The Benton weekly record. [volume] (Benton, Mont.) 1880-1885, 1883-11-03
SELECTED STORY
THE SALVATION ARMY.

LONDON Oct. 24.-The best praised anc
the worst abused Of the religious organiza.
tlons Of England is that strange body ol
people who call themselves the Salvation
Army. Probably, too, this body is in its
rough and ready way, doing more good
than any other. Certainly it shows more
Vigor and aggressiveness in its attacks
upon the strongholds of sin. OF what the
Army is here no adequate opinion can
be formed from the little success that has
attended its operations in the United States.
This Is its birthplace, and for the Is years
OF Its existence has been its headquarters.
Among the lower classes of English society
IL mas. found from the first not only the
strongest incentives to effort, but an ap-
parently inexhaustible supply of suitable
material. Naturally, therefore, it has
reached in this country its fullest develop
ment. Its strong points and its weak ones
are seen in England in their strongest light
and just as you must 90 to Rome to form a
proper judgment of Catholicism, so must
you come here ifyou would getan adequate
idea OF what the Salvationists are doing.
For better or for worse the army here is
constantly before the public.
IT WILL NOT DOWN.
People are compelled to hear about it, to
see it, to take a position with reference
to it. 1t breaches to them in the parks. |
parades before them on the streets and |
makes prominent place for itself in the |
daily press. Not always does it appear in
the columns of the latter in the most desira-
bic form, butit does always appear in some
form. Now the story of its zeal is told in
the police court report, some of the SOL
dlers having taken up carnal weapons. as
in case of recent occurrence inwhich
captain held the head of an outrudlng cab
horse while a female lieutenant belabored
the animal with tamborine. Anon the
higher courts furnished the sensation, Gen. |
Booth being called to account for a breach !
OF contract in falling to keep open a GER
tain house for the sale of liquors, and .
being ordered, in consequence, to relin- |
qulsh his claim to the lease and pay dam t
ages. On another occasion the bishops of l
the church take Salyationsts in hand. and c
the papers inform us that their lordships r
are down on the movement because thev II
have found that it promotes illegitimacy, n
and we have hints of the sudden turning
OIL the gas at some of the meetings and of e
terrible carvings on afterwards among il
the young people present. Still latter, el
the generals daughter gets expelled from W
one OF the cantons Of Switzerland, and not ct
satisfied with this distinction, she finally ia
achieves a glorious though brief imprison- m
ment. The papers are full of the details &C
OF this episode, and the name of Miss lie
Booth, coupled with that of the salvation OF
army, is for the time, OH everybody lips. su
frequently, too, much that is creditable to D
the army finds its way into the press. the B;
public being kept informed not only of its an
peccadllos and failures, but of its victories ar
ana triumphs. Thus the battle goes on, py
Sne salvationists having many enemies and eff
4iso many friends, and their cause, though
alIlng at times in popular esteem, vet in gi
'arlbe rising again, like the truth which foy
VIII not remain crushed to the earth, until sn
oaay it claims recognition Tas the. most ge
'lgorous and successful evangelizing ga
s0ncy since the days OF Wesley. otl
THE ARMY HAS NOW Ia,
Il Great Britain and Ireland 500 corps and he
81 outposts. The former operate in the to
'opulous centers and the latter carry on bu
ne warfare in villages, in barns, stables, an,
eiiaFs and the back parlors of pawn say
nops." The total number of commission wh
y officers is about 1900. Abroad they of
ave ~ corps and 174 officers. In am told I Il
ny nave n course of erection in England no,
ione 70 halls whose total seating capacity ant
~ accommodate $4,000 people and which /