Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-06-09
PHASES OF LONDON LIFE.
INTERESTING LETTER PROM a RECORD.
UBIoH CORRESPONDENT.
Operations Of the Salvation srmy-Easy
Way to Pay Expenses-The 1nbab-
itants OF Seven Dials--Ete.

Among the agencies employed here tor
the reformation OF the degraded classes OF
society, that which is just now receiving
the largest share of attention is the Saliva
ton Army. With the peculiar methods OF
this organization the readers of the Re-
CORD. US1ox are already familiar. Some,
in addition to what they have learned
through the press, have had opportunities
in the Eastern cities to verify their i'm
prsssions from the standpoint Of personal
observation. But this army as it exists in
England is different affair entirely from
what it has appeared to be in the feeble
ineursions It has made upon the United
States. Therei has encountered unfavora.
bic conditions, and has almost invariably
suffered defeat. Here, on the contrary, it
has found a congenial atmosphere, has met
with much encouragement, and has won
for itself very prominent position. Nor
has this been done by abrogating or toning
down any Of It's peculiarities, but rather
BY diligently working these and thrusting
them into the foreground. 1t was thought
in America that a slight
LOWERING OF THE STANDARD
In this respect would add greatly to the
chances Of success. Bat what was deemed
its weakness in our country has proven, in
the altered conditions of the lower classes
in this land, to be it's chief source of
strength. The army numbers now over
50 600 lighting men ana women" has
accumulated property to the value Of about
three. quarters Of million dollars, is add
ing stations at the rate of about four a
week, and increasing its staff Of paid Off
cers in the same ratio has 2j0 brass
bands, fortY.fi paid band masters, and
has expended a total OF about S25, 900 in
band instruments. These figures give an
idea Of the rapidity with which this strange
movement is winning its way here, and a
knowledge Of them, together with the
comments, adverse and otherwise, con-
stantly meeting the eye IN the public press,
led your correspondent to seek further
light by attending q breakfast recently
given at Exeter Hall At this gathering
the Commander IN Chief, General Booth.
had called around him the outside friends
of the movement-those who subscribe or
collect money to meet its expenses. That
the 300 who attended should have had the
privilege OF
PAYING FOR THEIR ENTERTAINMENT BY
MEANS OF A COLLECTION
Did not appear to surprise anybody. In
fact, as they were all church going people,
this little formality of passing around the
hat seemed to be just what was needed to
develop the devotional spirit and make all
feel as home. The inner man RECALLED and
the breakfast duly paid for, Big Ben, a
converted pugilist, introduced as :" the
victor in fifteen fights took the platform
and entertained the audience with sacred
song. The burly frame of this man con-
trasted strangely with his bashful manner,
and to see the hands formerly employed in
the cruelties of the prize ring marking time
to the music Of hymn, while from lips
often, doubtless, pummeled to Jelly, EN-.
anated soft sounds of peaceful melody, was
sight at once novel, suggestive and af-
fecting. Many wept, and no wonder. Big
Ben was q great card, and brought for
ward, as the General frankly declared, as
a specimen of the conquests of the Saliva.
ton Army, with the object of persuadine
its friends there assembled to leash up,
his appearance was speedily followed, as a
matter OF course, by another collection,
This breakfast, it transpired, was held
under something of cloud. The Bishop!
of the Established Church had recently
announced the opinion that the meetings
of the Army
TENDED TO PROMOTE TSfMoRALTTY,
And as mark of their disapprobation had
summarily dismissed committee they had
previously appointed to inquire what en-
eouragement the Church should give to the
movement. This act threatened seriou;
consequences for the favor with which in.
huential people in the establishment had
hitherto regarded the army gave it con,
siderable social prestige, to say nothing o.
the peeuniary support it had brought
Few specifications were made, but the gen
eral charge was that the freedom allowed
at the meetings had led to improper act:
between the sexes, the fruits of which had
shown themselves in due time in scandal
Gus cases before the P5lice Courts. ThiI
was q serious allegation to come from &c
dismay both within the army and outside
The sootfiog world winke@ its knowing eye
and said, Z" l told you so, while the re-
spestable people who had given counte
nance and help to the movement shrugged
their shoulders suspiciously and wondered
whether, after all, they had not been made
the victims OF misplaced confidence. Thil
breakfast afforded an opportunity for the
DENIAL OF THESE CHARGES,
And for proof Of their falsisy, if sucf
could be produced. General Booth stated
that in response to specific inquiries fol
eases of illigitimacy sent to over 400 sta
hons, $40 had replied that nothing OF tbs
kind had ever occurred among them, and
that the number of responses making con
fession of such cases was only %. Tai!
showing, though not clear record, Wa!
pretty good under the circumstances, the
General thought, and would compare favor
ably with that OF any of the regular church
organizations. The allegation that such 8
thing as crawling for Jesus had beer
allowed in any of their meetings WAS In
dignantly denied, as was also the charge
that the gas is frequently turned off. Ii
only two cases had the latter improperly
been committed, and the acs then were
not those of the Salvation Army, but Of
the Skeleton Army, an organization which
wages constant warfare against the Saliva
tionists. This Shelton Army, by the way,
is made up of the riff raft of the com
munity. though st its back, it is said. fur
nishing it with the sinews of war, IS the
grand army of the publicsns, or saloon
keepers, whose opposition is readily 40
counted for by the fact that all
sALvArIoNIsrs ARE PLEDGED rEETorALERs
That these, whose business must suffel
from every victory it wins. should use al
possible means to bring the army into dis
repute seems perfectly natural, and tbs
opinion seemed to prevail a. this breakfast
that in the present instance the publicanI
had made cats paws, not only OF the bum.
mer element, but OF their lordships the
Bishops also. Still, however, the Saliva.