Tbe Troubles of the Salvation Army.

Te Aroha News, Volume V, Issue 242, 18 February 1888, Page 8 (Supplement)

Tbe Troubles of the Salvation Army.

"General" Booth, in a letter which ho has issued ' says, in speaking of the work done this year: — "Mobs of ruffians have assailed and brutally beaten our people. Authorities have prosecuted and imprisoned them. Comrades have deserted our ranks and joined our enemies in vilely slandering us ; while our funds have again and again been utterly exhausted." Still more progress was made in this year than in any preceding year, both at home and abroad, and the " General " is convinced that the " opportunity of the Army is just as great — nay, greater — abroad than at home." In Germany a "heavy struggle" is taking place, and the authorities, afraid of disturbances, will not allow the army's meetings after noon ; while in some towns the meetings are limited to avowed Salvationists. At Rome the gatherings of the Army have been disturbed by students, "some of whom, on being expelled, stabbed the Italian door- keeper." The "major" was led to believe by the receipt of threatening letters that he was the " centre of a network of suspicions hatched by those who had come to him full of professions of friendship." The "war" in French Canada has Had to be prosecuted against " fearful odds, an attack having been made on one occasion upon the officers of the Army which resulted in serious injury to of the number." Moreover, in. many different parts of French Canada the barracks of the Army have been wilfully burned down. In Quebec the outdoor marches had to be abandoned because of the extremely fierce opposition manifested towards the Salvationists. Operations have been commenced in Utah, where Mormons have afforded every facility to the Army; but although the open-air and indoor meetings here are reported to have beon largely attended " the collections were very small," Many additional officora have been despatched to India, this year from Groat Britain, and also from Australia^ in which latter 1 country, theArmy's annual income is £66,000. Complaint is made of the quarter whence hostile criticism in India comes. Says one report : — " It could not altogether . bo surprising that the Army, with its wonderful innovations, should bo the butt of hostile comment in India as well as elsewhere; although this comes home with special unpleasantness, perhaps from the fact tha^ the critics who denounce i« are mostly Christian mififionftriw^il .A^'.l/.-^. -...^