The Indianapolis journal., 1885-09-13
BOOTHS SALVATION ARMY.
The "Religious" Organization that Has
Turned All England Topsy-Turvy,
ARD Is Now Demonstrating in the Provinces
Religious Mania in Its Most 0utre Mani
festations-The Army's Shrewd Head.
Correspondence of tho Indianapolis Journal.

How much 1t Is one or how mucn the otner Is
problematical. Whether the founder of it is
humbug or phian.hropist l cannot say. Per
haps there are streaks of both in his character.
He is, at all events, clever administrator. he
may be a fanatic; he may be selfish schemer;
he looks both; and yet he may be neither; he is
a mystery In saying this l am paying him
what he would consider compliment. His
policy is one of novelty, Of mystery He
likes to startle the public. 'Be odd" is the
essence of his instructions to his active disciples
"Be peculiar religiously. Let everything
about you show that the forces you
represent will introduce some novelty
when they come.' These are the founders
own words. comprising part of his instructions
to his followers. And they act upon these
instructions They are peculiar" but whether
they are peculiar religiously" is an open ques-
ton. On the march they have various bands of
instrumentalsts. Sometimes it is full brass
band with predominance of drum. Sometimes
it is band of guitars and tambourines. Some
times it is vocal band with, accordion
accompaniments There is always a leader who
walks first, a sort of drum major who shouts and
beats time He walks backward, in which exer-
else he must have had great practice, his
efficiency being perfect The captains and
commanders are very much i'll earnest; so are
rogues; so are thieves; these captains and
commanders may, however, be true religionists
They have peculiar physiogomy; they have
hatchet faces, pale compilations, thin lips, wiry
frames and a tendency to jump ''The laborer
is worthy of his hire" They are paid for their
"A xuorL how'd Coyoa of +boy
preach or narrate their religious experiences
Their supreme commander does not encourage
sermons" He is in favor of narratives, anecdotes
and humor. This being known, the preachers
vie with each other in sort Of hilarious profan-
ty. They indulge in mrthful familiarity with
holy names, fearless intimacy with the person
alites and wishes of God and Christ. But their
strong point is music The English people may
not be great musicians, but they like to sing and
they love to march to martial strains. The Sal
vation Army gives them popular tunes, variety
show melodies Moody and Sankey hymns. and
aggressive words to aggressive measures These
vocal and instrumental recreations are pleasing
to the ignorant and emotional They march,
and sing and shout, and are happy. The found
er and supreme head boasts that he has discov
cred happy religion. And so he has. The
SelIrlgnCeOuS, the Ignorant, bne singers and
sho!ters the men who like military uniforms,
and can get bit of cheap and harmless soldier
ing out of the organization, are happy. The
churches are very dull and prosaic. The church
goers supplieate the throne Of grace The Sal
vatiouists go for it, attack it, lombard it, assault
it; take Peter by storm, seize his keys, open the
gates, and march into paradise with triumphant
anthems, with 'timbrelS and with shawms, :"
with dancing and with songs.
1t is another phase of revivalism. You know
- s,x have
ings. in tent missions, in anti-rum organizations,
in Shaker societies, in free-love eXcitements in
Mormonsm. 1t is all in one direction-relg gous
mania. Many honest people are engaged in it,
weak. kindly men and women; and the results
may be good or bad. 1t is difficult in these days
or in any days, to say how much good or how
much harm so-called religious demonstrations
do. But one cannot fail to notice that the wire
pullers always seem to have a good time. Mr.
Booth Il beg his pardon, General" Booth) the
head and front, the founder, manager, treasurer
and everything of the Salvation Army, is now a
very rich man-rich, presume IN heavenly bless
ings certainly rich in worldly wealth He began
the business poor. He has his wife and family
In it, They are power In the state. They
govern the army. 1t is their army. They
receive the subscriptions. They own the halls
and chapels and parphernalia; and they rem
dor account-eXcept, of course, to their
Heavenly Father" who is not represented by
any earthly auditor. Mr. Labouchere in Truth
has frequently called upon General Booth to
publish his accounts; but the spiritual general
The has commission from any earthly poten-
tate) can, of course, afford to treat Mr.. Labou-
chere with contempt. Truth has asked for
details of the real estate which General Booth
has bought out of the army funds, and has
pointed out that all the couveyances and title
deeds are made out in William Booths name
not General Booth in legal documents. But the
General beats his own drums. opens bar
racks, holds his emotional meetings, sends out
his troops with flags and banners, hawks his
newspaper, the War Cry, in the streets, and
dear, old, rich ladies, gentle clerks hard
headed merchants. wealthy scoundrels desiring
to propitiate heaven, fill up his treasury; and so
Labouchere and his protests go for nothing.
Fire away, fire away,
Fire away, fire away,
With the gospel gun we'll fire awaT,
Mighty victories have been won,
With the great salvation gun,
Stand your ground and fire away!
These lines are the refrain of one of his favor
ite hymns. They well represent his policy Of
persistence and push. He is a great mal to-day
General ,oth. He looks like Hebrew He
has big hooked nose, but he is as true-born
Christian as is the most snubnosed of his Off
GERS. A tall, long haired, hooked dnosed, bright
eyed thick-lipped, goatee bearded gentleman, in
military uniform, he is picture OF splendid
audacty. His wife is factor in the work
ought / say factoress! She is a pleasant
looking woman, in a simple Quakerish Dress a
comely. plump, amiable woman and kindly at
heart, feel assured. She breaches and sings in
comforting contrast to the fiery energy of her
husband. l wonder if Mr. Stead, of the Pail
Mall Gazette, is going to join the army, and
whether he has taken commission. He is just
the kind of man to succeed in that line, only
that he would in that case be a clever journalist
spoiled. ] question whether Booth has not
spoiled him already. He does not appear to
have been successful in the subscription line
as Booth. Only about FL 500 has come into the
Pail Mall fund. Why, Booth can collect as
much as that in day and five times as much on
some days. He wanted money to buy a piece of
property for barracks year or two since, and
he got $1,000 in one day. Can you, then, be
surprised that keen American cheats and bum
mers come to London from Wall street and
make money out of bogus telephones, bogus
mines and watered railway stockl
In country places the Salvationists recruit
into their ranks many good and earnest young
people, who anxious to be useful to the world
and to advance the work of Christ They are
church members Sunday school teachers. with