SALVATION ARMY IN THE YEAR 1403.
The Salvation army, which, through its far reaching practical work for the benefit of humanity, has gained support throughout Christendom, and the later volunteers are not without their prototype in preReformation days. Though this fact is not generally known, it has been preserved by John H. Blunt in bis history of the sects. The ancient Salvation Army, which existed five hundred years ago, had its lot cast in far less tolerant times than now, and met its destruction by the hands of persecution. It was during the latter years of the Fourteenth Century that little bands of religious men and women began to gather in Italy under a leader whose name has not been preserved, though the tradition is that he was a Scotchman. These enthusiasts adopted a uniform, not of blue, but of white, a garb typical of their purity. They were known as the * White Brothers,’ and called themselves * Penitents.’
From village to village and from city to city they marched, playing on musical instruments, singing, praying and exciting the people to turn from sin to righteousness. The noises they made were loud, and they were complained against as disturbers of the peace. Their methods were not approved of, yet they continued the work among the poor, the helpless, the
outcast, in the slums and prisons. They drew the high as well as the lowly, ana many in the church joined their increasing ranks. As the little bands marched about with song, dance, prayer and preaching, they gathered alms for their support and added greatly to their numbers until they became a real salvation army. Then, in companies of thousands, they continued their work, and so rapidly did they increase that the Pope at Rome began to fear they might intend to usnrp his throne. In 1403 he sent bis troops against the largest corps, that numbered more than 10,000. The troops met the army of religious enthusiasts at Viterbo, scattered it with great slaughter and captured the leader, who was burned as a heretic. This persecution destroyed the first salvation army.
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Bibliographic details
New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue I, 4 July 1896, Page 27
Word Count
350SALVATION ARMY IN THE YEAR 1403. New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVII, Issue I, 4 July 1896, Page 27
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Acknowledgements
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