The zeal for the propagation of the Gospel among the heathen, has been
paralleled by the efforts put forth for the evangelization of the
people in nominally Christian lands. In this enterprise the front rank
on both sides of the Atlantic has been occupied by the Methodist
Church. Its system of itinerary, relieving its ministers in part from
exhausting study, and so giving them time and opportunity for pastoral
work and aggressive evangelistic effort, its welcome of lay assistance
in pulpit service and its system of drill and inspection in the
class-meeting, have all combined to develop its working resources and
increase its aggressive power. The fact that there are now in the
world over thirty million Methodists of various kinds, makes it
difficult to realize that when the century began, John Wesley had been
dead only nine years. This century consequently has witnessed the
growth and development of that mighty organization from the seed sown
by that one consecrated man and his helpers. It is doubtful whether in
politics or society there is any fact of the century so remarkable as
this. The Church Wesley founded has split into sections in this land
and in England, but the divisions are one at heart, and the name of
Methodist is the common precious possession of them all. A great
writer has contended with much force that the world at this day knows
no such unifier of nationalities and societies as the Methodist
Church. When the young man leaves the parental roof of a Methodist
family for some distant city, or some foreign land, the pangs of
anxiety are alleviated by the knowledge that wherever he may be, there
will be some Methodist Church where he will find friends, and some
Methodist class-leader who will look after his most important
interests. The magnificent Methodist organization, unequalled outside
the Roman Catholic Church, has developed within the century, and its
aggressive forces have been felt throughout Christendom. All the
denominations have received an impetus from its abundant energy and
each in its measure has caught the contagion of its activities. In
country districts, in the great cities and in foreign lands, its
representatives, loyal to their Church and the principles of its
founder, are pressing forward in self-denial and apostolic fervor
foremost everywhere in the van of the Christian army.
Kindred with the Methodist in its enthusiasm and still more highly
organized, is the youngest of all the religious organizations--the
Salvation Army. In its origin, a daughter of the Methodist Church,
with a strong resemblance in spirit and purpose and methods to its
mother, the Salvation Army has a mission peculiarly its own. It too
has grown with a rapidity unexampled in the religious history of other
centuries. More than one quarter of the century had passed when
William Booth first saw the light, more than half the century had
passed before he had begun to give his life to his Master's service.
From 1857 to 1859 he was simply a Methodist minister, at an
unimportant town, appointed by his conference, sparsely paid, and
certain to be removed to another sphere at the end of his term. In
1865, he and his devoted wife resigned home and income and dependence
on conference for support, and went to London. They settled in the
poorest and most degraded district of the city, and began to preach in
tents, in cellars, in deserted saloons, under railroad arches, in
factories and in any place which could be had for nothing, or at a low
rental. The people gathered in multitudes wherever Mr. Booth and his
wife preached, veritable heathen, many of them, who knew nothing of
the Bible and had never attended a religious service in their lives.
Converts were numerous and they were required to testify to the change
in their souls and their lives and to become missionaries in their
turn. In 1870 an old market was purchased in the densest centre of
poverty in London and was made the headquarters of the Mission. Bands
of men and women were sent out to hold meetings, sing hymns and "give
their testimony" in the open-air, in saloons, or any resort where an
audience could be gathered. These bands were busy every night in a
hundred wretched districts of the great city, and at every stand,
some poor forlorn creatures would be gathered in and encouraged to
begin a new life in faith in Christ. Some method of organization
became necessary, and was eventually devised. The perfect obedience
and confidence manifested everywhere to the man who directed the
movement, and the entire dependence of every worker on him for
guidance and support, may have suggested the military system. However
that may be, the military organization was adopted, and a perfect
system framed with the aid of Railton Smith, and a few other clever
organizers who were attracted to Mr. Booth's side by the novelty of
his methods, and his marvelous success. In the spring of 1878, the
plans were all matured and the new movement became a compact and
powerful religious force. Since that time it has spread throughout
England, into several European lands, to the United States, and
Canada, to India, Australia and South Africa. Its autocratic character
has been steadfastly maintained. General Booth has retained absolute
control of every officer in his service and has the management of the
enormous income of the army. Occasionally there has been mutiny which
has been overcome by tact or prompt discipline, and not until this
year (1896), when General Booth's son, Ballington, who was his
representative in the United States, resigned rather than be removed
from his command, has there been any formidable defiance of the
supreme and despotic government of the world-wide organization. The
methods of the Army are unconventional and are shocking to staid,
respectable members of churches, but criticism is out of place in any
method which will redeem the masses in the numbers won by the
Salvation Army.