New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-24
THE SALVATION IRNY.

The Salvation Army, which has just held a
most enthusiastic and successful Continental
Coifgress in this city, has conquered roccgn-
ton and even respect, not merely by lis
earnestncss and sincerity but by record OF
GOOD work accomplished. The first few years
of its existence have been happily named the
brickbat era of its history. Few had good
word TO say for it, and its members suffered
all kinds of personal violence from the vicious
and depraved elements Of society. That era
was followed by one of contemptuouS to!"ra-
ton when casy-going and well-fcd Sadducce'
in the Church gently besousht the Iabblc not
to stone the fanatics, who, after all, were
harmless and meant we'll The Army has lived
through. or rather lived down, that era OF
contempt, almost worse than the former era
of abuse, and to-day nearly all the people
in and out OF tho Churches whose opinion Is
worth ANYTHING frankly acknowledge the good
it has done and is doing. In England, Arch
bishop Benson and the late Cardinal Manning
have publicly expressed their cordial sympathy
with its aims, and in this country such repre-
sentative men as DR.. Lyman Abbott and Bishop
Phillips Brooks are found among It's out
spoken well-wishers. 1t Is steadily growing in
numbers and influence. and it is now force
that cannot be ignored in counting up the
religious impulses of the day.
Many reasons for the success OF the Saliva
ton Army can be given; but they can all be
condensed in one: 1t is honestly trying t. d.
work which the organized Churches have
largely failed to do. II makes large and III
the opinion Of many a dangerous, lis, Of emo
ton. Some of It's method, seem puel.le ID
intelligent people, and otheis arc claIa talilcd
by yulgmity and bad taste. II is utterly de-
void of any intellectual character, and 'h'
rank and file Of its members are Rot capable
Of thinking, either deeply or clearly. BIT in
these defects part OF II, strength lies; FOR they
enable it TO direct the whole Of IT. enthusiasm
zeal and earnestncss, backed by its effective
organization, TO the regeneration OF the pariah'
Of society and the Church. The people 1t Is
trying, and so successfully trying. 70 reach are
Just the people to be touched by unreasonine
emotion and by the bizarre forms Of worship
which distinguish the Amy. Moreover Cen
eral Booth, its founder has shown himself to
be man of great good sense in his schemes
Of social regeneration. At bottom there Is
something eminently practical about the aims
Of his remarkable organization, which com
~
spite of its fantastic fana,iclsn
And, besides accomplishing a great deal Of
good itself, the Salvation Army has reacted
on the Churches. 1t has compelled them .
pay some attention 10 the problems II has set
itself 10 solve, and TO cultivate some Of that
emotional enthusiasm which II has 50 abnor-
maly developed The slaid Anglican Church
has complimcntcd it by organizing "Church
Army" which works on much the same lncs.
And all the other Christian denominations have
in measure caught tho spirit that anlmates
il. which after all j, merely a crude expression
Of the spirit Of Christ Who camo before all
else to seek and 10 save those who are lost
Christianity cannot look with indifference or
contempt on this strange movement; for II
sprang out Of Christianity, and viii continue
to flourish "a long as the peculiar conditions
that produced it continue to exist