Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1894-11-09
'GHE SALVATION IRNTS 10Th
Al IIIERSIRI
INTERESTING DESCRIPTION WRITTEN BY
A viRGiNEAN IN LONDON.

Mr. Richard Brooke of Warrenton, Fau-
quier, who is studying art in London, Eng,
writes the following very interesting letter
which we get from the columns of the True
Index
| have not time as a rule for mere 'sight-
SEEING" and to sight-see alone is often monot-
onous One experience, however, was worth
remembering: Before T. left (Tuesday) the
Salvation Army was to celebrate at the Crys-
tai Palace the 50tI Anniversary of Gen.
Booths entry into the work. The programme
as advertised was to last from Z in the morn
ing to $50 at night While not able to reach
there quite so early, determined to see as
much as l could of it, and learn something
of the personnel and work of this wonderful
organization; so | went. The attendance was
made up principally of members Of the Army
and their Immediate friends. The aristocratic
and lettered classes, and the orthodox clergy
were conspicuously absent, But one thing
was apparent, that those who were there
were unit in sympathy with the Army, and
this was composed, as rule, of as strong and
healthy set of young people as could be
found in London.
The idea prevalent in America that the Or
ganizaton is made up of haggard outcasts
living upon public charity is entirely errone-
Gus. As a mass the Army works at all the
trades 1t is the Officers. who consecrate
all their time to the work, and these dispense
far more in charity than they receive. In
London they are everywhere respected, and
Parliament by special act has given them
all the privileges of the clergy. Cleanliness
ct,o and what narticuIarlV
impressed me was the extreme tidiness OF the
blue dresses and white scarfs of the women,
and the red coats and gold braided caps OF the
men. There is not Military Institution
anywhere whose rules are more precise and
more rgidly observed. It requires months
of study ard discipline for candidate to
secure promotion to the honor Of being an
officer. and when so promoted he must obey
the slightest order of General Booth to the
letter. NO living ruler possesses power so
absolute and from all have seen no living
ruler has used it so wisely and is so beloved
ii not dolized by his subjects. Everything
that day was ''the General" the General"
'have you seen hiln?" there he goes, 'here
he comes" "Hurrah' '"God bless the Cen
eral.' and so or. Well it was his day. 1t
was distinctly announced that the occasion was
to be a secular one, great picnic, and celp-
bratlon. and not a strictly devotional meet
ing. The army had the great Crystal Palace,
its Music Hall holding twenty thousand per-
sons. and its vast parks and terraces that day
all fer themselves and their friends. The
programme began in the morning with the
international Reunion held in the Music Hall
which was packed from pit to dome. Dele
cations from all the countries upon the earth
were there in their national costumes lindoos
with yellow gowns and uibans, kailirs in
leonard skins, southern negroe, with banjoes,
Dutch women with gold and brass frontletS,
Swiss, Cossacks, llighlanders, etc AT
command from the General each delegation
would rise bearing its national coiorS, and
sing a national air, then the whole company
would ion in the chorus. The effect of the
thou, ands of women in blue and white in the
circular ampitheatrc as they struck their
tamhour:nes in unison was wonderful to see
and hear As rule the singing was good,
and its volume enormous. Following this
Ceremony came an hour Of rest and then the
grand review by the General. This took
place en- the grounds, and you may form an
idea of its magntude when tell you that it
took two hours and half to pass the grand
stand, and included 400 brass bands, all men,
carried large glitterin. she'll; caring a
white ard red cross, and the men pennants of
various colors, or banners with devices and
mottos. Seen from the upper terrace, the
yariegated column winding like serpent