Now! Then! General Booth rebuts the Bishop of Oxford’s claim that the Salvation Army organises mixed darkroom sessions called “Crawling for Jesus” at York

16 April 1883: General Booth rebuts the Bishop of Oxford’s claim that the Salvation Army organises mixed darkroom sessions called “Crawling for Jesus” at York

Times. 1883/04/17. The Salvation Army. London. Get it:

Excerpt

Presiding yesterday over the annual May Meetings of the army at Exeter Hall, General Booth replied to assertions which have recently been made by Bishops in Convocation against the organisation. He said that two bishops uttered statements, of the falsity of which he was sure, bearing upon the moral character of the army. The Bishop of Oxford expressed a wish that statistics showing the proportion of cases of immorality or illegitimacy to the number of Salvation Army meetings held could be obtained. Whatever were the words used by the bishops, their meaning was only too plain, and the Skeleton Army had justified its violent attacks upon inoffensive salvationists, including young women, by references to the language of the prelates. It was wholly untrue that at York salvationists were “crawling for Jesus for two hours in darkness.” In explanation of the Bishop of Lichfield’s statement that near Derby a salvationist had been advertised to preach upon his head for a considerable time, the General said this was merely done to attract an audience, and that the head of Jesus was really meant.

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To facilitate reading, the spelling and punctuation of elderly excerpts have generally been modernised, and distracting excision scars concealed. My selections, translations, and editions are copyright.

Abbreviations

Comment

Via Roy Hattersley, who I guess had a peep at the Records of Convocation:

When the Upper House of the Canterbury Convocation met on 10 April 1883, Dr John Mackerness, Bishop of Oxford, supported by Dr James, Bishop of Hereford, accused the Salvationists of actually promoting sexual licence. He was echoing the view, first expressed by the Reverend E. Bickersteth, who had claimed that All Night Prayer Meetings always involved ‘the grossest immoralities’. That allegation had been categorically denied by William Booth, but it was soon regarded as confirmation of a rumour, rife in south London, that the Hackney Union Infirmary accommodated several young women whose pregnancies were the result of participation in Holiness Meetings. The Bishop of Oxford’s claim was even more specific. Soldiers in York practised what they called ‘Crawling for Jesus’ – two hours each Sunday evening in a darkened room during which the celebrants, on hands and knees, fondled everyone they could touch. The Bishop of Hereford supported the proposal made by Dr Mackerness that an enquiry be set up to determine if the Salvation Army was a force for good or evil. William Booth wrote to both bishops, and to the Archbishop of Canterbury, the day after the proposal was made. Never has indignation been so righteous: ‘It seems to me very hard that the outrageous statements constantly made in regard to us should be credited without our having an opportunity to reply to them. There is no doubt that such an accusation made in such a quarter will be used in such a way in the Press as to greatly increase the ill-usage of our poor people on the streets.’ And so it was. The Skeleton Armies attacked the Salvationists in the name of sexual morality, indiscriminately assaulting both the men whom they claimed perpetuated the outrages, and the women whose virtue they claimed to cherish (Hattersley 2000).

My emphasis:

The Bishop of Oxford said that the “Army” called for holiness of life on the part of its members but its action had led to deplorable consequences and to unholiness of life. It was impossible to suppose that there could be holiness of life when young persons of both sexes were called together in exciting meetings, held up to a late hour at night, and then permitted to go away without moral control. His lordship thought that attention should be called to the deplorable consequences of this working of the organization, some of which he mentioned (Times 1883/04/11).

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Original

Presiding yesterday over the annual “May meetings” of the army, held in the morning, afternoon, and evening. at Exeter-hall, General Booth replied to assertions which have recently been made by Bishops in Convocation against the organization. He said that two Bishops uttered statements, of the falsity of which he was sure, bearing upon the moral character of the army; and their assertions were confirmed by the Bishop of Hereford. The Bishop of Oxford expressed a wish that statistics showing the proportion of cases of immorality or illegitimacy to the number of Salvation Army meetings held could be obtained. Whatever were the words used by the Bishops, their meaning was only too plain, and the Skeleton Army had justified its violent attacks upon inoffensive salvationists, including young women, by references to the language of the prelates. Asked for the grounds upon which he founded his accusations, the Bishop of Oxford had written two letters, the first of which stated that the names of his informants – credible persons – must be withheld. Again asked to supply the grounds upon which his statements were based, or, failing this, to withdraw them, the Bishop said that “he would make some further inquiries, and if he could find any reason to modify his opinions he would do so.” Upon this they wrote again to his lordship, pointing out the unfairness of allowing him time to rake up all the scandal about the army which had been circulated throughout country for months past, and requiring him forthwith either to justify the particular charges he had preferred or to retract them. Inquiries made of every corps in the dioceses of Oxford and Hereford elicited straightforward replies that even no report of cases of immorality arising through the proceedings of the army had been heard of save at Hereford, where, however, upon inquiry at the union workhouse hospital, it was found no woman connected with the army had ever been there because of misconduct. Similar inquiries would be made of every corps in England; and, if the Bishops who had so unjustly aspersed the character of the army would not do them justice, the General proposed to send a memorial, signed by the million and a half of the army’s adherents, to the head of the Church – the Queen – praying Her Majesty to see that justice was done them. In this, he believed, they would have the support of the Primate. It was wholly untrue that at York salvationists were “crawling for Jesus for two hours in darkness.” In explanation of the Bishop of Lichfield’s statement that near Derby a salvationist had been advertised to preach upon his head for a considerable time, the General said this was merely done to attract an audience, and that the head of Jesus was really meant.

Despite the attacks against which the army had had to contend, they were still marching on. They had now in Great Britain, 1,202 officers, 491 corps, with an annual local income of £12,000, and sitting accommodation was provided in their barracks for nearly half a million. Apart from premises for which they paid a yearly rental of £21,000, they owned property worth £150,000, upon which, however, there were mortgages amounting to £54,000. Three years ago the value of their property was only £17,000. In England, within the past few weeks, they had purchased two theatres and hired a third. Abroad, as well as at home, the army was progressing satisfactorily. Objections baving been taken to their form of government, he explained that it simply meant the voluntary subjection of individuals to the direction of the most intelligent, devoted, and capable persons of the army. Mrs. Booth also spoke. The praise and prayer were of the customary character. The meetings were well attended. The total receipts during the day amounted to nearly £10,000, which included several donations of £1,000 each.

640 words.