1885 - June Miscellaneous - Part 4

The Hamilton Salvation Army Corps in 1885 was always trying to come up with novel ways to attract attention to their efforts to bring citizens to Jesus.

 Street demonstrations with a brass band and soldiers in colorful uniforms were standard but on June 9, 1885, there was a change in appearance for the soldiers.

           As described by a Hamilton Times reporter who witnessed the spectacle:

          “The least proud of the Salvationists appeared upon the Market Square not ‘clad in gospel armor,’ nor ‘robed in spotless white,’ but carrying their working tools and wearing their regular working clothes, and some of them presented an extremely soiled appearance.”¹

¹ “Trade Demonstration : Salvationist Sensation on the Streets Last Night.” Hamilton Times. June 10, 1885.

          In an attempt to relate to average working people, for this demonstration the Salvation Army Corps were not wearing their colorful uniforms, but instead were clad in the clothes worn by ordinary laborers from a variety of callings.

          Added to the spectacle was a float specially assembled for the event:

          “In front of the procession was a dray, on which figured men working at their trades, prominent being the sewing machine with the words written beneath, ‘Salvation runs better than the Wanzer.’ Following this came bricklayers, painters, tailors, cooks, wash women, servants, a few professional men and some Government officers.”¹

The Times scribe concluded his account of the Trades Demonstration as follows :

“It is scarcely necessary to say that such a sight and the rousing Salvation songs drew large crowds of followers. One could not help admiring the people who were willing to do anything and everything to draw people to hear the gospel.”¹

Also in the June 10, 1885 issue of the Hamilton Times, there was a letter to the editor complaining about the appearance of the cemetery on Burlington Heights, opposite Dundurn Park:

“Looking in from York street, Burlington cemetery presents a beautiful appearance, but a close inspection shows many defects. More attention should be given to the grass, which, in many places, is allowed to grow to such a length that it presents a matted appearance through being trampled down, and a great many of the trees and shrubbery could be improved by the pruning knife.”²

² “Burlington Cemetery” Times June 10, 1885

The letter writer stated clearly that he was not being critical of Cemetery Superintendent Craig and his assistants, but was rather pointing out that they needed more help:

“The correspondent suggests that the city should expend the revenue they derive from the cemetery towards this purpose.”²