The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-01-06
WOMEN IN RELIGIOUS MOVEMENTS.

What Mrs. Booth Did for Religion and
the Influence She Exerted.
A very remarkable scene took place in
London about the middle of October. 1890.
No less than &C, 600 persons gathered to wit
ness an unusual funeral ceremony.
Mrs. Booth, the wife of the leader Of the
Salvation Army, was committed 20 the
grave with the peculiar rites of that or
ganization, and this event attracted the
great eoncourse of people mentioned.
Mrs. Booth was indeed the founder Of
the religious movement called the Saliva
ton Army. She was originally a Meth.
odist, and married Gen " Booth, as he is
called, who was then Methodist preacher,
when she was p years old.
She became very active in his church,
and on one occasion, when he had long
sickness. she took his place n the pulpit,
and preached with great eloquence and
fervor
Twenty-siX years ago Mrs. Booth con
ceived the idea Of creating a mission which,
under "a military form and discipline
should, by public displays of religious
zeal, arouse the masses of the people 10 q
more earnest religious spirit.
The corner stone of the creed Of this
singular mission was made total abstinencs
from all intoxicating liquors.
Mrs. Booth further made r stringent
rule that all the women and girls who
entered-or enlisted in-the Salvation
Army should be very simply dressed. All
the vanities of jewelry and gay attire were
to be renounced.
1t is needless 70 say that this remarkable
woman built up a society which has Ions
been a conspicuous, though somewhat pc
culiar and fantastic, religious agency, IS
pecially in England
The Salvation Army has spread, indeed,
10 the United States, and also TO some parts
of the continent OF Europe In many
American cities and towns it has its head.
quarters, and its professions, bands and
song singing are sometimes witnessed in
our streets; but it is in England, and IN
der Mrs Booths leadership. that the army
has had its largest and most effective in
nuence.
mo order" says an English paper. mot
even the Jesuits nor the Franciscans have
done so much with such limited means
and in so short time as the SalvatiOnists
They have rescued hundreds Of thousands
of Englishmen from vice and dirt"
This has been done by services which, II
they have been fervent, have also been
cheerful and spirited, and by discipline
which is very strict IN its military charac-
ter
The companies and regiments Of the
army have been regularly differed. and
each officer has his or her distinctive uni
form; while the rank and file also appear
in peculiar semi military attire. Thus,
with band often at their head, and flags
flying, they perambulsts the streets sing
ing their military songs; or, gathering at
some convenient spot, listen 20 the fervent
open air preaching Of one Of their orators.
Mrs. Booths creation and leadership Of
this singular mission h. only another in
stance Of the active part which women
have often, for centuries taken ia religious
movements and sOcieties.
The Jews had their in pired propbetesses
az well a. female sonzsters; while the
pagan religions admitted women among
the circle Of their god aad rcvered their
yestal virgins
The Roman Catholic Rave organized
their nunneries and thei- corps Of nurses.
The English church i., lady district
visitors, who take care Z The material ana
spiritual needs Of The pO,~ Of the parishes
while among the Quake the spirit moves
women ~ often as men 2 re.Itcr their mes
Sages TO the sesiate meet us Of their sect
" Youth 5 Companion.