The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1883-04-07
RELIGIOUS DEcENcY AND DIGNITY.

RELIGIOUS DECENCY AND DIGNITY.
The extravaganza and sensationalism of
than aught else seem to be relied on for sue
cess, have called down upon that movement
the criticisms of those who have no admira-
ton for the outre in religion. Under the
-manipulations of the generals and captains
of this heterogeneous combination religious
worship has been changed to a bowling
burlesque, and the beauty of piety has been
swallowed up in a ridiculous ~travesty. Conse-
Grated devotion has given way to grotesque
fanaticism, and Christian fellowship to I'M
bounded bigotry and self-conceit.
Still it is maintained, and truth
fully perhaps, that the ranks of
the "Army" are constantly swelling
with the addition OF new recruits, and the
movement" is spreading to new points.
This may be granted, and at the same time
the entire crusade may be regarded as a
phenomenal monstrosity, such as have fire.
quently REQUIRED in the worlds history. 1t
is not the purpose to criticise the sincerity
of the members of the Army but to point
out the harm they do in finging aside
sacred vestments to don a motley mask of
mardi-gras madness. If religion is impress
sive, it is because 1t is dignified. If it is re-
spected, it is because it appeals to the best
judgment of man. If it is effective, it is be-
cause it is reasonable. Strike out these
these attributes are in the religion repre-
sented by the Army. Instead of enthusi-
asm there is clamor. For fervency xnoise
has been substituted, and for the inward gem
tleness of spirit an outward badge that chal-
lenges the eye while outraging all the Chri;-
tian graces. Everything is perverted-in
walk, talk and worship they are indeed a pc
culiar people. All that is gentle, refining,
has been torn out of Christianity, and in
their stead have been substituted rant and
ribaldry. Distracting discord has supplanted
music, and senseless, impious songs have
taken the place of time-honored hymnology.
A delirious frenzy has been mistaken for
1.-The witness of the spirit" and the whole
intent of religion has been distorted. Those
in the fever and whirl of the movement are
not in position to realize these things, but to
the world at large, that weighs all things
according to their merits, it is only
too evident that the Salvation Army, as now
conducted, is an excrescence or the church,
as foreign to its spirit as is the ~noxious ivy
that fastens upon the oak.
Nor are these views confined to the
world" as distinguished from the organized
church. While the leading churchmen,
for obvious reasons, have been slow 70 crit
icise, there has been manifest a deep feeling
in the matter, evidencing the greatest solici-
tude. Some of the ablest and most efficient
churchmen have become convinced that
great harm is being lone by the Army. The
educated tastes of the people have turned
them against Christianity on account OF the
fragrant mockery made of it by these ~zealots.
From being attractive it has been made
repulsive. So far has this gone
that at last the church is compelled to take
note of it, and several leading ministers in
contact with the movements of the,Army
have spoken their sentiments. The Rev. DR..
]. NJ. Buckley, editor of the New York
Christian Advocate, the leading paper of the
Methodist Episcopal church in America, in
an able but charitable editorial article on the
subject, says;
Under no circumstances should the Sal
walton Army be allowed to enter our church
es to take charge of the services. Personally,
if the writer were the pastor of a church, he
would be as willing to allow a compan of
MINISTRIES to perform in connection with one
OF his religious services as to admit the Sal
Walton Army, as he has seen it perform in
various places in this vicinity, upon the
streets, and in the barracks. A shocking
spectacle occurred i'll one church where the
Army was allowed to have charge. The build
ing was filed with a crowd of ~loafers, who
followed the Army in; the ordinary worship
ers looked on with wonder and disgust; tine
iudicious. among them were grieved; the
frivolous and the young laughed and made
merriment. Nor was there any counterfeit
ing spiritual power manifested by the Army.
1t was in effect a degrading burlesque."
Again, in another paragraph, he says:
'The sum OF our counsel is, do not obstruct
them, but do not compromise the church
with their questionable methods and doubt
full influence. The church is the true saliva
ton army; its generals are its ministers; its
colonies and captains are its oihce-bearers;
its rank and file its members; its barracks
are the house OF God. the church of the liv-
ing God, which is the pillar and ground of