Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-04-02
MANHATTANISMS.
ABSURD BEHAVIOR OF THE BRITISH
SOUL-SAVERS.
An Exceptional Blue-Stocking-Wives De
clined at Five Cents Each-Interior
View of Russia-Notes.
New York. March 25, 1880.


You have seen how very indignant some
of the theologic warriors of the Salvation
Army, as it modestly styles itself, have
grown because they have not been allowed
to preach in the streets here without a
license They have even menaced Mayor
Cooper, through Commissioner Railton,
with the awful responsibility of leaving the
town evangelically unexhorted, and Mayor
Cooper, like the American savage that
he is, has totally disregarded the menace.
1t is plain, inasmuch as he declined to set
aside municipal ordinance, that he is
rank atheist and bitterly hostile to the
saving of souls. The Commissioner has
not said so, but he doubtless thinks So If
he does not he differs from most of his
tribe. Orthodoxy seems generally to have
an unfortunate effect ON those who believe
in it. 1t may improve their morals, but it
hurts their manners. 1t certainly Injuries
their temper for they can seldom meet
ANYBODY who possesses different opinions
from them without getting angry and
showing anger at every pore. Protesting
Jesus, they bristle with wrath whenever
they meet with any opposition. They de-
nounce bitterly all lberal-minded persons
who have the courage of their convictions,
ranking liberty of theological sort as the
sum of all iniquities. The Salvation Army
appears to be OF
THE REGULAR ORTHODOX STRIPE.
Its officers have so conducted themselves in
this city as naturally to excite prejudice
against them. 1 make no question but
that they are honest, reputable, well-in-
tentioned but they are extremely mar
row. and as consequence extremely in
tolerant. While they are so bent on
prayer, they might pray a little for the
mending of their own manners, which
would be desirable, for manners have
close relation to ethics-are indeed sort
of social religion. Perhaps if orthodoxists
should have less faith and better behavior
they would commend themselves and their
cause to larger and more thoughtful
class of the community. That the Saliva
ton Army should cross the sea for the pur-
pose of converting people in this country
seems absurd enough. Presuming ortho-
doxy to be a great gain, special exhorta-
tions. prayers and the like, offered as emo
tional stimulants ore, seldom do any per-
manent benefit. Such conversion is very
apt to be followed by reaction, as the his
tory of all revivals shows. 1t is
species of spiritual dram-drinking, which
in the end produces more harm than good.
The army has a more promising field at
home than abroad. London needs its ex-
ertions more than New York, bad as New
York may be; for if ever there was a
Sodom and Gomorrah combined, it is there.
The salvation soldiers expect to benefit the
poor and ignorant, and poorer and more
ignorant people cannot be found in all civ
ilization. The lower classes there, as well
as here, do not need to be preached to and
prayed for. They need nourishing food,
wholesome habtations, comfortable cloth
ing, habits of selfrestraint. When they
have these they may be in condition to
hear spiritual truths, but not till then. To
talk of religion, of Christianity, to people
who are i'll clad, i'll fed, wretched from
mere physical causes. is waste of breath
nay more, it is an mpertinence-almosta an
affront. The poor Of London and New
York need to have their bodies looked af-
ter far more than their souls. The Saliva
ton Army, like most associations of the
sort, are on the wrong track they are
daily laundering they are wasting their
ammunition. If they care to benefit human
ity, let them practice benevolence instead
of preaching theology.
MRS. HARRIET PRESCOTT sPoFFoRD
Has been spending some time here, where
she has many friends, though she seldom
remains more than day or two at a time.
Her home is at Newburyport, Mass, and
she passes the winters at Washington her
husband, lawyer, practicing in the latter
city. She goes from one place to the other
several times a year, without making any
halt in Manhattan Since she has been
here this time she has repeatedly been
spoken of as the wife of Ainsworth ).
Spotford, the Congressional Librarian, who
already has one wife, and has as yet
evinced no disposition toward hgamy.
The Librarian is very remotely related to
her husband, who is Richard 5. Spotord.
Mrs. Spofford is very interesting woman,
and as dissimilar to the typical blue-stock-
ing as is possible. She never talks about
writing You might be in her society
whole evening, and not hear the subject
mentioned. She is very shy d; goes
| little into society; is wholly devoid
of social ambition, and it may
be of literary ambition as well. But
she is unquestionably gifted, true poet,
and full of inspiration. Her conversation
is charming she is admirably calculated
J to shine in any company but it is very