The Portland daily press., 1884-11-24
THE SALVATION ARMY.


broken at Augusta Friday night by horse
running against him.
THE SALVATION ARMY.
Their First Parade in Portiand-A sketch
OF Their Ezistory-The Services at
Thompson's Block.
"The Salvation Army" remarked Captain
Happy Gray co reporter recently, Originated
IN London some thirty years ago, when the
Rev. William Booth, a Methodist minister at
the time, observing that the church failed to
reach the lowest classes of the people, felt
himself directed to go out personally among
the multitudes OF the streets and lanes and
teach the truths of the gospel. His effort
proved by no means fruitless one, for in a
short space of time the good intentions of this
street ministry were we'll received and he was
rewarded for his labors by the conversion Of
many souls to Christ. Untl within the last
eight years this increasing throng of Worship
ers has been recognized as the Christian Army
and the officers only were permitted to wear
uniforms. Then the term Salvation was ap-
piled and the soldiers were put into costume.
Five years ago Major Frank Smith was
appointed as the commissioner in the United
States, and Captain Shirley, with whom was
associated Commissioner Railton, came to this
country from London; and, beginning in the
city of New York, proceeded to carry out the
work there, meeting at the same time with such
marked success that at the present day the
Salvationists ara represented Ia fully ten
States of the Union. The army at latest re-
ports numbers 1870 officers and 5000 soldiers,
with weekly enlistment of 1900 souls.
Division headquarters will undoubtedly be
established in this State. l am detailed to re-
main here for at least six months, when 1
shall be succeeded by some other officer of the
army. I, with my Saved Wife and the Little
Fellow, my son, were converted to the cause
while employed at the mills in Lawrence"
Yesterday forenoon's sun dealt pleasantly
with the advance poet Of the Salvation Army,
finding, as it ahone into a cool hall in Thomp-
sons block, small group of skirmishers
awake to the duties of .reveiIle Two reporters
looked in through glass door and sa.s- 4i.A..
kneeling by the platform absorbed in the
offices of the morning.
Meanwhile the sidewalks and doorways from
the immediate vicinity of tha hasranks To thu
point where the curve in Middle street inter
rupts the view were blackening with shiver-
ing crowds, who for half hour had been Curl
ousIy anxious for the appearance of the re-
formers at length the door opened, and
Captain Happy Gray with his command of
Hallelujah Butchers, Singing Miriams and
one or two other sweet-voiced disciples of Sal
walton minstrslsy, marched out; changed direc-
tion on attaining the horse-csr track and then
took up the line OF march for Market Square,
accompanied front and rear by a crowd num-
bering in the thousands. The scene attending
the halt at the square was an animated one.
The bells were ringing church time, and people
passed up and down in streaming files on their
way to Sabbath devotioHs. The space before
Old City Hall was literally thronged, and the
eager multitudes sarged back and forth, good
naturedly allowing themselves to be puehed
and tramplsd upon.
A herdic and several carriages made up the
~arskirts; people kept pouring in from the
cross streets, and girls with red hoods darted
between the vehicles; while the windows in
the blocks surrounding were fall of faces. At
one time, when the army assumed praying
attitude Tin the slush), the interest was great;
nobody could get near enough, and one of the
rearmost men was observed to lift up his young
lady companion and place her on his shoulders
in order to facilitate her view.
At the close Of the service of prayer and song
the skirmishers retreated to the garrison where
in due time every available space was occupied.
Ihe ceremonies at the barracks were not very
Impressive, but consisted of prayers and testi-
monial and exhortative remarks by the Sal
vatonigts, interspersed at irregular intervals
with songs from the War Cry-their Army and
Navy Journal, which the lads and lassies dis
pensed on receipt of three cents.
The decorum of the besiegers was far from
being in keeping with the dignity of the church
and the first note of every hymn was the signal
for ah accompaniment of stamping feet with
now and then shout and jeel at the besieged
upon the platform. Little disturbance or DEM
once the ominous ring of SNOWFALL on a win
dew pane was audible-a thing which prompt
ed an old gentleman with long hair, who was
seated near the reporters, to move his chair
within the protection of Others The meeting
closed at one o'clock with no new converts.
The three O'Clock session was well attended
and better behavior and attention on the part
of the audience noticeable. The devotional
exercises were repetition of those at the
morning meetiDg though the list of converts
did not increase. The detail of police rendered
excellent service and the demonstrations were
not of so boisterous nature.
When vening retreat had been sounded
and dusky snsuo ws settled over the camp of
the Salvationists, Quartermester Burnham of
Saco, having arranged the sittings in ord er,
sought the retirement Of tho company quar-
ters, escorted by Jack the Giant Killer, Halle
lujah Butcher, and others of less distinguished
rank, leaving Capt, Bappy Gray to an hours
repose. The commander lag stretched upon
the platform, his head pilowed upon g red
blanket. weird and solitary gas jet flicker
ed through headquarters, revealing, by the
side of the wearied chief, an elderly gentle. |
man with stern face, who wore brown |
shawl over his shoulders and nervously twisted 1
a pair of thick gloves around the head of bis |
esne, At that moment, a war correspondent, |
who had avoided the outer guards and passed |
through the lines, suddenly appeared upon the |
scene for an interview.
"Are you recent convert, sir?"
20, no; 1 have been interested in this |
movement for years. 1 was born up here in
Vermont Joined the Advents back in the for |
ties, got disgusted with them after judicous |
study of the Bible, travelled all over the copn- |
try, Mediterranean, leetured in Chicago; got |
up on my high heel sometimesj saw chernbims |
and sersphims.
The old gentleman, who proved to be none |
other than the well known Rev. George Hub
bard, is deeply interested in the success of the |
Army and ean tell many interesting stories
connected with his ministerial career. For
Years he was missionary among the Chicko-
pee Indians.