The Salvation Army.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XLVI, Issue 206, 3 September 1904, Page 2

The Salvation Army.

Commissioner A. M. Nicol the "kdiioi-in-Chief" 0 l the Salvation Army—writing in the Royal Magazine, says that the Salvation Army is one of the greatest religious paradoxes of the times :—"lts system of government belongs to another age, and yet the orgaisation suffers no unpopularity in consequence. But tho paradox does not end with tire system under which the Army is led and governed. There as no more emotional people under the sun. Its books, newspapers, hymnology, teaching, preaching, forms of worship, and methods of propaganda, palpitate witu the emotional. Its venerable leader is one of the ablest ex.joiwnts of the gospel ofem o tion. Ho reasons that tho majority of us are rulod moro or less by our feelings ; and that nations, as well as individuals, are swayed by impulse rather chan by conviction." The seed of i all the branches of the organisation is the Army'a corps, or church life, says the writer. Here, in miniature, ire seen all tho principles of doctrine, government and philanthropy, which have a ssumod many forms in other directions :—"The military principle that governs all the work of the Army is seen to special advantage in the corps. Tho chief officer of a corps is called captain. The work of tho corps is divided into three branches—evangelistic meetings, in and out of doors, where all the paraphernalia of banner, music and uniform is in evidence ; 'brigade work, of a voluntary character, by which the i-ick and poor a re visited and helped, and visits are paid to publichouses and lodgings ; and children's work, of an educational, religious, and recreative character." At the international headquarters' in London tho organisation of the Army is carried 0 n by a huge staff of ofllci:\la. The number of schemes which General Booth and the officers of his Army have organised is marvellous : —"Ono of the most important branches of tho Army is the social scheme, as it is called, which is divided into three branches. First, is the men's, which includes shelter for the homeless and destitute, factories and workshops, homos for inebriates, stations for ex-convicts, and deportments to afford special relief for indigent cases, and for the discovery of lost and missing people. Then comes the women's social Work, which includes slum corps, whose work lies in the worst parts of towns ; receiving and rescue homes, where all sorts and conditions' of peoplo aro gathered under tho Army's wing ; midnight brigades, shelters, factories, children's homeß, nursing and convalescent agencies, maternity and other hospitals, inebriate homes —and other efforts, almost innumerable, for uplifting degraded sisterhood. Then there is the great oversea work, carried 0 n in fifty different countries and colonies; and there are !an'd and industrial colonies'. The Parent Land Colony was formod by General Booth twelve years a fi o ' near Southend, and has become a complete success. All 'branches of farming and market gardening, and other injlustries, are carried on to p'ive work to the unemployed. In all, thirteen colonies - of this kind h n ve | •been established." The over-sea section of the social scheme is root yet i complete, but a big emigration dcpVrtment is at work at present, sending out deserving families to ] Canada and other parts, at tho rate of 200 a week.