Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-20
SATURDAY, APRIL go, 1889.
A Phase of Passing Lie.

1t has probably occurred to every one
so ask what is the significance of the
Salvation Army movement OF to-day,
aud to inquire who puts up the liberal
sum which is unquestionably needed to
maintain the large and disciplined force,
under that name, which is nightly seen
parading in the leading streets in all
the principal cities of the United States,
and the same phenomena are to be seen
nightly, as We understand, in all the
chief cities of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland. Whether
the people individually engaged in these
street performances are honest or no,
there can be no doubt that the movement
behind them is both sincere and earnest.
They do not, in general, approve them
selves to good taste, nor are they respon-
sive to the suggestions of decorous and
ordinary piety. They are not portents,
like the advents Of Fox and Wesley. Yet
they are as marked in ts,eir way as were
these exemplars of an extep. lonaiiy oe-
vout spirit which has left great al, pow,
erful church organizations as memoir "
OF it's potency and widely extended infiu-
ence.
The ordinary manifestations of the
people who represent the Salvation
Army are Of questionable worth and sig
nifcance. The instances in which they
nave made converts are exceedingly rare.
AS matter of fact, we know of none.
1t will be generally conceded that all
the usual agencies of eyangelic prose'
lytism are especially vigorous in the
United States just now. In all the
Protestant denominations there has
never been such an era of hberality and
determined effort as prevails to-day.
The contributions to the cause of legiti-
mate religious propagandism are un-
precedentedly large. The Roman Cath
olic Church is extending its missions and
its church organizations with an energy
which could not be greater if Ignatius
Loyala were alive and personally super
intending the work. Between all the
churches, Mrs. Jellyby herself could not
complain that even the savages OF Boori-
aboola Cha were being neglected. India,
China, AMMAN, Japan, Africa, are girdled
with jealous missionaries, and tracts by
the billion are being distributed through
out the bounds of the earth. And yet
here is the Salvation Army, inspired by
whom no man knows, and yet returning
TO the charge with ceaseless perseyer-
ance, which is no whit discouraged in
the face OF abortive results.
This movement invokes the blare of
frumpets and has recourse to the mo-
menclature of an army with banners. 1t
has generals. and captains and all the
fanfare, pomp, pride and circumstance
of the glorious war of the church mill
tant. Its followers wear badges and are
maintained from some source. And yet
that source remains mystery.
1t will be generally conceded, in this
enlightened nineteenth century, that the
work of reforming mankind can be best
committed to the churches and Il Q
family. In an age OF agncsti-
cism, the exposition of the Chris
tian doctrine is certainly safest
and most dignified in the hands
of cultured and authorized ministers Of
the Gospel-in the hands of men SO COM
pletely equipped for their task, so thor
oughly panoplied in all the resources Of
the dialectics of the schools, that no ridi-
cule shall reflect back upon this Christian
faith. Aud yet here we have an evi-
IDENTIFY subsidized movement, whose only
effect is to discredit Christianity, and
leave it TO the Interpretation of an ignor-
ant and presumptively mountebank class
Of exegists.
We prefer to treat even this phase OF
religion, distorted and injudicious as we
believe it to be, with respect. In
careful review of all its aspects which
have come under our observation, we
lieve it to be an unmitigated evil, and
and that it lessons, rather than increases
the hold that Christianity has on man
kind; and yet it is quite apparent that
well-meaning and earnest men, with an
ample supply of money, are behind
movement which seems to Us grotesque
rather than religious, and which repels
rather than attracts believers.