SALVATION AGAIN.

Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4962, 4 December 1884, Page 2

SALVATION AGAIN.

(To the Editor of the Evening Star.) Sib,—Very many writers and speakers, even among those who lay claim to the term Christian, have at different times both blamed and praiaod the Salvationists, ' or, more properly, " General Booth's Soldiers." As a citizen of the world, I see no reason why General Booth should not have soldiers as well as any other gentleman claiming the same title. It is with the detachment or company on the Thames that I am the more immediately oonaerned at present. An able lecturer on religious subjects has stated that the religion, or form of religion, of a people is just that which they areeapableof appreciating, and I suppose our T!^&n»pa contingent appreciate salvation, aa bjb.wn, and beaten about our aiceets.. Now?, W& have no right %$ condemn oi? look; &n %i ffii.B, i ; t| bei,n§ V m fe^of supppsed Christianity th^y. aye capable of appreciating • but, besides the blast o,f t\ trumpet, the trill of a whistle, or thfo beat of a drum, we are justified in lookiog at the physique of an army, and commasing their physiognomy, carriage, bearr ing with other annies S( asel it will be the better for them.s^eii tp endeavor to work up to their ideal in all these points:. $QVse ambition in this direction will make

better soldiers ef these men and women. I am sufficiently wide in my sympathy to look upon nothing created, formed, or* made, as devoid of beauty—each having a beauty of its own—but we are obliged to use terms to convey our meaning that under other or different circumstances we would not use. We judge according to our standard, and each may have his own for this purpose, but a close examination of this position proves that: we can only do so by comparison, and by applying this rule to our friends. I am compelled, however, to reluctantly say that our local Boothites are . the crookedesfc lot of Christians I have ever seen in any army. Satan is said to be most successful as an angel of light, and if there is any truth in this saying our friends are safe from his occupation. With very few exceptions this is especially the case amongst the Hallelujah lasses. It is small wonder* at these girls mixing up with a number of the opposite sex,—many of them lack natural beauty,—every religious body ostensibly bringing all who are members thereof, into communion with each other, by all means let these poor girls and women, who are by nature deprived of that comeliness, characteristic of females. have an opportunity of making the best use of what small graces they are in poa^ session of—a kind and good heart may. . beat beneath a very unshapely bast, and the emotional nature may be lively and strong, eveu though the features are in- ... capable of a blush. Their parades are a ■■ sign of life in our streets, and if all oan» not sing sweetly many can loudly, so success to the Boothites.—l am, &c, Cosmopolitak,