THE SALVATION ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7258, 21 February 1885, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE SALVATION ARMY.

According to ito report for ISB4 the Salvation Army has now 910 corps, viz.:—ln the United Kingdom, 637 ; France, 8 ; Switzerland, 7; Sweden, 4; United States, 50; California, 5 ; Canada, 71; India, 14; South Australia, 35; Victoria, 21; New South Wales, 21 ; New Zealand, 23 ; Tasmania, 3 ; and the Cape of Good Hope, 11—total, 910. Of Little Soldiers' Corps there are 444, which have held 933 meetings daring the year, attended by 41,688 juveniles. The army at home iB officered by 1147 persons, exclusive of majors, who number 14; aides-de-camp, 29; and " specials," 37. One hundred and forty persona are employed at the headquarters, 11 at depots, and 58 in the printing and trade departments. There are 188 cadets in the training barracks, and the training home staff numbers 20. Abroad there are 6SS officers, the total at home and abroad being 2332. In connection with the " village warfare," it is reported there are 303 villages regularly occupied in the United Kingdom, besides 100 occasionally visited ; the villages occupied in Canada number 36 ; France, 20 ; Switzerland, 10; New Zealand, 31 ; South Africa, 5 : India and Ceylon, 50; South Australia, 15— total, 570. A summary of the financial statements for the year ended the 30th of September last—statements audited by Messrs. J. Beddow and Son, chartered accountants : shows a total income of £74,665 18s 6d, which includes receipts on account of the general spiritual fund amounting to £24,452 Is ; building fund, £30,182 18< 8d ; training homes, £6302 4s 4d ; foreign service, £3704 14s ; France and Switzerland, £2082 16a 6d. There was a balance in hand at the end of the financial year of £448 ss. "The trading transactions of the army realised a net profit of £6790 0s lid, which hae again more than sufficed to cover the entire expense? of the headquarters' management. The army has added to its mercantile operations by the sale of" musical instruments, watches specially designed to remind the soldier of his God and his duty, mottoes and other articles for home use, all contrived with the same end in view ; and now, last of all, tea, and other things which cannot, except by means of covers or marks, havo so direct a bearing on the propagation of the truth, but which will at least answer another great purpose which experience has taught us wo may safely aim at • —the raising of funds by trade profits." It is stated that "the day of suspicion with regard to the motives which govern the army's leaders has well-nigh passed away. Only a vile infidel print thriving on scandal, or a still viler Christian paper, equally intent on libelling any religious teacher or movement against which anything can be said, can now be found to echo aspersions on the integrity of the General and his family." During this year 85 new barracks were opened in the United Kingdom, including s> congress-hall at Brighton, seating, 3500, and costing over £7000, which had been presented to the army by two residente there. A portion of the old goal at Northampton had been converted into barracks accommodating 2300 people. The Wear Music-hall at Sunderland had been adapted to serve the army's purposes ; and out of a legacy of £3700 bequeathed by a Leamington lady barracks were being erected there to accommodate ISOO. The 39th London barrack was opened in the Borough, and the 40 th was in the course of erection near the Edgware-road. It would cost £5000. Regret is expressed at the army's failure to purchase the license of the Eagle Tavern. Abroad, the work of the organisation is described as succeeding and extending satisfactorily ; but it appears to have been, discovered that the American major, Major Moore, " had been privately arranging for an incorporation of the army in the United States, which would havo placed the whole of the army's affaire and property under the control of himself and a few other persons," unknown to the general and his staff. His business affairs, too, being in the "utmost confusion," he was immediately recalled, bat Major Moore refused to return to England, and, "seizing whatever property of the army he could get under his control, proclaimed his intention of continuing in command of what he had strangely wished to o>ll the Salvation Army." A major from headquarters had superseded him. Miss Booth—*'-the Mare"cbale "—writing of Switzerland, Bays:—" Despite all that has been done, the restrictions in different cantons— which cannot be appreciated in England— the prejudice, calumny, and persecution, we have not only held our own, but steadily advanced." Finally, touching the "einews of war " the report concludes with an appeal for funds from Mr. Bramwell Booth—" the chief of the staff , — and statee that " the treasury is absolutely empty, a considerable sum being actually needed at onc» to meet pressing demands which relate to the present year." For 1885, in order to maintain the work throughout the world, £30,000 is ioUoited.