AN EVENING WITH THE SALVATION ARMY.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 5, Issue 1472, 1 September 1883, Page 4

AN EVENING WITH THE SALVATION ARMY.

Instead of devoting ray evenings to the [louse of Representatives as i usually j do when visiting Wellington my at tention was directed on the last occa- ' sion to the Salvation Theatre, ot which ; I had heard a deal about of lata. \hvm ' inquiries I ni:ii!v, so many diflercni. opinions were expressed that I was at a loss to form any idea of their work. On the one hand I was told of the dens that were onco in existence in tlm thickly populated parts ot Te Aro having been broken up, and peace -and quietness now reigns where vice and riot were prevalent; of the number of ' sick and needy that have been visited j and relieved by the officers; of the per-; sistont manner in which they follow up the work of conversion among the many that appear at the penitent form. These and other things are testified to by those living in the neighbourhood of the theatre, and whose testimony I would not doubt, l)n the other hand it wus suggested that there was no sincerity in their work, it was a matter of £ s. d. with them; they were recalculating vicious habits among tho young people who visit their Theatre, and that tho penitence of those who night after night are to be heard testifying to the blessings of salvation are all sham. These and many other things are freely spoken against them, but this is not to be wo.ideral at when the irreverent manner in which they conduct their services (in comparison with the style of our churches) is taken into consideration. It may be urged that the class

of people that foims their congregation warrants such a mode of worship, that the learned and eloquent language of the clergyman of the day would be lost among (hem, and that plain Gospel truths told in a simple manner have more effect than the studied and demonstrative sermons delivered in such language that none but scholars are able to grasp more than half its meaning. The officers talk to the congregation in a jocular manner at times, and think nothing of raising a laugh during the service. They possess, without doubt, the happy knack of keeping 1 heir hearers wrapt in attention for two hours each evening, and four services on Sunday; and on each occasion they have over-crowded houses, without having to adopt the plan in vogue in other places of marching in procession to draw the crowd to the place. To anyone accustomed to our Church singing, the Salvation style would take them by surprise, for they sing the easiest and most popular airs to their hymns, and the whole congregation join i:i in « way that shews they thoroughly enjoy it, and seem sorry when it is over. The captain marches up and down, beating time, and prefaces each verse with a few appropriate remarks to it. Perhaps it description of the service will best illustrate the visit. The Theatre is a long building, with seats arranged like a church, with an aisle up the middle and on one side, a gallery at one end and a stage at the other. Around the walls inscriptions are posted up, such as "Death is sure," " Believe and live," " Accept Christ now, &c. On the stage was an organ, a table, and about one hundred and fifty soldiers, ranging in ages from, about ten years to seventy, of both sexes. A great many of tho " Hallelujah Lassß3" wore the regimental Langtry poke bonnet, but none of the males, except the officers, appeared in uniform. The service commenced with an exhortation to the soldiers by the captain, He spoke of the' battle which was before them,' of the blessings of being united in the cause, illustrating the bundle of sticks story to shew the value of unity. He urged them to throw oQ their sleepy, stiff, and starchy ways aid go in and win. A hymn was then sung, and the captain invited all present to pray, telling them not to be afraid of praying aloud, as all must have a beginning. As soon as the congregation was kneeling, persons in different parts of the building engaged in prayer in quick succession, being repeatedly interrupted with volleys of "hallelujah," "yea, verily,""bless tho Lord,"" amen,' 1 &'c. A fter about six persons had held forth, the captain struck up a hymn, "I believe we shall win." After this the praying was continued, during which the flooded state of the streets of Wellington with iniquity was prayed for. On rising the order was given and •'' We shall win" was sung, a large dog on the stage joined in the chorus and was summarily ejected. The captain left the room for a time, but the soldiers, true to their cause, kept up the fnssihide of "We shall win !" till hu returned, and by a wave of the hand commanded them to " cease firing," and led off with "Now I'm Happy in my .Soul;" the prefatory remarks to one verse was in this strain. " Now some

people tell us we are not happy, but that's all 'bosh;' who could look at us when we are singing and say we are not happy." (Chorus). Some more prayer was then indulged in, several taking part, one started off in poetry, the captain finished up, being saluted with a perfect round of amens, It was then announced that ten minutes would be allowed for any of the congregation to testify, After eight males and as many females had given testimony of their feelings, the captain led off with " Wo are Marching Home to Glory," the testimonies then went on till they reached between thirty and forty, being slopped by the captain coming to the rescue with " Nearer my God," the last verse being sung with fixed bayonets, viz., holding up die right hand' above thehead.Oneoldladyaboutsevcnty years of nge spoke of tho blessings of being cured of the passion for gin. She used to like her little drop, but did not touch it now. One testifier was introduced by the captain as the " sane butcher." (Chews.) The butcher said he was called the " mad butcher." He Mt much better sincn he was converted, and hoped a great many of his customers, whom he saw present, would follow his example, He did not can dthough the women did sing out tc .hira" What oh! salvation," "Anoffi. cer from Auckland gave aa account ol the progress of the: army there. He said the hall was in High-street, nexl Police Court. doubt some o:

'ho peoplo presont had been theie. i (Prolonged laughter). Explained ho 1 did not mean the Police Court, but ji High-street, Teddy Wright and 'I Captain Burford were in charge of the ( barracks, went in one night to hear i them spout, when Teddy asked I him if he had found Jesus, said ho i hadn't, but if it would make him as ] happy as Teddy was he would like to, i since then lie had found Him and kept i him ever since. He then spoke of the i opposition met with through ihe Skeleton Army which was captained ; by a Melbourne larrikin with only one ■ oye and ono arm. Captain Colley here interrupted the history, and oxpressed '. 'his opinion that the Melbourno larri- ; kins wero.a bad lot, but the New j Zealandcrs were good chaps. This j , brought a hearty round of applause 1 from the back scat occupants, The Auokland historian wont on to explain how they " fixed 'em up," and at lartt got thp one-eyed captain on their side, who was now a credit to the Army, and that whenever ho held forth, his old mates made it a point to chyiko him, but he didn't mind that and stuck to his colors. (Hallelujah.) The Captain said by way of variety another hymn would tie sung, and requested all present to riso and sing (as most of the Salvation hymns are sung sitting) tliis being dono ho treated the audience to some of his experiences with the army in London, how tho larrikins in Bethnal Green used to waylay tho Salvationists and give them a good licking, how the Lord had always taken care of him (the Captain), and brought him out of the conflict

without a scratch. He gave a very graphic account of a march down Green Street. The larrikins bad mustered togotlier in large numbers, armed with what weapons and missiles they could get, but the Salvationists, nothing daunted, advanced towards the foe, and when a great battle was eminent, turned back, because as .the Captain said " We did not believe in being licked." He had received a letter from Auckland a few days ago, from a young man who had been among tho Bellmal Green larrikins, but was very glad to say he had been converted in Auckland. (Hallelujah). The Captain was about to finish up his experiences by quoting somo poetry, when he pulled himself up short by " Hello! I'm wrong. Never mind friends, if a Salvation Army soldier break down he can soon pick himself up again, you can laugh." To relieve matters he struck up a hymn, but it was some time before the organist could get on the proper chord. This over, the Captain announced that twe

of the sisters would sing something nice, during which a collection would bj made. (Groans.) Don't laugh friends, if you go ton, Theatre, you have to pay boforo you go in, but here you don't give unless you think it is worth paying for. Two sisters sane; as announced, the larrikin element joining in the chorus, and applauding when it was over; the latter was slopped by the "Captain" with "Steady Boys.; that'll do my kds," As the crowd near the door could not. find sitting room; the congregation were' requested to sit close together and let" brotherly love continue" so as to make room for all, More testifying followed. One young follow said he had come to hear the " spouting" hist week, and was very glad to say he was much happier now. Another felt lighter and lighter every day. The next found himself getting nearer and nearer Home, (Hymn : '•' Nearer my Home.") The back seat singers took possession of this hymn, and fired away merrily at it, till the captain laid siege, and conquered it with "steady, my lads, steadv. If

you let us lead the way, everything • will be square and right; you can follow then," Another testifier had been a -respectable drunkard, but was better now, and meant to keep in the tight way. Another invited " (h)all to come .to the hopen harms of the Saviour," assuring them " there was an 'ell and 'there was an 'eaven," and finished up by saying, " May hi be the hiustruiuent to lead you hon." (Hymn: "My Rest is in Heaven.") 'An old grey-headed miner informed the company he was going away to Terawhiti to look for—well, he didn't exactly say what, but implored those present to follow iu his footsteps, as he was a very happy man. A man with a skull cap on, amid cries of " take off your hat," said ho had seen a dray stuck in the mud air-1 some bullocks pull it out. He likened the Salvationist to bullocks, and asked their congregation to yoke themselves up and be Savation bullocks. (Lord bless yon. Hear! [Tear! Hallelujah!) Hymn:" We shall have a jubilee," the audience beating time with their feet. After this the Captain invited those who felt inclined to come to the penitent's form, he said, Wc will sing "There is a fountain filled with blood," and while we are singing, steal to the Saviour. In response to this appeal eight went to the front and knelt on the form; tlio soldiers being very busy hunting about for recruits. Prayer was then indulged in, interspersed with singing to the tune of" Annie Lisle," during which the officers and soldiers were most assiduous in their enquiries asto "How you felt," " Are you saved," ike, so that one required to be well fortified to resist their attacks. A young man sitting just in front of me must, indeed have carried powerful armour, for ho was attacked on his right by a sister, on his left by a soldier, so that it was almost impossible to escape • He however resisted the bombardment successfully, and at the fiist opportunity stole out, Before going the sister invited him to lead her to the front, but ho excused himself by remembering that he had promised to go up with someone eke on the following evening/ —and he went—to the wairajawu The prayers ended, and the" Hallelujah City" chorus was sung, after/which the Captain announced that a purse containing money, an umbrella; and other articles had been found in the Theatre, and could be obtained on application. He said the whole of the , clothing found belonged to the females and he thought they ought to look • more after their clothes ..(laughter). , Some of the converts gave their . experiences, during the recitajof whioh : the larrikin element became somewhat'

noisy, till the Captain sung out "Steady lads, keep quiet boys, give them n show." This kept them pretty quiet till the end of the Bervice, the. Captain closing it with his ben edic tion, ; fi nishi n g up with "Everybody 1 buy the War Cry at one penny-each," This was responded to loyally, the stock being dißposed of in a very short time, and the [company dispersed,to their homes, to [ supplement Me evening's services with [a few columns of Salvation literature.