The Salvation Army have found powerful friends. On Friday -week,
the Bishops in Convocation, moved by Dr. Harold Browne, resolved that a Committee should be appointed to consider the attitude of the Church towards the " Army," the feeling ex- pressed being one of decided friendliness. On the Tuesday following, Lord Fortescue called attention in the House of Lords to the ill-treatment of the Army, and especially to the recent proceedings of some Hampshire Justices, who imprisoned the officers of the Army for disobeying an order to abandon a procession. The Archbishop of Canterbury warmly supported him, even declaring that ." the leaders of the movement were persons of irreproach- able character, and desirous of checking the extravagances of their followers," while Lord Coleridge signified a very determined
opinion that their processions were legal, though they might, of course, be stopped, if likely to lead to breaches of the peace. The Bishops and Peers appear to have been much impressed by the non-resisting character of the Army, who, according to the Archbishop, endure even serious injuries without retaliation. " General" Booth must congratulate himself on all this sup- port, but if he does not take care, what with aristocratic favour and his immense collections of money, his Army will be infected with Respectability, and then, what will become of its influence over the Roughs ? It ought not to be Respectable for at least five years yet, if it is to do much work.
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