The Mineral argus., 1884-12-11
THE SALVATION ARMY.
Something About Its Inception and Trans.
ference to America.

ference TO America
The idea of the Rev. William Booth
Methodist minister (when leaving the
regular ministry he started the Saliva
tion Army was clearly borrowed from
that of Ignatius Loyola when he found
ed the Society of Jesus under rules Of
military discipline. To the idea which
took possession of the soldier, Logo
la, Mr.. Booth added the itinerant sys.
tenn of the founder of his own denomina
ton, John Wesley. The uniform Of
the army and the war cries attracted
many, just as the cry of "No Popery'
drew the apprentices of London, at the
Lord George Gordon riots. Happily
for Mr.. Booth and his ieutenants, the
adversary they vowed death to was The
abstract devil, nud the weapons or tnvn
warfare were not more cNrnal Than
tin kettle helmets and penny trum-
pets. BY paying and provision.
ing his soldiers, Mr.. Booth insured
the continuance of q standing army,
ready to march and get in everybody's
way at the word of command. The
novelty and eccentricity of the move
ment, and the fact that it offered new
field for the combative energies of the
groggy bruisers of London gave it head
way; the commissions granted to bel
ligerent females were a positive relief
to the domestic circles of the British
kitchen, and all those aggressive and
pugnacious humors which flesh is heir
to found vent and safety-valve in the
quixotic encounters of the "crazy patch
work" regiments with the windmills Of
sin. With keen business faculty, the
Rev. William, now General" Booth,
invested in real estate, purchased pubic
houses for barracks. and even gained
lease of the notorious eagle Tavern"
and low concert hall in the city road.
The income of the Salvation Army in
single year was eS00,000, which not
only made its officers and privates con
tent with their wages" but enabled the
General, after the manner of Capt
Gen. Ignatius, to send his regiments
to foreign parts. 1t was an un.
happy hour for the United States, and
particularly for the City of Churches,
when Booths awkward squads came
marching through our streets, Our IN
telligent police stared with open
mouths at law-defying adversary thai
that took possession of the Clty
Hall steps, and when a charge was
made upon them repulsed it with dln
of unearthly m usic compared WlIn
which the united war-songs of Chero-
KEGS and Chippewas would be soothing
and peaceful. The nervous system OF
'the finest" proved quite unequal to the
confused noise and garments rolled Ii
blood" of the Salvation Army.
But like the Roman and British EN-
pire the army became too vast for SIN
gle management. The Rev. Gen. Booth
forgot his usual business cunning when
he dreamed that real estate could De
purchased and held in his name tne
same in this country as IN us
own. Hence the schism when
has led to the British commander OF MS
forces here becoming SO AmerlcanlzeU
that he has incorporated the army uI'
der the laws of this State, thereby max
ing it independent of British condoi,
Rootbs' empire is dismembered; niS
colonial subjects have revolted and NV
ed the banner of the stars and stripes
instead of the union jack. There seems ~
no reason why Maj. Moore should nG'
make as good thing out of the Amer Amer
can Salvation Army, which has issuea9
it's declaration of Independence Nnw SmT
been recognized by the State OF New New
York. as Gen. Booth, who, by the WAY
has made his regency hereditary mon non
archy by appointing his eldest p sOoii II
Roofb III as his successor, has MADE u
its British parent. Brooklyn Eagle