SALVATION. ARMY CONGRESS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VIII, Issue 2354, 23 July 1886, Page 2

SALVATION. ARMY CONGRESS.

An international congress of the tnembers of the Salvation. Army from various parte; of the \vorld began in Lohdon afcth* oud of May last at Exeter Hall, underthew presidency of General Booth, who .'was supported by all the members of his , family. The hall was' crowded,' The General said that in 1882 there were only 320 corps'and 766 officers, arid now there were 1552 corpß and 3602 officers. "In 1882 they held 6222 services weekly, or 623,000 a year, but these figures had now advanced to 28,200 and 1,466,400 respoo tively. The newspaper of the Army waa printed' in nineteen-different' languages, and tlw Salvation banner • waved to ainel teei different countries and- colonies." Testimonials were given'by represent®-' tiveß of the Army from many parts of the world as to the good'work''it was carrying on, and the proceedings wdfe'of a very enthusiastic and congratulatory kind throughout, the Salvationiaf* from abroad receiving a cordial welcome. A remarkable demonstration of thwj;my in connection with the cbngr&Sbow being hold, was witnessed in' Hackney or. Saturday afternoon by many thousands of spectators. A " grand triumphal procession," as it was called, was the main featuro of the demonstration, and it Was as remarkable in its composition as it wm in extent. To use the phraseology of thp* official programme, tho ranks comprised 5000 troops of the Army ; ot : "Jehovah, gathered from all parts of the oarth,' on horse and on foot, with thirty brass bands, brakes'and chariots,' representatives of most 'of the nations' of the earth, including England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, New Zealand, China, Australia, Italy, La Marechale Booth and Jrslich force, India, Germany, Smith Africa, Switzerland, Sweden, Holland, the United States batahon on war steods," &c. Each nationality hid itiPbrake or series of conveyances, and the occupants, who appeared in their nativo costumes, rendered still more brilliant by the 'profusion of 'saahea, ;<»]]ars,- shields,f;.lad medals, presented quite sn exceedingly picturesque appearance. ■ The bands played lively hymn tunes,, and some, .. of them IxjtAkefied really'guixl niusi.cal talent. The " chariots" attgeted most attention. Tho accupants oßhese were Mr Brhrawell Booth', ch'iof bTstaff, arid Mrs Bramwall Booth, Commissioners Eailton and Tucke'r (from India), Jesses E. M. and Eva Bootjij Miss Charleiworth, Marshal Booth : (from Australia), while " General" Booth and Mrs Booth , were in a special triumphal bar, escorted \ by several -hunSreds of "the I Life Guards, in .heavy marching order)®' and followed by tho "Cavalty corps fort," "The integrity," with its special occupants Mr. and Mrs. Booth, .wore loudly. cheered at intervals, . and': constantly ' bowed;their acknowledgaments to' tW. immonse crowd all alont; the line of route.