The attention excited by the extraordinary performances of these peculiar people is my only reason for dwelling upon their work in this neighbourhood during the past few months, and also for animadverting upon the nonsensical character of some of their proceedings. The ruling desire of the “General” appears to be to gain notoriety, and in this he has perfectly succeeded. I must protest however, that I have not been subsidized to increase that notoriety. The Army Regulation, which provides that newspaper writers are to be “got at” has not been tried in my case; and what I shall say is prompted by personal observation, as I have not been altogether a stranger at the religious services of the “Mission.” The concomitants of the Council of War have to a very large extent estranged the sympathies of Christian people, who were prepared to allow considerable latitude to the army in its assaults upon the kingdom of darkness. And some people who can see no extravagance in the vagaries of the High Church party are shocked by the vulgarities of the Salvationists. Be it far from me to justify these vulgarities; but I respectfully submit that the solemn mockery which was enacted in Durham Cathedral in the “election” and “enthronement” of the Bishop was as foreign to the spirit - aye, and to the letter of Christianity as the rude exhibition in the streets of Newcastle and Gateshead. Fancy Paul, or Peter, or John, being enthroned; imagine the solemn procession of priests which accompanied them arrayed in garments of various colours; and you have a scene fully as incongruous as that of trying to arrest public attention by singing doggerel in the streets, and exhorting the great unwashed whenever opportunity presents itself. But one irregularity will never excuse another; a perpetuated anomaly becomes tolerable, then desirable; and finally is made to appear a necessity, and quite in harmony with law and gospel.
A few months ago, the tender sensibilities of steady-going religionists were shocked by huge placards announcing that the “Hallelujah Lasses” would commence to hold services in the town. That strange advertisement attracted the attention of the “lower orders,” and before long a considerable number of these had professed to receive spiritual good through the instrumentality of the “lasses.” The good thus accomplished removed to a very large extent the prejudices of the religious world, and several lay workers, connected with the dissenting churches, began to render assistance at the nightly meetings of the “army.” The work proceeded without any stronger manifestation of feeling than might be witnessed during revival services in a Methodist Chapel. Gaol-birds, wrestlers, pedestrians, boat-rowers, gamblers, cadgers, and every description of character, attended the ministrations of the preachers in petticoats, and numbers abandoned their evil courses, and began to manifest an improvement in life and character, as well as in appearance. A stranger enters the meeting, say in a certain local music hall, and is struck by the appearance of the congregation. A crowd of faces look up, which tell at once the character of those who look through them. Cropped heads, shaven necks, thick mufflers, and all the insignia which are won by the frequenters of low bars, foot races, rabbit-coursings, &c. In addition to these there is a crowd of strapping wenches, without bonnets, bare-armes, and brazen-faced. The occupants of the stage, however, present a very different aspect to those who were wont to display their talents there. The nigger stump orator has given place to the sister who reads, in measured tones, the hymn or the Scriptures, and who beseeches and invites her audience to forsake the paths of sin and seek higher and more enduring forms of pleasure. The dreamy love-song is supplanted by a hymn from the Moody and Sankey collection of sacred songs, or one similar in tune and sentiment; the athlete is now represented by one who is “mighty in prayer,” if we are to judge by the loudness of his tone and the earnestness of his manner. With songs, addresses, and prayer, the time is occupied, until a prayer-meeting is announced, during which some of those rough men or women come forward into what was once the orchestra, and thus testify their desire to comply with the exhortations which have been addressed to them. Some, it may be, come forward for no special reason, and go away as they came; others appear to have received lasting benefit.
Suppose it to be an experience meeting in the Town Hall on a Sunday afternoon. On the platform are two of the sisters, around them are grouped their disciples. There is one who has been a boat-rower. He tells of the mighty change which has been wrought in his heart and life. He is not destitute of mother-wit, and addresses his rough audience in language which they can thoroughly appreciate. He relates, in the pure vernacular, how that he has much opposition to contend with, and tells us that he has been accustomed to this in his former profession, but, says he, the harder they pulled the harder I pulled. Then he exhorts them to run in the Christian race. No entrance money, no acceptance fee — without money and without price — all to be in at the final, if they persevere — and all to receive a prize. Amid a shower of hallelujahs he resumes his seat, and the meeting is entertained by the testimonies of others. That round-headed youth, with the red face, is well-known to the police. Since his conversion there is a wonderful change in his appearance. He tells you that before the sisters came he was given up to drink and evil habits; he could not raise the cost of a coat until it had been six years out of fashion, but now he is dressed in a respectable suit of clothes. So one after another tells of the marvellous transformation which has been effected in their tastes and habits. The ordinary religious agencies had left this mass untouched, and a minister said upon one occasion that it was a reflection upon the clergy and ministers that they had not been able to reach this lower stratum, while the Salvation Army, with its rude appliances, had effected a great work, and he hoped they would be able to render that work permanent.
All went on well until the General, the Giant, and the one-eyed Captain arrived upon the scene with banners, rosettes, and other paraphernalia. The steady decorum which had characterised them meetings was broken in upon, and wild excitement became the normal condition of things. Sensible people had their feelings outraged by extravagant advertisements; and I am bound to admit that the announcements are the most objectionable part of the business. There is a limit beyond which common sense should forbid even the “General” to go, but he does not seem to be over-burdened with that useful commodity. In the meetings the Giant was tame and sensible. This much could not always be said of the General and his hopeful sons, who tread so closely in their father’s footsteps. As a member of one of the established religious communities, I rejoice in the good work which the sisters have accomplished, but I feel ashamed of the gross familiarity with Divine things which has been introduced during the last fortnight. I would say in conclusion, let the eccentricities of the movement be restrained, let the work go smoothly on; then as citizens and ratepayers, we shall reap the advantages arising from reformation on the part of those to whom the Mission devotes its energies, and the families of those concerned will continue to testify that if even there be no life beyond, sobriety and devotion are to be preferred before drunkenness, debauchery, and dishonesty.