Daily Republican. [volume] ([Wilmington, Del.]) 1874-1890, 1880-03-13
A Sort OF Salvation Army

Philadelphia Record.
About FIVE months since the Shirley
family, the pioneers in America OF the
great English salvation army" first
opened the doors of the old chair fac
tory at Sixth and Oxford streets, and in
vited the sinful Of that neighborhood
to come in. From the outset the meet
ings were thronged, while now standing
room only can be obtained with difficult
ty. The success OF the movement in
this city has been such that from the
picket guard Of three, consisting ofMr.
and Mrs. Shirley and their daughter,
the army now comprises over three
hundred active able bodied soldiers OF
both sexes, and is being constantly in
creased by the enlistment Of new con-
vert volunteers. Not long since it was
found that the old chair factory was
not big enough to hold all those who
came, and another meeting house, fully
as humble as the original head quar-
ters, was opened in stable On the cor
ner OF Forty first and Market streets,
where Miss Shirley now holds forth
nightly to immense gatherings.
Over one thousand persons filed the
rickety old chair factory last evening
to see the latest acquisitions tothe COM
missioned officers Of the army, who ar
rived in New York yesterday by the
steamer Australia from London, where
the organization is in perfect and sue
y ssful working order. The missionary
band consisted OF Sisters Westbrook,
Morrison, Pearson, Coleman, Evans,
Price and Shaw, the latter being cap
ia and the others lieutenants, and
George Railton, who is a " commission
e:" of the A my, with power to give
the title of captain and lieutenants to
the leading workers in America.
The party were met st the steamer
by Mr.. Shirley, and, after having re-
ceived his commission as captain, he
brought two of the lasses, Sisters Price
and Evans, with him to this city, while
the others remain in New York, and
will commence at once in organizing
the salvation army there.
The two "hallelujah females" were
seated on the platform among The faith
full, dressed in plainly-cut suits of dark
blue, trimmed with yellow braid, which
is the regulation suit, and around the
crown Of their plain black Derby hats
a red silk band was fastened, with the
words, Salvation Army" in gold let
lers upon it. This will be the badge
of every member of this society, and
will be worn in their nightly and Sum-
day marches through the streets and
during the services. Next Wednesday
evening the commissions" will for
maIly present the Philadelphia pio-
neers with salvation flag, which is to
b. carrisd on every occasion. In one
corner will be the American flag, a
border in blue encircling the entire
banner, and iu the centre will be- bright
yellow sun, with the words "Blood and
Fire." inscribed upon it. Efforts are
already being mad to engage a hall
large enough to hold the throng ex-
pected on that occasion.
Ill lCUO Ch5 hoVs " Lllldlh DUOtu, u
Methodist Episcopal clergyman of Eng
land, being impressed by the great
number of persons in London who
never attend church, organized sys-
tenn of out door meetings. AS he and
the co-laborers whom he gathered about
him disliked the stereotyped terms ap-
piled to similar missionary workers,
they adopted the title "The Salvation
Army" The army now embraces l22
corps, directed by 1875 officers. Meet
ings are held every week in 1888 thea
tres, dance halls, warehouses, etc., in |
London, and the aggregate number of
these meetings annually is $1,000. 1t
Is estimated that 60, 900 persons attend
these meetings each week, and 1900
attend the Sunday night services, while |
The weekly attendance at tho open
Dir meetings is put down at 1900, 900.