag-waving,
but revealed itself in sterling facts. If a thou-
sand officers were wanted to go to the utmost
parts of the world, instead of having a thou-
sand, he would have five thousand candidates
for the " business." There was no falling off
in the conversions. Thousands of people were
continually seeking the Lord in this country and in
other lands. There was no falling off in the finances.
At Christmas the subscriptions received from the
members of the Army for the support of local
corps was at the weekly rate of £BB,OOO per
annum. Last week the subscriptions were at the
rate of 2120,000 per annum. None of that
money came to the Head-quarters, but was spent
by the offieers of the local corps under the directions
of the Head-quarters, and subject to the overlooking of
their auditors. During the last three months, too, the
subscriptions from those unconnected with the Army
had been greater than they had ever been before.
Still, they wanted more money, and he appealed to
their friends to again help them forward in the work.

Miss Catherine Booth gave, an account of her ex-
periences in Switzerland and France. She detailed
the circumstances under which the Army's cervices at
Geneva were prohibited, and said that all Europe, and
all the world, knew that the pretexts under which the
work was stopped were false. The true reason was that
they were the Salvation Army. But they did not take
their expulsion as a manifestation of the feeling of
Switzerland towards the Army. It was only the ex-
pression of a few people who were determined to put
them out at all cost. They were not going to abandon
France on account of their advance into Switzerland.
Nothing in the twelve months had more enoouraged
and helped her in the fight than had the advance which
had been made in Paris. She appealed to them for
their sympathy and help in the work.

The General here intimated that the proceeds of
that day's collection would go exclusively for the
support of the work in France. The work in Switzer.
land, so far, had been self.supporting.—A collection
was taken, and the meeting terminated with singing
of one of the Army songs.

After an adjournment of an hour and a half the
meeting was resumed in the afternoon. when General
Booth called upon French and Swiss "witnesses " to
give evidence in support of the work in France and
Switzerland. He stated that in Sweden also a great
work was being done, the people often walking many
miles and standing an hour or two in the snow to
hear the gospel preached, The " witnesses " gave
their " evidence " in French, which was translated
into English.

but now am EO ill that I can only manage a few lines.
I was struck with almost galloping consumption
about three weeks ago, and seriously doubt if I can
anyhow live a month. lam worn to a rag with fever
and want of rest; but I have my wife and the bairns
and the lovely scenery and sky, and am quite happy.
Life must not be measured by years, and I have lived
a great deal and very happily, and I have many good
friends who will keep a nook in their memories for
me. . . . I shall be much delighted to be suc•
ceeded by so good a man as Morley."
Sir Charles Dilke proposed to go over to Algiers in
order to be with him at the last; but Mr. Dilke
positively and even peremptorily forbade his brother's
quitting his Parlkmentary and administrative duties
for the sake of a companionship which, however con.
solatory, would bring with it as much pain and
trouble as satisfaction. Mr. Eustace Smith, M.P.,
the father of Mrs. Ashton Dilke, left London for
Algiers early this month, to be with his daughter
and son-in•law in the trying moments then approach•
ing.

DEATH OF PRINCE GORTSCHAKOFF.

Prince Gortschakoff, the Russian Chancellor, died
at Baden• Baden at four o'clock on Sunday morning, in
his 85th year. His jubilee of entrance into the Russian
Foreign•office was celebrated on the 27th of April
last. —The Morning Post, in noticing his death,
says

The death of Prince Gortechakoff, which occurred
at Baden, removes one of the principal political figures
of the century from the scene. But it can hardly he
said that the European situation will be at all materially
affected. The deceased statesman has for the last few
years been practically on the retired list. Although
down to the last he retained the nominal direction of
the Russian Foreign.office he had for some time been
more or less superseded by the younger and more ardent
spirits that came to the front during the last few years
of the reign of Alexander 11. But this was not
due to any diminution of confidence felt in him by his
royal master. The Emperor Alexander never ceased
to entertain the greatest regard for him personally and
to attach the greatest value to his opinion upon
foreign affairs. But Prince Gortschakoff's advanced
age—had he lived until the 16th of next June he would
have been 65 years old—rendered it impossible for
him to continue to play the active part on the Euro-
pean stage that had been allotted him for so long a
period. Hence it was that the actual direction of the
foreign policy of Russia fell more and more into the
hands of the younger school of statesmen of whom M.
do Giers and Count Ignatieff are the most prominent
representatives.