THE HARMY,

Observer, Volume 9, Issue 525, 12 January 1889, Page 3

THE HARMY,

Although the less emotional among us may foil to recognise the connection between salvation and torchlight processions, or religion and the big drum, and may question the genuineness of 1 conversions ' brought about in public halls while the audience is intoxicated with music, lights, noise, 'testifying' and the hysterical weeping and wailing of lost sheep ; although we may be inclined to question the voluble protestations of 'happy policemen,' 'saved burglars' and ' reformed prize lighters,' made from the public platform and helped out with a running fire of ' hallelujahs I'— although all this, I say, may bo personally d»3tasteful and even offensive to us, we such of us that is as are not blinded by prejudice, must admit that the Salvation Army • has done and is doing much good in our midst. I The Prison Gate Brigade Home hae doubtless plucked inniiinevable brands from the burning, and many a poor falien sister has been rescued by ihe Salvationists from a life of shame j and so given another chance of regaining a lost position in society. * # * And now ihe Army is raising subscriptions for ihe establishment of a home for fallen women, and I trust their appeal may meet with a liberal and ready response from the public. With a comparatively small amount of money, raised by public subscription, the Array has done more real good in Auckland than all Costley'a thousands have accomplished. Certainly Ccitley is not to be blamed for thai, but so it is. Another winter will soon be commencing and nothing is settled about the new Kefug/j, paid for beforehand with the dead man's money. And so the poor old people, who ought to have benefited years ago, under Costley'd will, are still herded together in the tumble-down, bug-infested shanty, which we are ashamed to exhibit to strangers, and the very existence of which we would gladly forget if we only could.