Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-04-26

yHs raMB0URISE AND rms cor.
NET.

Springfield, with Its rare exhibitions of pecu-
liar attractions; peculiar dress; peculiar ad-
dress, and peculiar music, demonstrates the
fact that that which we call religion is pre-
life OF most peculiar and startling sensations
as to methods. What has not been done in
the name of religion on the face OF this glot 9.
In the past, would present a catalogue of ex-
cessive briefness compared with what has
been done in that line by way of ex,raordi-
nary methods. Nor is the present time evil
IDENTIFY less productive of popularity than the
past has been. That the cause which has ex-
listed from all time, and promises to stand tor.
ever; the cause that produced Moses, King
David, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther, aud a
host of grand characters of religious history
should gives US heroes is not to be wondered
at. That it should give us from time to time,
including the ages past, present and to come,
what some may call extraneous methods
should not so much excite surprise. Sine
way or other all the objections TO religion,
strictly speaking, have dwindled into insig-
ui6csnce, and have fallen away into forget
tulness when measured along side OF the
grand fact that the human mind or soul, or
whatever it may be called, instinctively or
otherwise, no matter which, recognizes and
Acknowledges something outside and infin-
itely above itself, which religious people
call the higher power--the controlling au-
thoritive power-God. That the cause which
has come down from the ages with Is pecu-
lar history and to-day in our own county,
has a monument at every cross-road "a church
and, in every circle Of society, a devotee,
should produce the Salvation Army,
should not be matter OF surprise. Tha, the
Christian religion has in some measure--a
great measure strictly speaking-failed to
reach certain classes Of people Is due more
to social customs and amenit es than to any
other fault, il indeed it be fault.
The Salvation Army addresses itself to
that class OF people whose circumstances in
life have prevented them from rising by
means Of such education and refinement OF
manners that would make them congenial
society for the more favored class who wor-
cities. This fact has been recognized by
the people OF the world and severely
commented upon by those who have
sought to weaken the cause itself rather than
provide remedy for the general good.
Ia 1865, by VIM. Booth, Wesleyan min
lister in the east OF London, England,
undertook, by new and entirely uncouven-
tlonsl means, to reach large mass OF uu-
taught and irreligous people living in that
part OF the great city, and organized what
has since been known as the Salvation Army.
The organization now numbers about 2,ooO,-
900 parsons and has a following in all the
great cities of the world. The army is q
semi-military organization, with officers OF
various grades, and with both officers and
privstes under strict discipline. William
Booth, the founder, is the General in Chief,
with his headquarters in Lendon, England.
The "War Cry" published in London and
New York. is the official organ OF the Army
and has a circulation OF hundreds of thou
sands of copies annually.
The members Of the Army appear in uni
form and address each other As Captain and
Sergeant, ETC., according to position. The laZ
dies of the organization are not excluded from
official position-in fact it seems TO be point
to have lady Captain with each detachment
The ladies wear plain suits, neatly fittiag and
generally blue, with Lady Washington bon
net, over which is an orange band with the
printed words Salvation Army" The la
dies also carry the tambourines which they
have learned to manipulate, with a consumate
efficiency not to be out.done by the end-man
in the minstrel show. They call these instru-
ments of questionable musical qualities tim
brel, and they serve a double purpose, sthat OF
furnishing music, and also are very handy for
taking up collections. The songs they sing
are Of religious sentiments set to the popular
airs OF the day, in which such as, "Just Before
the Battle Mother" and others are recognized
accompanied by the timbrels, cornet and
sometimes by the base drum. The exercises
aside from these outside demonstrations are
not widely different from the well-knowa
camp-meeting, and big revival methods. The
unusual attractions are highly successful in
bringing together crowd Of people Of all
classes, and especially the lower class. The
preaching, il so it may be called, is earnest,
peculiarly pointed, Astounding in extravagant
utIerances and sometimes illustrated with
Rirth provoking metaphor. That these
peculiarities sometimes elicit mocking ap.
plause, "cat-calls, cries OF "rats," "chesnuts,"
ETC., may not be surprising when the audi
ence is considered. Such disturbances, when
they occur, are kindly but Iorcibly rebuked
by the captain" The severest rebukes are
30 interspersed-or psrsgraphed rather-with
"God bless you"-"May the Lord save you"
and such saving clauses that
the distuIber is nearly always
silenced without the aid OF the police
The members of the Army now working
here are Captain q. II. West,
Mrs. Tierney, Miss DeMsrit, Sergeant
Brewer and Private Herby. Captain
A. D. c. Whatmore with bis cornet, and the
"Saved Minstrel" will be here soon, and they
meet in Lothschuetz's Hall. This "bsrrack,"
has been known as the popular resort of all
the dances, etc. OF the lower classes, and is
situated in a locality to which the Salvation
Army and its cause must be the most uncon-
genial, and, if at all successful, the most de-
structive to business interests in the locality.
The Army is supported by the Offerings"
voluntarily made through the medium Of the
tsmbourines as collection boxes; by the sale
Of the Army song books, other literature, aud
by the Sunday night silver "oRering" At the