The Salvation Army.

Feilding Star, Volume XVII, Issue 247, 23 April 1896, Page 3

The Salvation Army.

An Indian durbar, held in the Salvation Army Barracks last night, drew a large attendance. The platform was decorated to represent a jungle. The two officers who led the dubar had been Salvation Army missionaries in India, in which conntry they were known by natives names, viz., Snkb Singh and Dcv Ratna. The latter was attired in the robes of a Buddhist priest. Adjutant Lukh Singh was arrayed in the costume of an army officer, the same clothes as he wore in the east, and sat at the feet of Dcv Ratna who acted the part of Buddhist priest and who was supposed to be in a heathen temple, which the Adjutant visited with a view to get an insight into the Buddhist religion. His questions were readily answered, and several principal points of the Buddhist's belief were brought into prominence. The transmigration of souls doctrine is tenaciously held by the followers of Buddha. Although they believe in a fnture state of punishment for the wicked, their reward for well . doing is being translated at deatb^ to " nirwhana," or a state of annihilation. The Army appears to have been emine ntly successful in its work amongst the f . different races of India, their soldiery in the Gugerat province alone, numbering over ten thousand. Whole villages have renounced idolatry, and handed over their heathen temples to these Salvation fakirs. The Government acknowledges the social work done in connection with^ the "Darkest Indian Scheme " and give grants of money and lands for this pnrpose.