RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 132, 26 May 1908, Page 4

RELIGIOUS ACTIVITY.

I THE BISHOP'S "HAID." MIDNIGHT MARCH IN STREETS OJ* LONDON. STKAiNIiE SCENES. The Bishop of London, wearing an uiiclerical-looking rioft felt hat with his apron and g'aiters, headed a midnight march through Westminster slums on Saturday, 4th April. ] The procession, which started from ! the schools of St. .lamcs-t!u!-J.x\-;s, Moreion street, Yauxhall Bridge road, was organised by Captains Davey and Carter, of the Church Army. The Bishop had himself proposed to lead the procesfjionists, wlio bluntly styled the march "A living skirmish on the devil's .strongholds." Facetious bystanders alluded io it variously as "the Bishop's raid/' "the Bishop's show, J and "the Bishop's tramp."' They laughed, jeered, applauded. ami. in some instances, grumbled at the noise. Bui the procession was a Mtccess, complete and unqualified. Preparations for tin- great event began at on Saturday night. The Church Army ollieers held what they termed a "hand-shake," and half' an hour later tho Uev. T. l.Jrcalorex, the viear of St. dames-the-Less held a short service in the church.

An open-air meeting oiiUide the Builders' Arms Inn began at anil from ten to eleven refreshments were handed out to all and sundry.

The Bishop drove up to the schools in a cab at eleven o'clock. The workers had already formed in order of procession, and his arrival was the signal for operations to begin. Thirty torches suddenly blazed into the gloom of the wet April night, three or four acetylene lamps shed a brilliant glare through the miserable, squalidlooking street, and three or four gorgeous banners were raised by stalwart bearers.

The Bishop stood for a minute as if bewildered by the sudden blaze of light, then he greeted Mr. Greatorex, the Rev. E. Rainbow, and a number of Church Army ollicers.

He addressed the processionists; " I have come to lead the gallant Church Army," he said, "as a comrade and a brother." Then, amid ringing cheers, he stepped to the front, the army's pioneer hand struck up a lively march, and I Ik* procession, which' stretched"nix or seven abreast and numbered four or live hundred people, set oIV on its remarkable mission.

liegcncy Street, I'agc Street, Marsham Street, (Ireal I'eter Street, liochester liow. and a series of other streets whose dwellings are tenanted by til? " submergedwere visited. Now and again the procession would halt outside a public-house, and the band would strike up the air of a well-known hymn.

"Lead, kindlv Light." "liock of Ages. " AbidC with .lie." were sung. the Jiislwp himself joining heartily, and the crowd which grew denser every moment, taking up occasionally popular refrains. 'Hie .scone was. as striking <ui<l ini-

pie-sive ji« it Wii,. extraordinary. Hawkers and Mall hoider- were plying their witli Saturday night zeM. They pau-ed momentalily, and. staring al the spare, ascetic figure of the Hi*hop, recognised him. and slionted with deepthroated ontlmsia>m. "The Jiishop! the !ii^lio|»!Tiieir customers turned and cheered. The l'.ishop nodded .smilingly, and marched on, keeping step with the music.

A drizzling rain was falling, but the bishop, apparently unconcerned, walked luavclv on. Devoted "sisters" of the

army pressed men and women to follow to the church, and men workers entered public-houses and pressed invitations upon the customers. "I'll come; it's the

llishup.'' said one man, who UtMied heavily against a Church Army otlicer.

the oiiicor grasped his ai'in and hHpi'd him to lhe diim-li.

A k'tlroom window in rayu Street was thrown up. ami a livacl was thrust iint. "Hi. you thi'i'i I !'' .-limited the owsuT 7n a »riiir voi<-<\ " don't you know wo want to j;o id sleep, ;ini! there are t li'siis;imis nionfi" Tiie Jiishop heard and sjiiileil. Jl was shurlly after midnight when

the procession returned. -Must of the torelies were .spluttering out their last gasp. People of all kinds streamed iuLo the school building. There were rough 1111•;i. " drunk and sober," women with dishevelled hair, white despairing faces and bedraggled gowns. They tilled three capacious ruuniis-a ilen.se, unsavoury crowd.

The P.ishop spoke at two of the galli ~rina<. Hi- sentence, »vrc short, homely. piaeliral. A -peakcv reminded the hearers tlul. they might be "a,* good

.is a 1 ■ ir,| bislmp.' These words formed Ibe liishop's te\t, They were true, he -aid. lie wa- a man like themselves, a brother anil a comrade.

The hofU'crs appreciated il. A chorus of "Ileal', hears!" followed the. kindly

words of tlie Jlishop- their "brother and comrade."

lie urged his hearers to "follow the path,; of l'igliteousuvss. which make for manliness." Tlie attention pjiid was marvellous, the only interruption being when now and again an exclamation of approval broke out. The llishop finished at one o'clock. He looked tiled out, but he smiled braveIv as he bade his auditors " (iood-night.''