The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-05-10
A~SALVATION ARMY TALK
ADJUTANT LAMB OCCUPIES THE SEC
OND PRESBYTERIAN PULPIT.
of General Booth-Tucker to
This City This Week-Rev. DR..
Sims's Sermon.

sims = sermon
Adjutant Lamb, of the Salvation Army.
spoke of the character and extent of the
work done by this great religious order at
the Second Presbyterian Church last night.
Gen. B~ooth-Tucker, who is the command
er of the American branch or the army,
is to be here this week and viii speak from
the pulpit of the same church.. Adjutant
Lambs talk last night was of an introduce
tory character.
Adjutant Lamb sought to disabuse the
minds of his hearers Of the prejudice so
many Americans entertain toward the work
because they think the Salvation Army is
an English Institution. This idea prevails
to a great extent, owing to the fact that
it originated in Great Britain. He holds
that the institution has as much of a uni
versal character as any church, saying that
in England it was English, Australian in
Australia, American in this country. It was
because of it's adaptability to environments
and its cosmopolitan character that its
work had spread throughout the world
and accomplished so much toward the sal
walton of the poor and outcast of all ma
tons. Speaking of the beginning of the
work, he said that General Booth became
an evangelist from conviction, and not from
inclination. He went one night to one of
the slum districts of London and listened
to the teachings of an evangelist. General
Booth saw the poor and miserable of the
great city, realized that they could not be
reached by the usual methods and returned
home to speak to his wife of the conviction
which had entered his heart-the convic-
ton that he ought to go out into the high
ways and hedges in search OF the poor,
the blind and the halt. They had about
them a growing family, but after studying
over the subject saw that there was but
one thing for them to do-that was to an
ed out like Abraham and Sarah, not know
ing whittier they went, little dreaming that
tney were to become the father and mother
OF Such a mighty work of God. AT times
there came to Mrs. Booths mind the prom
lSe TO Sarah, She shall be the mother Of
many nations, =" but she put 1t from her,
telling herself that a few souls might be
saved. On her deathbed, when there We're
gathered around her converts from forty
nations, she said: Never did look for
such an ingathering of the perlshing."
GENERAL BOOTHS METHODS.
General Booth made his first open-air adj
dress on July 5, 1865, in an open grove at
Mile End. That day there were present
eight men, one woman and q dog. He count
eel the dog as making just ten listeners.
lie was not discouraged, but kept persist
entity at work. When he found his hearers
tired OF him he called upon converts to
talk. Many a reformed sport was lis
tened to and MIR. Booth observed hat the
Words or the converts reached the minds of
the eager crowds better than words of his
own could. Crude converts, while perhaps
not learned nor eloquent, yet understood
the lives and needs of those about them.
ana often spoke the one word necessary To
their salvation. General Booth fOTrI tbaf
the people We're eager to listen when he
addressed them in the open air, but they
would not come to an old theater he rented.
Ihey objected to anything that savored of
the church and paTson. An announcement
That the Rev. William Booth was to
speak vas too digniied. If this were
modified to William Booth, or, bet
ter still, Bill Booth, an interest
was aroused. He saw the people attracted
to the low dens and vile dives by haunting
advertisements. He studied over the mat
Ter ana decided that he must adopt similar
methods II he would win those he was seek
ing away from y1leness and sin. This led to
the adoption of the religious poster. The
nrst one contained the announcement that
Happy sal would sing. They came to hear
her songs, and then Mr.. Booth found an
opportunity to talk to them, to plead with
them to lead better lives, and to nave some
concern for their souls welfare.
Little by little that which the world
criticised as absurd and uncalled for has
Lamb. BY and by uniforms were adopted,
then came the drums and cymbalS and the
singing marchers. From the days of the
early crusades all religious reform orders
have found it necessary to adopt uniforms,
and the uniform of the army was simply
an outgrowth of a need. AT first the army
was identified by a badge no larger than
that of the Christian EndeaVor Society of
to-day. In his own work he had realized
identified by those in trouble and distress
as the beacon of hope. Many young rlen
had come to him for advice and assistance
Who passed by people on the street who
were equally eager to serve them, but
whom they could not recognize. A short
time ago Adiutant Lamb was arrested with
his band of workers for obstructing the
streets of this city. He said that it fell to
Indianapolis to imprison him for the first
time. After he was liberated a young man
came to him under the cover OF darkness
II was sorry to see you arrested. I am a
great sinner, and there is no nope for me.
1t is folks like me that need the Salvation
Army"
classes that could not be reached by the or
binary methods of the church. The church
was intended to minister to a different
class. The Episcopalian Church army, with
it's uniform and badge, was an outgroWth
of this very fact.
The speaker gave a number of interesting
incidents of the rescue and Slum work &C
complished by the army. The army regards
itself as accomplishing much when %outcast
men and women are lifted up and started
on the right road again. Just last saturday
night two young men in the corps mere
went through many saloons OF thus city
with two mothers who were searching tor
their daughters. The women, with DleedlnS
hearts, told of the daughters they saw in
those places. He said that people little
realized the wretchedness and sin around
them. right in the midst of this city. Many
women are led to their downfall by strong
drink, he said, and he spoke of incidents
where they had been reclaimed by the
earnest, personal work of the women in the
army. many of them women who had been
brought up in the refining influences of
beautiful homes where they were shlelded
from everything that might prove unpleas-
ant to them. =
I'm the morning of eternity you will find
that it is God who has inspired the Sal
walton Army said the adjutant in con-
clusion.