THE SALVATIONISTS.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4720, 22 February 1884, Page 2

THE SALVATIONISTS.

iTo Ibe Editor of the Evening Star.) Sic, —Regarding remarks of "At the Corner " in your paper concerning Salvationists, the writer states:—■^'lhey ? hav« do skill as mechanics, no learning, no education, not even rude bursts of eloquence; and yet they gather in the needful"; and, •• men who have not done an honest day's work in their life time can do no good." Allow me to inform the writer there are many of the Sahationists who are first class tradesmen, and can earn double the money they now receive, but have chosen self-abnegation to rescue „-- their fellowmen from sin, and work in His cause; and if some Salvationists have previously led sinful lives and have been reclaimed, are they to be despised because they exhort sinners to repentance? Are Salvationists to be scorned because they receive payment—just enough to keep them P Can they live upon air ? Do ministers get paid for their services ?—Yes. Do ministers administer religion gratis?— No. Then why are these men contemned ? "No learn-

ing—no education." Are Salvationists to be censured on account of want of education because " At the Corner " posseting such qualifications ? Want of edaogg^fiis not.tbeir fault; the. sin lies jrfjljg#rr parents door. Does want of education debar our fellow creatures from being followers of our Saviour, and a barrier to the teaching of salvation ? In the history of human effort some of the greatest religious teachers and mind kings of the earth have risen from "low estate",; examine their birthplaces, their origin in cottages, and hovels, few in mansions and palaces. These .great models of bur race not only sprung from the "lower classes," but had not the means for education, and grew up in a state of ignorance, and imbued only with the thoughts the Almighty gave them, read of their patience under suffering, their heroic endurance, their steady perseverance, their triumph over the worst of difficulties, such bravery fills our minds with astonishment and; admiration. Our Divine LorAr was in. His humanity no exception; He was, we are told, a carpenters son, bora in a stable ; He perfomed His heavenly mission on earth without a place to lay His head, among the sneers and persecution of mis fellow men. He is no respecter of ;per«v. sons, to the mean and lowly is often given the far seeing eye; to the poorest soniething is given not to be cast aside itf darkness, but brought to light; a course so strong, so wrestling, so bravely struggling with the difficulties of their position,-will have many rebuffs. Their attacks are often signs of success. He who under* took for us the high mission of Salvation, who came into, the. world to establish " Peace on earth, and good-will towards all men," (which is not always practised upon the Thames), who mocked, reviled, buffetted, scourged, crucified, and still His blessed name liveth for ever and ever; our great benefacters to the huinanrace' have stumbled and walked *in sin, their downward careers have been checked

through the interposition of the Almighty, and they saw the light. Are John Gpugh and others condemned because they gave examples of their past lives? Hojothey are looked upon as living monuments of godly life and righteousness, and why "dissatisfaction regarding Salvationists. It is thus : This body has rescued thousands from the lowest dregs to worship God, and adore His name ; new life infused into the unfortunate sinner ; they have probed the darkness of human life; and illumined the path of godliness to those who knew it not. They are completely—what,some ministers ought to have taken in band— helping the poor and lowly, not the. aristo* cratio Christian portion, as sometimes practised, hence their "persecution, hence the absence of some of oar Thames ministers from the Salvationists; are "they ashamed of their indolence, that they hide their heads; would their Heavenly Master instil such thoughts into .their minds ? I see one minister there who is a pretty example for his brethren, who prays fervently to the Almighty night after night in aid of his fellow sinners; go thou and do likewise. The Salvationists have shown true examples of self-abnegation, as witnessed by the writer. For instance: a captain of a Salvation Army visits a house where the father and mother led a drunken and debauched life, their three daughters living in immorality, their son in prison for theft. The Captain when visiting this house was threatened with bodily hurt; he expostulated, but of no avail. The Captain says: " You cannot prevent me praying for you in front of your house to turn you to the feet of Jesua." That Captain and his wife came day after day, even in the rain, knelt down and prayed* earnestly to God to turn their hearts and

forsake their ways "of sin. The remit was, that family renounced their evil ways and became followers of Christ. How many ministers would hare consecrated themselves to such a cause. It is con-* sidered unfashionable. We are informed by "At the Corner" and others that aft Thames people are evenly balanced* in religion. "When was that realisedP I know of " class leaders" who wooiA annihilate one another, and who are fall of envy. I know of a Superintendent of a Sunday School and a teacher of religion from the pulpit who speaks of the "hopes and fears to thepure minded women, men, and children, who are listeners, to his teaching," and who, when asked to testify in his own place of worship to Jesus Christ, he declined; I ask which is the worst, the reclaimed Salvationist or this "class leader" who assumes the " teacher of religion" for years and years to our sons and daughter*, instructs them to walk in God's wars, end! still afraid to come to Jesus P No doubt he acted wisely, his conscience smote him in the house of God that he had traduced his f Jlow men in gaining their livelihood, had taken bread out of their children'^ mouths, by over-reaching and alycraftness. Let him turn to God with a true and lowly heart, and weather a new life - There are many of these evenly balanced (sic) upon the Thames; these are the men who debase religion more so than the penitent thief, the reclaimed drunkard Salvationist, and cause scoffers and back* biters. These are the men who cause dig. seusion in churches, aud bring about such like remedies as Salvationists and Evangelist to reinstore people, and keep them in the right path. These pseudonym " class leaders ' preach well, but practice little—per example: Let Mr Wood (the prophet?) and the evenly-balanced men (P) come forth and nobly lauooh oat tbtir

Ti«W»i and preach practically to the millti* tnde concerning eternal salvation. Let them step upon a platform as the " W7:learned, uneducated, and worthless crew " Salvationists (as some kind-hearted people call them), and exhort the poor, forlorn sinner to repentance. Let them fall upon their knees—beside the yoor thief, the pitied diankard, the unfortunate profli gate —in a public assembly, and earnestly call upon the Almighty to bestow His love upon the poor sinners, and restore them to a condition of heart and wash their sins in the blood of our beloved Saviour Jesus Christ. Let them manifest their self-abnegation dispassionately. Let ' them throw off the yoke of fulsome flatteiy and conceit, embrace the true love of our blessed Saviour, come forth like men imbued with a righteous spirit, dis plaj an "earnest z*ii in leading a band , upon such a fruitful and' charitable mission, and let their light so shine before men that they may see their good works and righteous ways. Apologising for taking up your space,—l am. &c, Faibplay. -