Capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1893-1895, 1894-08-30

DOuflneS, bfaVerSe0 One SUfeeOS Wdlli0R
rather than singing:
Oh. yes, salvation's free,
O-o-oh, yes, salvation's free,
Solicitations free for you and me.
Pra-a-a-ise Godl Salvation's freei
OF course this was not their only song,
and most OF their tunes were extremely
"jiggy." "Old Dan Tucker" was great
favorite with them for awhile, and popu-
lar operatic air was used to the words:
My sins are washed away
By the blood of the Lamb;
My sins are washed away
By the blood of the Lamb
Washed away, washed away,
Washed away by the blood of the Lamb.
Apparently these people were from the
lowest strata of humanity, and while the
curious asked who they were the old fellow
from the backwoods is alleged to have got
of the old standard joke, ut do beat all
what critters man sees when he hasn't
got his gun with him."
1t was the Salvation Army. In 1865 Will
liam Booth, young and terribly earnest
Methodist preacher, began in the White
chapel region and adjacent districts of east
London the work which has made him
famous. The idea of the present organiza
ton long floated in his mind before he gave
ed his plans, and the army developed into
its present form and received its name in
1876 Booth saw what fascination there
is in name. uniform, colors and the military
idea generally and determined to utilize
these adjuncts to the best advantage.
This army is now organized In 80 nations.
1t has 0,7S0 commissioned officers and mil
lions of private soldiers and auxiliaries
and holds at least 100000 meetings year
~. 1t publishes S3 weekly journals and 15
monthly magazines with an aggregate an
nual circulation of IS, see, 900. 1t has prop
erty to the value Of $4,000,C00, and its an
nual income, mostly IN donations of very
small sums, amounts to nearly as much
more. It's services OF song and prayer are
rendered In every language in Europe, ex-
cept possibly the Turkish, Lap, Basque.
Gaelic and some of the obscure districts of
the southeastern regions. Its uniformed
bands are seen in Paris, Rome, Madrid,
Berlin and St. Petersburg, and If one can
Judge from the small amount of persecu-
ton encountered there has either been
marvellous advance in religious liberty or
the Salvation Army has marvellous fac
ulty of winning friends and disarming pref
udice.
In all this there is nothing strictly new.
Every century and almost every genera
tion for 1900 years has produced new
and erratic religious movement that for a
time seemed to sweep all before it. What
Is new and indeed amazing Is the rapidity
with which the Salvation Army has gained
upon the refined and philosophic classes.
IL was received with chorus of derisive
laughter by the multitude and grave dis
approval by the conseryatively religious;
it Is now favored by the highest dignitaries
Of Professionalism. II began In the siunis;
il is now in good society. Now, therefore.
Is the time to look for decline In It's fierce
energies II il follows the course Of former
similar movements and a gradual change
to formal method But we shall see what
we shall see.
Christianity was $50 years old before the
philosophers even condescended tonotiee IL.
The learned and wealthy looked on II with
sort Of cOntemptuous pity. The first
Protestants In the Netherlands were deri-