The Salvation Army.

Feilding Star, Volume III, Issue 107, 22 May 1883, Page 3

The Salvation Army.

"" The following is the conclusion of our report of the lecture on the above subject delivered in the Feilding Wesleyan dburch on Friday evening last, by the Rev W. Morley, of Christchurch, con-tinued-from our Saturday's issue : Among the lessons taught by the movement, the lecturer said we might learn also the wisdom of using all classes of men to preach the gospel. There was too much of a desire in the present day to have none but educated ministers, which the lecturer thought was a mistake. He approved of culture, but thousands would go to 'a hall to hear converted thieves and prize-fighters, who would never attend churches to hear orthodox and refined ministers. The army taught further the power of individual testimony. This as given by the evident sincerity. and genuine religious life of its members was one of the principal causes .of ita success. Then again, we might learn that there need be no hesitation in asking for money for God's cause. Some - churches seemed afraid to ask for money sand when they did so it was with bated 'breath. General Booth instilled deeply •into his people the duty of giving. They «lad collections at all their meetings, and even at their weddings. The speaker commended them for not adopting the Shibboleth of "no collection," a cant * cry with which he had no sympathy. Alluding to the titles of the army's officers, there was not much there to find .•fault with, as the Church titled its ministers, and a man might as well be called t Major as Reverend for all that it mattered. Still he thought these warnings in the movement which the Church ought not to ignore. And first there *was a danger of giving too much power to uneducated men in preaching. The -army did not impart sufficient theological -Hraining, and there was great danger in its being carried away with the idea of the " simple preaching of the gospel," as * something more than this was required at the present day. Another warning Was, the danger of mere enthusiasm. There was a possibility of clap-trap, from which General Booth was by no means free. He instructed his people to fire volleys, which was to shout " amen," together at the top of their voices, In some instances they had waved their * • handkerchiefs as demonstrations of their feelings. It was a grave charge against the army that it endeavored to reduce excitement in religion to a system, which t was greatly to be deprecated. The lecturer read extracts from some of their -placards, such as "war, war, war," "fire and brimstone," "descent of the Holy Ghost," and " grand exhibition of hallelujah lasses," <fee., which things he a horrible travesty of everything religious. There was also a want <rf openness and wisdom in regard to money matters. The settlement of all properties rested absolutely with General Booth, who could do as he liked with the funds or the officers. He had the right «, to. nominate his successor, and had already done so, the nominee being his own •* «on. But the lecturer failed to Bee in the movement any signs of permanency. t There had already been several large secessions, and many individual desertions, and there were likely to be many more. He could not see any elements of a lasting character in the movement, and hi* concluding remarks were to the effect that he predicted for it an utter failure in its present form of organisation and mode of proceeding, and without some radical change an ultimate collapse altogether. ' The lecture was listened to with • great interest by the audience, among whom were some of the leading residents «( the town, and district, and at the close - elicited hearty applause, and a unanimous rote of thanks.