“Hark! hark! my soul, what warlike songs are swelling
Through all the streets and on from door to door;
How grand the truths these burning strains are telling
Of that great war till sin shall be no more.”
And then the vocal band with their voices would join in singing the choruses with exciting strains and gesture—
“Salvation Army, Army of God,
Onward to conquer the world with fire and blood.”
After this the brass band led the next verse—
“Onward we go, the world shall hear our singing,” &c.
After they had played this up the street for a time, the Army halted, and Captain Roberts and one of the lieutenants addressed some words to the “band” with fire and vigour running through them, to which the lads and lasses, young men and maidens, saints and sinners, responded with the “Old Methodist” and Primitive Methodist “Glory! glory! bless the Lord!” “Hallelujah!” “Religion is the best thing in the world!” “Glory!” another called out at the top of his voice. While the Army was giving out no uncertain sound the brass band commenced, under marching orders and exciting surroundings, reminding me of old times—
“We are marching home to glory,
Marching up to mansions bright,
Where bright golden harps are playing,
Where the saints are robed in white.”
And then, in obedience to the captain’s arms and orders, the lads and lasses struck up with the chorus—
“There’s a golden harp in glory,
There’s a spotless robe for you—
March with us to the hallelujah city,
To the land beyond the blue.”
And in this way we kept on till we arrived at the “Salvation Warhouse.”