The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1893-03-18

the advent of the army were leading
irreIigious, not to say dissolute lives.
They were men and women, who
through no fault of the churches OF
the town, never imagined themselves
welcome in them: and while the
novel and unusual methods of the
Salvationists may have first attracted
their attention, they were finally
influenced to lead better lives and
become members Of the army, largely
by the conviction of the earnest
sincerity of the Salvation workers.
And in this manifest earnestness OF
the Salvationists lies the real secret
of their success. Untiring activity,
seasonable and unreasonable zeal in
their work, constant personal sacri-
flee, habitual disregard of physical
comfort, complete surrender to the
all absorbing demands of their mis-
sion, chars cterize these people every
where. Attend their services where
you will, in Whitechapel, London,
the plague spot of darkest England,
the central slums OF a great popula-
ton of five millions of people, or in
the modest barracks in West Elkton,
and the same earnest and serious
devotion to duty characterizes them.
And at what cost to !their physical
comfort, at what terrible sacrifice
OF personal ease these men and
women bear the Banner of the Cross,
and undergo the hardships of Saliva
ton Army life.
A modest and we'll educated
woman recently stationed in this
town. told the writer of this article
that she had maintained herself on
thirty cents a week, solicited from
friendly sources day by day, as the
week grew older.
Think OF it.
Think of the strong conviction OF
duty that must inspire these devoted
women and men to brave the physi-
cal fatigue, and in a measure defy
the opinion of the world, in their
street work in behalf of unhappy and
miserable creatures, many Of whom
are social outcasts and beyond the
reach of the usual organized agencies
of the churches.
Without exaggeratine the work
done by the Salvation Army in large
centres of population, it can be safely
asserted, that through it more PEI
sons are reclaimed from abandoned
lives, than through the combined
work of all the Christian churches.
But comparatively recently, Arch
Deacon formerly Canon Farrar, than
whom intelligent Christians recognize
no higher or more trustworthy
authority, contributed very notice
able article to Ha,bers Magazine
upon the wonderful results accom-
plished by the Salvation Army in
England, and which he frankly con-
fesses is one of the greatest modern
agencies in the Christianization of
depraved men and women.
The tendency is too general to
question, if not to denounce the
methods of the Salvationists, because
these methods violate our precon-
ceived notions of the decorum and
dignity which should mark religious
meetings. TO the most OF US, the
bass drum and tamborine are not
instruments at all calculated to excite
a devotional spirit. But as a means
OF benehtting others, whose ears are
less attuned TO the concord of sweet
sounds, it is not for rs to denouuce
them.
Above and beyond these lnsignif-
cant means, stands the grand record
of good for their fellow man which
these drum beating soldiers and these
earnest praying women have I'M
doubtedly made.
This is the great end OF their
organization, the drum and the tam
BORNE are but the petty means to it.
The world wide success of the
Salvat1onists as the instruments of
retaining fallen men and women,
is the best evidence that as an
organization it is sanctioned of
Heaven and approved of the
Almighty.
1t has thriven under under public
derision, and grown strong under
popular persecution. until to day it
commands the attention and the
respect, OF the cultured and refined
Christian classes of every nation of
the world.