SIR, - In a fortnight's time Newcastle is going to be visited by the Hallelujah Lasses. It is sincerely hoped that all Christian people will show them that they have their sympathy in the great work they are engaged in from time to time, and that very successfully, reaching a large mass of people that have hitherto been unreached. Whatever prejudice the writer of this letter had when they put in their appearance in the neighbourhood has been all erased, from what has been witnessed. Being in the Town Hall, Gateshead, the other night, I saw such a sight that was quite sufficient to make any Christian breathe forth a prayer that God might bless their efforts. I heard the experience of some of the worst of characters, that were now sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in their right mind. The extreme heat of the place (for it was packed to suffocation, and, I understand, that three other places are also crowded, numbers not being able to get in) prevented me from staying to its close. However, I left, praying that God might raise up more to engage in this great and glorious work against evil. - I am, &c.,

S. GLOVER
125, Stanhope Street, March 3rd, 1879.

THE "HALLELUJAH LASSES." - Wm. Madden, Tennyson Street, Gateshead, writes in severe condemnation of the meetings recently held in that borough, under the above designation. He says he unfortunately went to one of these meetings, and he fearlessly asserts that they have a contaminating effect; young men and women exchanging filthy slang, most corrupt and disgusting; very young boys imitating as nearly as possible the offensive language to still younger girls. - J.C. Halliday, on the other hand, writing from London, strongly praises the meetings, to which he had paid a personal visit. He trusts the Newcastle friends will pray for and help these wonderful deep sea fishers as much as ever they can; and, if they cannot help, he trusts they will stand clear and not hinder them. Before leaving London Mr. Halliday hopes to visit their headquarters and see Mr. Booth.

SIR, - I have waited with a little impatience of some public notice being taken of, to say the least of it, the "eccentric character" of a class of people known as the "Hallelujah Lasses, or Salvation Army," who have held a series of extraordinary demonstrations in our midst for some time. The disgraceful scenes to which the public have been subject of late seem to have culminated the last day or two in exhibitions, which one would have almost thought impossible to have been permitted in this so-called "enlightened" nineteenth century.

I do not desire for one moment to interfere with any individual's convictions, whether religious or political, but when such are carried to such an inordinate extent as to interfere with public order, to say nothing of the indecorous, irreverent use of holy names and scriptural phrases, making conscientious people shudder at what they cannot but consider as open blasphemy, I am constrained to submit it to be the duty of the authorities, if not to suppress, at least enforce that their "craze" be brought within legitimate limits. - I am, yours truly,

Wm.

SIR - Your special correspondent's articles on the Salvation Army are most interesting and instructive, and the more valuable to the public at large from being almost colourless in judgement of the efforts described.

There are probably not many persons who, to say nothing of writing so unbiased an account, could without prejudice even read it; and in conversation one meets with all shades of prejudice in regard to "the army" from frantic sympathisers to no less frantic opponents, the frenzy in both cases arising from prejudice alone.

If it be true, as the policeman said, that the police cases are much diminished by the efforts f the army, the supporters of systems under which crime flourished must endure to be somewhat shocked by innovations. If the horrible spectacle of diabolical drunkards be replaced by the not very edifying spectacle of outrageous hallelujah humbugs, reformed just sufficiently to abandon drink, if nothing more, the agency accomplishing such a work must not be unconditionally condmened. The questions on which a true judgement of the work depends are its permanency and its cost, not only in money (idols and army maintenance, &c.), but its cost in possibly producing mistaken notions in the minds of many persons on the most important of all subjects, the salvation of immortal, if dirty souls. Should you therefore allow criticism on the facts described by your correspondent from different points of view, it occurs to me that the interest of his communication would be increased.

I venture to trouble you with one view.

As I read the Bible I do not find that tobacco, or even wine, beer, or spirits are idols, and tea, as I should gather from the practice of the Army, is a commendable beverage! Nor do I find, as might be also inferred, that the abandonment of any such so-called idols saves the soul, or that a reformed drunkard is any more safe than an habitually temperate man who never drank to excess. I do not either find that God requires to be propitiated by sacrifices of pipes and feathers, or by prayers or penitent forms, for the statement is distinct, that "Christ is the propitiation for our sins" (1 John ii.,2). Nor can I see what fiddles, flags, or even giants, as such, have to do with the Gospel any more than the mumbling and millinery of the so-called priests in more fashionable systems of worship. Therefore, it appears to me that, whatever lies at the root of the efforts of the "Army," there is an overlying growth of ignorance, or something else, which is to be deeply deplored, not only on account of its probably leading to false ideas of God's word and work in the minds of many superficial inquirers, but also from the possibility that many of the recruits themselves may be also misled into acceptance of an error (although leading, perhaps, to some temporary excitement and effort), instead of into acceptance of the truth, which should be made most prominent.

As I read the Bible, I learn that the gift of God is, through Christ, eternal life; and it is pressed upon "every creature" for immediate acceptance, and simply as a gift in the fullest sense of the word; and penitent forms, fiddles, gesticulations, spasmodic exclamations, and such like inventions are quite unknown in the arrangement, and are altogether superfluous. I also think the collection of money at the so-called "services" is a most objectionable arrangement, although unhappily too common. As I understand the Bible, it is both permitted and enjoined that Christians (by which I mean saved persons) should contribute of their means for any Christian work, but that the Church should ask the world for support is an idea which was exploded in the days of Ezra (iii.,22), and certainly was not revived in the New Testament dispensation.

From the point of view I occupy, it does appear a shame to the real and profound Christianity of the 19th century that the substratum of society on which the Salvation Army professes to operate, should exist in the gross ignorance of the Gospel in which it is enshrouded, so as to be susceptible of being misled by any ignorance of leaders of the movement in question. While, therefore, I lament the extravagance and folly of much which your correspondent describes, I cannot oppose (however ignorantly it may be done) a work which has been terribly neglected by myself and others. If amongst the recruits there be unfortunately some, as I cannot but fear, who are trusting for salvation in their abandonment of so-called idols, there may probably also be some really saved by trusting in the finished work of Christ. Time will separate the two classes. 1 John ii. 19. What results from man's invention will collapse; what results from the Word of God will remain for ever. 2 Tim. ii. 19. If any souls are saved, I say thank God; but, at the same time, I protest, it is in spite of, and not because of whatever arises from ignorance, folly, or extravagance in the work. - I am, &c,

A.B.C.

SIR, - Your special correspondent had to go to the parson to find words to fitly describe the doings of the Salvation Army. It is evident from his article in this morning's paper that he need not have travelled so far. An earnest policeman has given his opinion, and we learn that, whether the Salvation Army are saving dirty souls or not, they are saving bodies.

If these poor people, in their desire to save their dirty souls, have reduced the chargesheet, and not given the policeman a case for two months, they have proved that a residuum is allowed to exist in our midst, through neglect, more than from the dirtiness of the residuum itself. Society has accepted the residuum as a deplorable fact - too dirty to be touched. The residuum has shown that it only needs a little help, and it can be cleaner.

I will not say the way the Salvation Army adopts of saving souls is the best way, but it is certainly better than no way; and I say that society is indebted to the Army, if by its efforts to save souls it has enabled poor people to keep out of the policeman's hands.

A "reduced charge sheet" is a gain to the nation at large, and should teach statesmen the necessity of prohibiting whatever trade tends to swell the charge sheet, - I am, &c.,

J.S.
North Shields, May 21, 1879.

SIR, - I am indeed glad to see that someone has at length called attention to the "Salvation Army."

Now, sir, it is not for me to question the religious convictions of anybody, or to say which is the true way of worshipping God, nor do I wish to protest against the "Salvation Army" as a body of Revivalists. I do, however, question the modus operandi of the "Hallelujah Lasses," and I do protest most emphatically against the blasphemy that emanates from the members and officers of the "Salvation Army" in the course of their wonderful evolutions in search of repentance and conversion, or rather, I should say, of conversion only.

I think that this blasphemy can and should be put down, but perhaps blasphemy is a difficult word to define (as par last Northumberland Assizes); but at any rate, I feel, with "Wm.," that their "craze" should be kept within due bounds.

When one hears of such bodies as the Shakers, "Salvation Army," "Hallelujah Lasses," &c. disgracing England and defaming the worship of God, one might well exclaim, "O tempora, O mores!" - I am. &c.,

A.F.W.
Newcastle-on-Tyne, 21st May, 1879

SIR, - Your special correspondent has given us some enjoyable sketches of the "doings" of the Salvation Army, and I must thank him for a few twinges of peculiar satisfaction which I derived from his humourous, but caustic comments on the vagaries of this redoubtable band. I was present at the "All-night meeting" held at Gateshead, and can testify to the accuracy of your correspondent's description of that wild scene, in which

I am not opposed to religious "revivalism," and my hearty sympathy was given to Messrs Moody and Sankey's evangelical labours in this country. These earnest men never transgressed the bounds of decency. They never kept boys and girls pent up in a room, and surrounded by a mass of excited and perspiring humanity, from eleven o'clock at night until six o'clock next morning. They never sought to work people into a state of hysteria, and then let them lie insensible on the floor without doing anything to restore them. This, sir, may be religion, but it is the religion of the Oriental dervish rather than of Christianity. I have read something of Mr. Booth's "Orders and Regulations," which your correspondent has so scathingly exposed, and must say that I am not surprised at the worldly spirit which they exhibit. I express no opinion as to the nature of the spiritual work done by Mr. Booth's male soldiers and his Amazons, but I must say that when I see bevies of flushed and perspiring mortals gesticulating and howling like madmen in their anguish of spirit, and then suddenly jump up and laugh and skip, and call upon others to become participators in their newly found joy, I involuntarily shrug my shoulders and reflect that, after all, there may be nothing marvellous in the transformation recorded by Ovid. - I am, &c.,

NEMO.

SIR, - The criticisms of your special and other nameless correspondents on the Salvation Army remind me of one who, hearing the clatter and seeing the smoke of a steam thrasher, walks without asking permission into the farm-yard to see whatever's the matter. There he stands with open mouth and staring eyes, both of which are soon filled with dust and chaff, whilst the ears are deafened by the noise: the poor man never considers the precious grain that is being beaten out, and he beats his speedy retreat on to this pleasant country road again with his morbid curiosity satisfied, but inwardly feeling he has had enough of it, and warning others that don't want their quiet country stroll discommoded to keep out of the way of steam thrashers. His description of the dreadful scene, however, would no more hinder the farmer in his work than your correspondent's strictures will stop Mr. Booth and his co-workers from driving on as by steam their noisy machinery for saving souls.

At the first meeting of them I attended, in February last, a working man said, since he had given God his heart and joined them, he had suffered much persecution, but "bless ye," he said, "the Christian's like a lump of putty, the more he's knocked about the better he gets." So genuine Christian work has always been for the fiercest opposition, and I am sure the pounding the Salvation Army has had this week in your powerful mortar will only destroy the grit and make it better.

Meanwhile, however, it is operating disadvantageously to present plans and terrifying the timid, while it is on the other hand more than ever crowding the meetings. The proprietor of the biscuit factory sent for me and informed me, yesterday, that since the three articles had appeared in your paper his family and customers had been down upon him so heavy for having anything to do with such a "lot of folks" as these that he felt he dare not let us go further on in fitting up the premises. I could but smile and pity, and though we are in possession and could hold to all the rights of a legal tenancy, I have advised Mr. Booth to let him have his own way, on condition he pays the expenses already incurred. Another barracks, therefore, will have to be found, and we hope to get one down about the "Burn." Your able correspondents have blown about the chaff with your long, strong columns, but they utterly ignore the bushels of golden grain. Let me give two simple grains just as samples. A young man, who is a native of the forest of vice and villany, of which Liverpool Street is the centre, has been gathered up by the Hallelujah Lasses, and been the target of the district and his old chums ever since. His master, however, who is not at all identified with this movement, told one of his customers, a friend of mine, in speaking of the work, "Well, they may say what they like, but Jemmy's been a different lad since he joined them: he is cleaner and tidier than ever he was before (he was a smoking, dirty, noisy sloven); he is civil, where before he was very impertinent; he is diligent and attentive to his work, and now I have no trouble with him, whereas before I was never done." Just another. A poor working girl about 16, belonging to Gallowgate, met, or rather overtook, me yesterday, near the Cricket Ground. She asked smilingly when I was going to start the children's meeting again. I was sorry to tell her we had no place to meet in now, and asked her to go to the "Salvation Army" meetings. "Oh," she said, "I do, and I've joined them." At this I was glad. She then said, "they've made a difference in our house, for my brothers, that used to drink at the 'bars,' never go there now." I had to hasten off, but I was rejoiced as one who had obtained great treasure. Many of us have been toiling on for years to cultivate the hard beaten ground of this town, that the wilderness of infidelity and drunkenness might become a fruitful field of joy and righteousness. It has been much of it labour in vain, and the working classes, as a whole, have been left to lie and die, churches and chapels making little or no effort or provision for them; but on the contrary, with pew rents, fashionable attire, long dry sermons, lifeless tunes, &c., repelling the poor man or woman from them and hardening the ground still more. Now there comes puffing and steaming into our midst the rough strong traction engine under its chief engineer, Mr. Booth. The great steam plough tears up the ground from east to west and north to south. Everybody wonders, and admit they never saw the like before; and forsooth, because there's smoke, and noise, and laughing, and shouting, and everything different to the useless ploughshares of conventional, sapless, formal, lifeless Christianity, it must be condemned. A printer took me to consult him about fixing a new gas engine in his works yesterday, and, thinking your correspondent had frightened me, said, "Well, have you got tired of the 'Salvation Army' yet?" "No," I said, "I am drawn closer to them than ever." He seemed to partly pity, and yet was disappointed that I was not disgusted. "Look here, my friend," I said, "is your engine going to be noiseless, for I have seen them so in Birmingham." "Yes," he said. "Then," I replied, "The Salvation Army is just like the gas engine; at first it thumped and jerked and knocked so dreadfully, few places could stand them, and their horrible noise was unbearable: but the work you never could with the hand. Look at the work they turn out, and let that be the test of its value." A boy and girl in the office laughed as they saw their master in a fix, and I laughed too. "Further," I said, "if anybody were to come in, and seeing the black, dirty hands of your men and lads, and all the ink here and there, and object and find fault with you, and never look at your fine printed work on the office table, he would not get credit for much sound sense." So with the Salvation Army. Mr. Booth said yesterday he would be glad to see anybody that could do the work of getting hold of these roughs in a refined quiet way; and he would go any distance to take a lesson. He feels your correspondent's criticisms, and specially the loss of the biscuit factory. He has left our town by the express this morning for Barnsley, I think, his wife for Nottingham, his secretary to Lincoln. One son has already gone to London; another to Manchester, all in mind and body as high-pressure engines. He is living in the battle-field of saving men and women from sin, misery, and damnation, and wife and family are all on the battle field and in a constant whirl. I rejoice that in these last few days I have made his friendly acquaintance. I have for months past given time, labour, and money to the good work, and would be glad had I much more to give. All are needed. Men and women whole hearted for God and humanity. Money for the collections has not paid half the expenses, and I will be glad to receive help from any Christian friends that Mr. and Mrs. Booth's minds might be lightened of anxiety on money matters, and the mighty work be pushed on through the length and breadth of the land; and if any of your correspondents can show how this new gospel machine can be kept at full steam and work and be more silent, they will be worthy of a monument beside Stephenson in Westminster Abbey, and will, if they can show their inventions in operation be highly appreciated by Mr. and Mrs. Booth, and also by yours, &c.,

J.C. HALLIDAY.
Newcastle-upon-Tyne, May 23, 1879.

SIR, - Would your correspondent A.B.C., who wrote about the "Salvation Army," tell us from what publication he gets "Ezra iii, 22. - I am, &c.,

INQUIRER.
Barnard Castle, May 23, 1879.

SIR, - While some justly approve of, and others as justly condemn, features in this evangelistic movement, the work, as a whole, should now give place to action, and workers should come forward who are able to rectify mistakes, and strengthen and follow up the good done. The lower classes, as "A.B.C." in to-day's issue of your esteemed paper acknowledges, have been "terribly neglected," but they are now stirred to their centre, and willing to be spoken to about religious matters. Advantage should be taken of this state by intelligent Christians, and they will not find it difficult to persuade the people to accept that as a gift from God which they were willing to buy at the price of their "idols." I humbly suggest, sir, that our churches enter at once upon a more aggressive work, that the members get into close personal contact with these people, extending to them that sympathy of which they stand so much in need. Let the eccentric action of the leaders of this "hallelujah movement" be condemned, but let sympathy be extended to the followers in the terrible conflict upon which they have entered, fighting manfully to "keep up to" their profession, assailed by enemies, forsaken by old comrades, suffering from the effect of over-excitement, and, above all, lacking the strength resulting from genuine conversion. Do such, sir, not need sympathy and help, rather than contempt and abuse, and is it not a Christian's duty to give it to them? - I am, &c.,

W.S.

SIR, - Your correspondent "Inquirer" asks from what publication I get "Ezra iii., 22." I cannot refer to my manuscript, but as I turned up the passage in my pocket Bible before quoting, I think I quoted correctly Ezra viii., 22; and that the omission of the letter v is a printer's error. If it was not so, it was a clerical error, for which I apologise.

The text in question is as follows: - "I was ashamed to require of the King a band of soldiers and horsemen to help us against the enemy in the way, because we had spoken unto the King, saying, the hand of our God is upon all them for good that seek Him." And the incident referred to is the passage of a defenceless band of the servants of God, bearing treasure, on a long journey through an enemy's country. Ezra, no doubt, realised in some degree what Paul afterwards put into words, Romans viii., 31, "If God be for us, who can be against us?" and he was ashamed of any appearance of inconsistency.

Christ sent his disciples as sheep in the midst of wolves, and in 1 Cor. iv. 12 and 13; 2 Cor. vi. 4 to 10, xii. 9 and 10, and many other passages, we may see how Paul understood his commission, and in Philip. iv. and other passages, how he instructed converts as to ways and means, and the ground of their reliance expressed in verse 19.

Improvements or alterations have been introduced. Some, professing to be the sheep referred to, exact tithes of other persons professing anything or nothing, or professing even to represent the wolves in question; and the sheep sell them up if they do not pay. Others, professing to represent the sheep, but without the power of State support or legal enactments, beg from the wolves for God's sake, and are constantly complaining that funds fall short of needs. I apprehend there must be a large traffic in some complexion powder unknown in the days of Ezra. Others, such as Muller of Bristol, and many more, ask of God, and they say, in spite of changes of fashion, that He is faithful to His promise, that "they that trust in the Lord shall not be disappointed." I beg most respectfully to commend this point to the consideration of our earnest friend Mr. Halliday; although he is apparently such a ready writer, that I must beforehand, on your account, Mr. Editor, as well as my own, decline any public controversy with him.

Your correspondent, "W.S.," refers to my admission of neglect, and suggests that now "the churches" should take up the work. I am, however, somewhat at a loss to understand what this taking-up means, as they profess to have it "up" already, and always with an enormous machinery and at an enormous cost. What new machinery and cost for so-called "churches" would your correspondent suggest? My lament was for the ignorance surrounding and darkness obscuring the Gospel and the Word of God; and the remedy is, that each Christian should, by the more careful study of the Word by himself, and also as much as possible with others, extend the light, and dispel in increasing circles the darkness and ignorance. We may shuffle work on to other people's shoulders, but we cannot by so doing remove responsibility, and the testimony of every Christian ought to be exactly alike, and would be if it proceeded undiluted from the same source. The direction for Christians is contained in 1 Peter ii., 2; and for workers a short code may be found in Acts xx., 32 to 35.

Let us not endorse error; but in order to avoid this we must know truth ourselves, and make it an individual matter to extend it.

Shall we hear it said. "He hath done what he could"? - I am &c.,

A.B.C.

SIR, - Several years ago it was my good fortune, in one of the central English counties, to make friendship with the Rev. William Booth, who before he went to London, it may not be known to many of your readers, was a Gateshead minister. I had previously read his tract, "How to reach the masses." and I have lived to see him reach them in Gateshead, by the thousand at one time. Having judged Mr. Booth as I found him, it is saying a good deal that when he has grown grey in the Master's service, he should be as consistent in benevolence, zeal, and Christian charity, to-day, as I ever knew him in the face of difficulties. - I am, &c.,

R.
26th May 1879

SIR, - Having carefully read the letter in Monday's issue of your esteemed paper, by your correspondent J. C. Halliday, I cannot help admiring your charity in allowing such a voluminous trespass, and hope you will kindly tender a smaller favour to myself. Now, Sir, from my point of view, a more absurd compound of sentimentality could scarcely find its way into the columns of the press. Mr. H. evidently wants to say something favourable to this religious mania which is disturbing the tranquility and corrupting the morals of not a few of our young people of both sexes. Mr. H. talks freely of lumps of putty, grit, mortar, thrashing machines, steam engines, salvation, pumps (double action), biscuit factories, manageries, converted policemen, Christian bobbies, salvation mayors, moral prigs, &c. These appear rather comical pegs from which Mr. H. desires us to believes Christianity hangs. Who sent these "lasses" to preach, I should wish to know? Not Mr. Booth, I dispute his authority. Not our Lord that I'm aware of, because I have yet to learn that our Saviour willed that Christianity should travel in the shape of a menagerie. No! He is said to have given a command to His apostles to go, teach all the nations. I have yet to learn that there was any mention of Mr. Halliday's much admired "Hallelujah Lasses." Much has been said in these columns of the great blessings conferred on the lower orders of society by these itinerant preachers. Where is the proof? I don't want to occupy much of your time and space, or I could cite many cases where they have been the means of making prostitutes. One case which came under my own notice, that of a hard working man. His daughter, about 15, began to follow the "Salvation Army" against his will. The result was this: In spite of the dictates of father and mother, this girl followed the "Army," stopped out all night occasionally, and eventually lost her character. If this is Christianity, we may well be ashamed of its results. This being so, let us suppose that one convert is made at the destruction of the morals of say half a dozen. Is it not something serious? Mr. H. having this particular mania, is unable to see in the darkness. I once remember a similar absurdity that took place in the north of Ireland, called the "Revival Movement"; and I can remember the results, which were anything but beneficial, as scarcely a village was left free of contamination.

Mr. Halliday, perhaps, is serious in his convictions, but I am of opinion that he could easily waste his eloquence on something more beneficial to society. In one of Mr. Halliday's former letters he mentions a policeman, who had been for twelve months acquaint with God, giving all the money in his pocket to the "Salvation Army," which was #4. I don't offer any opinion, but Jos Billings would account for it this wise, that the policeman was a lunatic or required some slight alterations in the development of his cranium. My friend, Mr. Halliday, is extremely easily pleased in what he accepts as dogma. He, I should think, belongs to a particular class of people who are always ready to embrace anything sensational. A correspondent in the Weekly Chronicle some time ago did ample justice to a similar movement which was rampant in Yorkshire some 25 years ago. This cause was championised by one Wroe, who took for his cognomen the "Yorkshire Prophet." Many people of course became "converted," amongst whom was a respectable tradesman, who became "familiar" with the Lord. He had a prepossessing daughter. Wroe seduced her, and the result was a young Wroe. When called upon to give an explanation, the scoundrel had the audacity to inform her parents and the public that the child was the promised "Shiloh." Movements like these will crop up, and have done from time to time. Are such not the Antichrists of the Apocalypse, where it is revealed that false teachers rise up, and if it were possible, deceive even the elect of God?

If Christianity requires to be taught by all-night burlesques, then I say let Charles Bradlaugh and Mrs. Besant be allowed the use of the Newcastle Town Hall for it denunciation. - I am. &c.,

WILLIAM MADDEN,
Tennyson Street, Sunderland Road, Gateshead, May 27, 1879.

SIR, - Having read letters from various correspondents in your paper upon the "Salvation Army," allow me to say that I have been at many of their meetings, I have seen them in the streets, I have had many opportunities of noticing the conduct of those who have been converted at their meetings, and I have never seen anything of the disgraceful proceedings to which your correspondents allude. I am not surprised these people are misrepresented and persecuted, but I am afraid it is not because they stain the religion of the Lord Jesus Christ by their proceedings, but rather because by their holy and unspotted lives they condemn the sinfulness of the world around. - I am, &c.,

POLICEMAN
Newcastle-on-Tyne.

SIR, - Though replies could easily be given to your correspondents on above, yet you having given both sides a full, fair field, Mr. Corbridge (Mr. Booth's representative here) and myself consider it quite undesirable, both for our time and your space to continue further at present communications on the subject. With thanks for your notices of all kinds, I am, &c.,

J.C. HALLIDAY.
48 Grainger Street, Newcastle-on-Tyne.

SIR, - Will you kindly permit me to explain to "A.B.C." what my meaning was when I suggested that our churches should enter upon a more aggressive work. The subject is too large for discussion through the columns of a daily paper, and all I can do is to hint at what I think should be done. I freely grant the truth of your correspondent's statement that church machinery, as already existing, is both large and costly; but I fail to see what connection there is between the said machinery and the preaching of the Gospel to the lower classes, which is the subject under consideration. These people with whom the "Hallelujah Lasses" come into contact are seldom, if ever, found inside a church, and that for reasons easily explained. In many churches they would be refused admission, and in all they would feel that they were surrounded by a state of things not created for them. Besides this, they are, as a rule, too proud to go among those who are better clad, and who are, in other respects, better off than themselves. Such being the case, I say it is the duty of our churches to take the initiative in bringing about a better state of things. My remedy is this - Sympathetic personal intercourse between church members and the people in question. It is a matter of detail how this should be done, but mission work, tract distribution, house-to-house visitation, &c., might answer the purpose. The one thing to insist upon is this, that intercourse being established, it shall not be done in a patronising manner, but that the workers shall be those who are possessed of the spirit of their Master, and who will see in the vilest one a person loved by Christ, and one whom He is anxious to save and befriend.

The work could be done very effectually if the churches were to co-operate and map the town into districts, each church becoming answerable that every person in the district allotted to it should be known personally by one of its members. It appears to me that in this way a great work would be effected, that would be lasting in its results; at any rate, the churches would be doing something to redeem themselves from the charge that they are little more than "hereditary folds." - I am, &c.,

W.S.

SIR, - There has been a good deal of censure cast upon the Hallelujah Lasses by your correspondents, and as no one has offered to defend them, you will perhaps allow me to make a few remarks in their favour. I am in no way connected with the Salvation Army, but I think their actions are simple and harmless, and their motives pure. Therefore, I think they have been too much condemned by the press. As a mission, I believe they have done more good in Newcastle than has ever yet been done, for they have been able, by the help of God, to carry His word to the most degraded characters in our low streets, in which word a great many have found peace. I have attended many of their services. Of course, I have witnessed a good deal of excitement, but your correspondent should bear in mind that excitement is essential in revival meetings. I do not mean that it is necessary we should be excited to obtain salvation, but it arises from a natural consequence, for we are all excited more or less by the operation of the Spirit. Now, as for the young converts who were trying to pray, which your correspondent called vociferous shouting, they were only praising God for their deliverance, very imperfectly. But God winketh at ignorance, and I think we ought to be more ready to sympathise with the illiterate than call them "dirty souls." If we have souls any cleaner than our fellows we ought to be thankful for it, not push our fellows into the gutter to raise ourselves upon the green. I think your correspondent has not witnessed much of the power of God in smiting sinners, and making them to fly from the wrath to come, or else I think he would not have attributed that power to fanaticism, wild enthusiasm, and natural excitement. I would have your correspondent know that the motives of the Salvation Army are pure, and this is what God looks at - not at the outward appearance of things; and if your correspondent cannot see the good they are doing to the souls of men and women, he cannot deny the fact of the good they are doing to the homes and bodies of men by making drunken men sober citizens. - I am, &c.

J.L.
Delaval, May 28, 1879.

SIR, - I feel that I must open my mouth. I had intended to have been quiet, as I believe that silence would have been better than to answer such malicious letters as have appeared time after time in the Daily Chronicle. But in reading the letter this morning from Mr. Madden, I think it is my duty, and the duty of all good Christian people, to put to lie such assertions as he has made.

I, in conjunction with Mr. Parker, a successful class leader in the Park Road Wesleyan Society, and also Mr. Moore and Mr. Leake, local preachers of the same community, can here assert that such things as have been stated are utterly untrue.

We, with other members of various churches, have repeatedly attended the meetings, which are neither immoral nor un-Christian. The whole service is properly and orderly conducted; and if there is any disturbance, it is caused by those who wish to create such. I believe in the sincerity and earnestness and piety of the Misses Agar and Jackson. I believe that out of the ten hundred souls that have professed to have found Jesus, a large number of them will stand. To doubt the standing of these precious souls is to say that God's grace cannot keep such. However, the devil is trembling and arousing his agencies to overthrow the work, but the Lord will prevail. My earnest prayer is that the future may be more glorious than the past. - I am, yours respectfully,

S. GLOVER,
125, Stanhope Street, Newcastle, May 30, 1879.

SIR, - In your edition of to-day there appears a letter from Wm. Madden, Gateshead, denouncing in emphatic terms the work of the "salvation army." It is not my present intention to enter upon a defence of the system of procedure followed by Mr. Booth and his assistants; there are several features with which I do not fully agree. I simply wish to notice a few of the arguments urged by your Gateshead correspondent against the results of the "band." Hitherto the objections to the movement expressed through the press have been directed against the modus operandi. It has been reserved for Mr. Madden to enter the arena armed with arguments of a much more formidable nature. He impeaches the crusade, on the grounds that it is disturbing the tranquility by corrupting the morals of young people. The first of these charges is almost too impotent to be noticed. Remembering that the labours of the "army" are confined to that portion of society which hitherto has been almost entirely indifferent to religious matters, this disturbance of so dangerous a tranquility is one of the grandest evidences of the success of their efforts to preach the Gospel to the poor and the fallen. If Mr. Madden had possessed the basest knowledge of the history of great religious movements among the people, he would have remembered that in every case they were attended by the same "disturbing of tranquility" element. The Apostles, St. Paul, and John Wesley were all great "disturbers of tranquility." Not to impose too severe a task, I would advise Mr. Madden to read the history of the work prosecuted by Francis Zavier, the greatest missionary that the church with which Mr. Madden is connected ever produced. He will there find an illustration of the disturbance of the mental quietude of young people which he condemns in the present movement.

The second indictment preferred by Mr. Madden against the work of the "army" is of a graver character. He affirms that the work now pursued is of an immoral tendency. And how does he substantiate the assertion? Not that there is anything in the address of the leaders or in the general conduct of the meetings to produce so deplorable a result. No, he bases his wholesale denunciation of the work on the ground of the seduction of a girl who followed the "army," and stayed out all night occasionally. I have no sympathy with "all-night" meetings (I believe only one has been held in this neighbourhood); to my mind it is a bad feature in a good work. But for a person to use this sad instance of female frailty as a sample of the general effect of the movement is unfair, and manifestly untrue. If religious organisations have to be condemned in toto because now and again an evil of this nature occurs amongst those who attend their public gatherings, then I fear all our churches had better be closed forthwith, not to speak of institutions not directly religious. I would remind Mr. Madden of the abuses of the "confessional" which have been made public from time to time - an evil a thousand times worse than the case cited in his letter, inasmuch as the "corruption of morals" therein mentioned has not been proved to be in anywise due to the act or influence of the workers of the "salvation army."

Respecting the authority of the "lasses" to preach, it is almost useless to enter into argument with a person who clings to that antiquated absurdity which would confine the perogative of preaching to "apostolic successors." Mr. Madden is not aware that the "hallelujah lasses" were referred to by our Lord in his command, "Go preach the gospel to every creature." Neither am I aware that any other organisation was specially mentioned; but if Mr. madden looks up his New Testament he will find instances in which the early believers other than the "ordained" preached the Word gladly, just what this "band" is doing in their own way. The less Mr. Madden says about Anti-Christ the better; it is offering too great an opportunity of attack against the Head of the Church to which he belongs. Let Mr. Madden divest his mind of religious prejudice and view the work of the "army" as seen in its results, and he will find that diminished police cases, a reduction in publican's takings, and other moral accomplishments bear testimony to the genuine nature of the benefits resulting from their labours among the lower classes. - I am, &c.,

FAIRPLAY,
Newcastle, May 30, 1879.

SIR, - "Judge not, that ye may not be judged," was advice given centuries ago to a surging multitude, by the Great Teacher. St. Paul said that a man who judged another condemned himself, and was inexcusable, for, said he, "thou that judgest doest the same things." I commend these two passages of sacred writ to your numerous correspondents on the subject of Mr. Booth's successful efforts to bring the message of the Gospel to the masses. He and Mrs. Booth, his able coadjutor, have employed "lasses," "sisters," "lady evangelists," or "female teachers," call them what we may, with very marked success. On one occasion it was computed that in Newcastle and Gateshead alone upwards of ten thousand people were under the sound of the gospel, in theatres, concert rooms, or town hall and circus, which buildings would have been closed but for the attempt to reach the masses by the "hallelujah lasses." We are told that there should be "scoffers" in the last days, and that there should be a famine to hear the Word of the Lord. Truly, we live in an exceptional age; and although we are not to judge, we can keep our eyes open, and know people by their fruits. - I am, sir, yours, &c.,

R.
May 30, 1879.

SIR, - May I thank "W.S." through you for his explanation in to-day's paper of what he proposes that "the churches" should do? He desires to organise a system of kind personal intercourse between "church members" and the class dealt with by the "salvation army." If church members were all kind and intelligent and all Christians, his plan of mapping out the town would be admirable, but the difficulty is, they are not so. For instance, I was myself once what was called a "church member." I was not a Christian at that time. I was also so ignorant that I thought I was sufficiently respectable to scrape into heaven, if there was such a place, of which I had doubts; and I was so unkind that when I was elected an office-bearer, and was pressed by my minister, most earnestly to accept office for the good of the church and the cause, I declined because I did not like such work and profession as were involved. Surely my district would have suffered if I had had one then, and I fear many districts would suffer under many such church members now.

Would it not be better, if "W.S." is a Christian and intelligent and kind, that he should go to work himself independently of any organisation, and that other persons like minded should do so also? If this could be done so quietly as to avoid stirring up the churches to meddle with the personal efforts I speak of, infinite good might be done; but if the churches get into it with their different teachings, and a flood of such members as I was get turned out upon the town, it will be disastrous in the extreme. - I am, &c.,

A.B.C.