The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-10-28

GEN. BOOTHS SALVATION ARMY.
The reception accorded to Genera
Booth, founder of the Salvation Army,
on his arrival in this country, shows
how that organization has grown in
public estimation Leading citizens,
clergymen and men interested in social
reforms came forward to greet and wei
come him as one worthy of their high
est respect and whose labors excited
their admiration. 1t is a comparatively
short time since this army" was looked
on with distrust as being a sort Of
mcrntebank affair without substantial
religious basis. Little by little this opin-
ion has changed, until it is now regard
ed by those who ave watched its work
ings closely as of great practical benefit
in certain communities and an aid to
neral reform whose value can hardly
be overestimated. Its greatest influence
is with elements of society that no other
agency has been able to each. The
scene of it's greatest labors has. of
course, been London, and there the
greatest results are shown. If the ia
nous East End, with the apparently
hopeless degradation Of it's slums. has
not been regenerated by the army, 1T
has at least been opened to civilizing in
fuences and the people made aware
that life, even to them, might mean
something else than misery and crime.
Other eager .reformers, with wisdom
learned of the army, have followed the
path it made into this hitherto unre-
formable region, and have established
places of amusement, pleasant resorts,
schools and other aids to better living
which would not have been possible be-
fore.
The g-rotesqueness and eccentricity of
the army's methods, to which conven
tional and fastidious observers object,
are undoubtedly among its chief ele-
ments of strength. The trouble with
such critics is that they do not put
themselves in the places Of the persons
sought to be reached. The residents of
the slums are not conventional persons
themselves. They are not familiar with
the stately and impressive services of
church or cathedral. and have. there
fore, no traditions to be shocked by the
dancing, the flies and drums, and BAN
jos, and lively songs that seem almost
blasphemous to the stickler for customs.
The very n~oisiness of the appeals, the
crudeness of the hymns" attract the
crowds because they are accustomed to
noise, and plain language. and direct
methods. 1t is all upon their level of
comprehension. Their emotions are
1920 49, t. IN -.;-.;%sv- ,oIs-;o--
some go so far as to say all genuine
relationship emotions must be stirred.
The early Methodists proceeded on this
theory, but this denomination is now
hardly less conventional than the rest,
and the revival" becomes less surely a
matter of annual recurrence and is more
and more difficult to work UP. The Sal
walton Army has come in TO labor with
that vast multitude which the churches
have, by their lack of elasticity in meth
DDS, been unable to approach and have
left behind. In this country the labors
of the army nave been less extensive
than in England, but the visit of the
founder is preliminary to renewed ac-
tivity. Detachments of the organization
have worked in New York, Chicago and
other large cities for some years. but
will now redouble their efforts. One of
the most praiseworthy features of the
army's work is the practical manner in
which it looks after converts. finds en-
ployment if they are idle, and goes into
their homes and relieves want. A part
of General Booths present plan is to re-
lieve the congested condition of large
cities here. as he has done in London,
by providing tracts of land to which
those without work can go and estab-
lish homes. He probably expects to do
this through the aid of wealthy Amer
leans, as he has been helped in his plans
at home by Englishmen who realized
the Importance of his work, and he
should not be disappointed.
The influence Of the Salvation Army
has borne fruit in many directions. The
Christian Endeavor Society has profted.
perhaps unconsciously, by some of it's
methods, and the military drill found so
effective in missionary work among
boys is a direct tribute to its system.
TAX it all in all, it is the most remark
able religious movement of the time,
and is likely TO be q more tremendous
agency for good thar ever it's early
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