The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-01-30
WOVEN IN RELIGIOUS MoVENENTa
what Mrs. Booth DID for Religion and
the Lnnaenes she .1a--a--

what Mrs. Booth DID for Religion and
the Influence she Exerted-
al very remarkable scene took place ln
London about the middle Of October 1899
No less than 40, $50 persons gathered TO witt
ness an unusual funeral CEREMONY
Mrs Booth the wife of the leader of the
Salvation Army was committed % the
grave with the peculiar rites of that or
ganization, and this event attracted the
great concourse of people mentioned
Mrs Booth was indeed the founder ot
the religious movement called the 5aiva-
ton Army. She was originally q Meth-
odist. and married sGen.' Booth us he IS
called who was then "a Methodist preacher
when she was 25 years Old
She became very active In his church,
and on one occasion. wien he had long
sickness, she took his place i'm the pulpit.
and preached with great eloquence and
fervor-
Twenty-six years ago Mrs. Booth con-
ceived the idea Of creating > mission which,
under military form and disclp liue,
should, by public displays of religious
zeal, arouse the masses cf the people to
more earnest religious spirit
The corner stone of the creed of ttIa
singular mission was made total abstinence
from all intoxicating liquors
Mrs. Booth further made stringent
rule that al the women and GIRLS Who
entered-or enlisted in-tEe salvation
ARMY should 5e very simply dressed All
the vanities Of jewelry and gay attlre were
to be rcnounced-
lit is needless to say that this remarkable
woman built mp q society which nas long
been q conspicuous. though somewhat Pc
culiar and fantastic elgious agency, es-
peeially in England
The Salvation Army has spread indeed,
to tine Jnted States, and also 90 some parts
of the continent of Europe ll many
American cities ard towns ~ has its head
quarters, and its processi0nss bands and
song singing are sometimes witnessed in
our streets, but ii IS in England, and un-
der Mrs Booths leadership. that BE army
has had its largest and most effective iI-
huence-
mo order says an English paper. ~not
even the Jesuits nor tile E'ranciscans have
done so much with such limited means
and in So short a time as the SalTationists.
They have rescued hundreds Of thousands
of Englishmen from vice and dirt-"
This has been done by services which, if
they have been fervent. have also been
cheerful and spirited. and 1y discipline
which is very strict il its military charac-
ter
The companies and regiments of the
army have been regularly ofcered and
each officer has his or her distinctive uni-
form; while tile rank and tile also appear
ina a peculiar semi-military attire Thus,
with a band often at their head. and flags
flying. they perambulate the streets sing
ing their military songs or gathering a5
some convenient spot, listen 90 the fervent
open air preaching of one of their orators
Mrs. Booths creation and leadership of
this singular mission is only another in
stance of the active part which women
have often, for centuries, taken ia religious
movements and societies.
The Jews had their ins pired prophe1esses
as wen as female s0ngsrers. while the
pagan religions admitted women among
the circle of their gods and revered their
vestal virgins.
The Roman Catholics have organized
their nunneries and their corps Of nurses.
The English church has its lady district
visitors who take care of the material and
spiritual needs of the poor of the Parishes
while among the Gsuazers the spirit moves
women as often as men to deliver their mes
sages to the sedate meetings Of their sect
Youths Companion