The Washington times., 1895-04-23

The District contingent of the Salvation
Army welcomed Brigadier Evans, Adju-
tant Damon, Adjutant Hunter, Capt. Lett
ner and Capt. Taylor of New York last
night The welcome was demonstrative
with sheepsllin throbs, tambor jingiing,
cornet blasts, vigorous songs and general
religious enthusiasm.
In order that meeting might be held
which would he commensurate with the.
Significance OF the event, and in order 10
house the unusual throng, the Soldiers OF the
Cross abandoned their barracks and occu
pied Wesley church. Throughout the
march to the church the army sang withthe
fervcr of halleluja soldiers, aud the drums
throbbed aud doomed, and the tambourines
tangled, and the comets blasted in brassy
whonpS. and the marchers-half sanity,
half knightly, and wholly human-sang
with boisteTous aTdor There is a Land
That is Fairer Than This"
Straight-laced, smile-proof Chris tians
looked on, but those halleluja soldiers
tramped on undismayed, undaunted, OBJ
livious to jeers and boots, believing that
what they sang was true, believing that
what they thought was right, believing that
what they did was good; and still the
drums beat aud the tambors tangled and
the horns blaTed
A CURIOUS AUDIENCE.
The Salvationists arriving at the church
found il thronsed with a curious audience.
which, Judging from many faces. was not
in total sympathy with Che religious tao
tics of the army.
Brig Evans was introduced as conductor
of the exercises by Rev. DR.. Baldwin,
pastor of the church. The first thing the
brigader said, in hale and earnest tones,
was LET us all sing 319-'There is a
fountain filled with blood. " He read
each stanZa, and the vocal soldiers joined
in, the coTuets chimed ii, and the tanibors
tangled, and the drums made the rafters
OF The building shake.
Then the music would cease, and Brig.
Evans would proceed to read the Eext
stanZa, the words of which would be often
drowned out 10y rousing cries fFena the
jealous soldiers of Praise the Lord,
Amen" "Yes" " ''BleSsed is the Lord,
and Lord, save u.s.
After this the musicians knelt and Adjt.
Hunter Offered a prayer, which was as
devolt and as fun of Christian spirit as
those heard in gilded churches, and as
noisy with exclamations and as wild with
untamed ardor as those heard III ooloTeG
Caiiitj-lllettlhSS
The soldiers around him would shout at
the highest pitch of their voices, Praise
the Lord" Amen" and the like, at the
same time swaying their bodies, raising
and bowing their heads and yielding them
selyesutteriy ytotheemotions whict animated
them.
CHARACTERISTIC SERVICE.
Brigadier Evans then spoke. He would
not preach, he said. He was there TO con-
duct characteristic Salvation Army serv-
ice. They just wanted everybody to feel
good, 10 have a good talk and a good sing,
and God would 90 the rest.
The brigadier is a ponderous man with
! Moody magnetism. There is not very much
in what he says, but he says it so sincerely,
| that if the heaTer doesn't believe 1T he
/ can't help bat believe that the speaker be-
4 lieves it. He has q Totund face, rutdy
! complexion, black and gray chin whiskers,
/ clear, penetrating voice, and a fund OF
/ genial good humor that puts him on easy
terms with everybody within range of his
voice.
The burden Of hisspeech was the reiterated
| phrase We just all want 10 have q good
! time together" Then the Salvation Army
| service was proceeded with
Experiences Were told, prayers said, and
music played. The last things The Times
| the tangle OF the tambourines, and the
! blaring blasts OF the bugle.
Several recruits We're mustered in.