The Portland daily press., 1884-11-22
THE SALVATION ARMY.
It Will March Upon the Wicked
Metropolis of Maine Tomorrow.
A Sketch of the Work Accomplished in
sacO.

month or more has passed since five mem
bers of the salbationl Army located in 5Saco
aud began their labors of saving fallen hu-
mauity; they were Happy Charley, Singing
Miriam, Hallelujah Butcher, Lieut.. Singing
Susan and her husband Capt, Happy Bill who
had command of this skirn;sh line of hallelu=
jah lads and lasses as theyi simply style them
selves. The Sunday morning following stheir
arrival they paraded through the streets sing
ing army hymns with tambourine accompani-
ment, being clad in the plain army uniform,
the Jacket of which is a scarlet jersey with tho
words Salvation Army smblazoned in gold
thread on the breast; the unusual Sunday
street scene naturally attracted hundreds and
gaping! crowd of hoodlums followed in its
wake. In the afternoon a meeting was held
at the City Hall which was packed almost to
suffocation, silver collection being taken at
the door to help detray expenses. The mass
were drawn thither out of mere curiosity,
many Icing among the elite, while the rabble
which was we'll represented, and who had
come doubtless for the purpose of guying what
had usually been herslded about as fantastic
performance Of crazy mountebanks were awed
AANo bOpooA 1CGafiNA w tuO pACpOuO0AdnOo Va
the better element and the honest and sim
cere manner in which the services were coz
Quoted. There were singularities in their
manner OF worship, and though the quaint
and uncouth manners of the soldiers could
not fail OF being observed yet from the first
an itn npfesslon existed that they had come to do
good aud that their methods were we'll cacu-
lated to reach class who seldom If ever enter
the walls of church.
The old Free Baptist church on Storer street
which had been ccnvefted into skatirg rink
vas shortly afterwards leased by the atny for
The term of one year since which time meet
ings have been held regularly every evening
during the week, while on Sundays the ser
vices have consisted of "knee drip at 7
O'Clock, and "hallelujah free and easy' meet
mgs at o'clock In the afternoon and o'clock
IN the evening when silver collections have
been taken np at the door. AT the two asst
pamed meetings the seating accommodations
OF the hall have been Inadequate, many usu-
ally being unable to gain admittance The
plan OF conducting the meetings is as follows:
The army which is seated upon platform
fronting the audience engage III silent prayer
at the opening after which hallelnjah hymns
are sung aud the tambournes loudly manipu-
lated, the auiience frequently joining in the
chorus. One of their favorite hymns runs
thus:
"Were marching on to war; we are we are we are!
We don't care what the people think or what they
We mean to ght for Jesus who did salvation bring
We're halleujah soldiers and we're going to soc the
king!'
CHORUS.
$50 we'll roll, the old chariot along;
Tes We'll roll the old chariot ong;
And we won't hang on behind.''
Ii the DEVILS in the way will roll it over him,
Yes wei roll 1t over him. yes we'll roll it over him,
Ii the deVl's iii the way will roll it over HIM
And we won't hang on behind.
Ii the drunkards IN the way we will stop and take
him in.
Yes Wen stop and take him in. yes wen stop and
take him in,
If the drunkards in the way we will stop and take
him in.
And he'll not hang on behind.''
Many songs of like tenor are sung, while the
intervening time is occupied in remarks and
prayers by mamhers of the Army and those re-
claimed. While some may disapprove the
methods OF worship employed, still it cannot
be denied that much lasting good results there
from; over one hundred conversions th Ue far
have taken place. the majority being among
those to whom the inside Of a church or place
OF worship has heretofore been foreign affair.
Quite number have joined the ranks of the
army, put on the red jersey, and take part in
the street paradeS and meetings. Two of
those who have thus expressed hope in Christ,
have been lifelong infidels, and have read
nearly every thing touching upon iufdeitY in
existence; their joy in the new light which
they have discovered, ia indescribabIe. No one
employed in the work receives any guaranteed
Salary, being allowed to draw only sufficient
amount needed for food, clothing and other
local expenses. The collections taken up at
the meetings usually defray all expenses: 9th
erwise assistance is received from the central
fund, from the army headquarters ia New
York, this fund being derived from collections
sales of publications and donations in various
parts OF the country where the branches are
located.
Qaite number of the rougher element have
frequently attended the meetings for the pur-
pose of creating disturbances. Capt. Happy
Bill after giving repeated warnings to this
class recently caused the arrest of several, who
were brought before the court and dealt with
according to law.
A hall will shortly be leased for one year in
Biddeford, where branch of the army will go
into camp.
Tomorrow the army will make its first
appearance in Portland, having engaged hall
in Thompsons block, on Middle street. They
will leave the hall at 10 O'Clock Sunday morn
ing, for street parade, under command of
Capt. Happy Gray, when the sounds of halle
lujah hymns, accompanied by the noise of
drums and tamhouriLes will resound in every
direction; meetings will be held in the hall in
the afternoon and evening. An open air meet
ing will be held in Market Square at 10. 80 a m.