Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1886-03-09
The Salvation SaNy.

To the Editor OF the Hl"RE-RtrI RIIC.
The immense success attending the efforts
of the Salvation Army. more especially in
Great Britain, has inspired other faithful
and Jealous adhPrentS nf the faith tn push
forward their war against evil and evil
doerS by adding 10 the already large body
of the present infantry army navy. which
bids fair. from the present outlook, to far
outreach the good work 50 far accomplished
by the army.
The idea of Salvation Navy originated
with Major Spencer. OF the English
branch of the army. and while he
still Identifies himself with his
first love. He has induced Others new
in the work to take hold of il. The sue
cess attending his efforts 50 far. mostly III
and about Birmingham. has far exceeded
that accomplished by the army in the same
period of their infancy. This may possibly
be- accounted for by the fact that they did
not start until late i'll the fall, and their
work has been mainly directed 10 the
wrather-beaten. hard-Shell tar, who finds
plenty OF leisure 10 board their craft and
listen To their singular and many attractive
services. At all events the Salvation Navy
is an assured fact, and by spring We may
expect to see them in this country prcINr-
ing for their summer cruise. They are
fashioned exactly as a regular navy in all
respects.
Their hrSt boat was pun in service last
fall. II i the hull of a merchant ship. and
with its one story gabe-roofed shed built
on the deck. it looks for all the world Ike
4.
of course lay at the dock. and there they
hold their meetings the novelty Of the
thing bringing hundreds to their services.
both day and night. They have in the navy.
a. in all others, their admirals commodorrS.
commanders. &c.. down to the MILDLY. One
of their peculiar terms is TO call all sinners
ordinary seamen." New converts of
course: enter As middieS.
They now have some three or four small
ler craft. with which, wealth
er permitting. they steam about
during services. Thus they claim they pre-
vent the very unpleasant feature of so many
public meetingS-the running in and out
during service. In fact. they have and hold
you from the very moment service COM
menceS till it closes. Imagine one of these
Christian gunbOats plying on the Ohio from
Cincinnati to Louisville. | take it they
would there tind rich field for operations
\ very enterprising SCOtch-EngliSh
PRESBYTERIAN, who is dignihed with
the title of commodore and is
known to his friends as Mr. Lucky. a
man of some means, has equipped a steam
yacht with the most effective naval arma-
ment for salvation purposes He carries a
mortar similar TO those used TO throw day
light pyrOtechnics. from which he is able to
throw a bunch of tracts quite a long
distance, and. Steamng close to shore when
passing villages and small settlements. he
employs this novel means of distributing
them to the people of the place. They
scatter and fly in all directions after the
explosion of the covering
Some of the boats are but floating wig
wamS. and will be tOwed form place to
place. The names of their craft are all of
scriptural significance. such as st
John" Mary and Martha" Mathew. -
etc, and one Is The Star of Hope" Dur
ing the winter they follow the plan of all
well regulated navys and 90 into winter
quarters.
Sundays, in season. they leave their dock
say at 10 a. m. and remain ont sometimes
all day. serving lunch on board for which
no pav is required. | heard of one half
wItted enthusiast who attempted to initiate
the apostle Peter, and wax on the water Ia
the boat, which was hut a short distance
from shore. Many sailors are being drawn
into the good work. II is one practical
way TO touch the heart and
. sympathy OF old Salt" They have songs
sung 10 tunes familiar to them. and sermon,
with illustrations they can readily compre
hend. for those connected with the Saliva,
/ tion Navy have been wise enough TO see the
/ patency of drawing largely from a sailor.
life for their most effective illustrations. Ii
i said Commodore Lucky mans his Yacht
wholly with a crew who are in sympathy
with the cruise.
With all due respect for the cause and
without any idea of making sport of il.
can't help but think that many Lord Hlgl
Admrals in this navy have veritably pol
ished up the handle of the big front door.
F. r.