The Salvation Army in 1892 dated their permanent arrival in Marlow to 1887*. Initially it is said they were welcomed and treated with a certain curiosity. Open air meetings, military style uniforms and army titles for members made General Booth's organisation stand out as a group that did things differently. Local papers tended to report their doings reasonably favourably, especially the focus on abstinence from alcohol. That however, was soon to change and it was at least partly the fault of the Skeleton Army.
At first the Marlow Salvation Army only met outdoors. They soon however secured the lease of the old workshop of Samuel Washbourn(e) in Oxford Lane, just off Quoiting Square. This building had a interesting history - see note 1 below. At the time, it was owned by Oxford Road fruiterer William Bowles. The new organisation quickly got on their feet, offering several meetings a week. Their focus remained on bringing services to the people however, which meant parades, and outdoor meetings. They wanted to attract the attention of as many people of possible, so going quietly to work was not the order of the day. They marched to their open air meeting place accompanied by a band generally, and by at least a few drummers and "tambourine girls" if not. They then took up position in the streets with Quoiting and Spittal Squares two favourite spots, as was Dean Street. It was hard to ignore a Salvation Army meeting on your doorstep, which of course was the point but it raised the heckles of others less receptive to their message. Some thought the goings on undignified and that prayer was not being treated with the solemnity it deserved. Others began to resent vocal calls to abstain from alcohol and tobacco - made outside their premises selling just that. But it seems the blocking of thoroughfares and the noisy beating of drums were what upset the locals the most.
ENTER THE SKELETON ARMY
The Skeleton Army was started in the South West with the aim of aping the SA as a form of mockery and otherwise disrupting their services. It was first applied to a group haranguing Salvation Army meetings in 1881. Over time "Skeleton Army" became a general term used by the public and press for other groups who tried to do the same. Not all of these groups actually used the term to describe themselves. Some groups were very organised, and seemingly reasonably well funded. They had their own Skeleton Army uniforms and bands, and carried out parades and outdoor meetings timed to coincide with those of the Salvation Army. Our local group does not seem to have had a uniform, but they did possess musical instruments and banners to draw attention to themselves. They focussed on drowning out the Salvation Army public speakers, but violence was also used on more than one occasion. I have spoken to an elderly man whose grandfather was paid by a group of local pub landlords in London to disrupt temperance meetings held outside their premises, something he was later rather ashamed of. There is no evidence of such publican funding in Marlow however. (See below though)
It is not always possible to tell if early disruptors of the Salvation Army identified as Skeleton members but some who did were active in Marlow by at least 1886. Clashes between the two "armies" began to escalate in 1887. The Skeletons were going to the Salvation Army meets and groaning and bellowing as loudly as possible, as well as mocking the tone of impassioned speakers. They were also blowing trumpets and beating drums. The Salvation Army responded by singing their hymns even louder. The resulting cacophony annoyed even some of the initial supporters of the Salvation Army and some began to lump the two armies together as one big source of nuisance.
The tone of newspaper reports of Salvation Army meetings began to change to a more critical one, sometimes mocking. The Bucks Examiner claimed with glee that during an "encampment" at Marlow, Salvation Army members who had recently been giving speeches railing against the demon drink, were seen to take "rather freely of the canteen" afterwards. They tended to be a hostile reporter of the Army's activities so this claim must be taken with a pinch of salt!
RIOT IS FEARED
Letters arrived at local newspaper offices asking them to raise the issue of the "tumult and disorder" that was occuring nightly in the streets of Marlow. Ordinary citizens were, they claimed, afraid to step out of doors in the evenings, for fear of being caught between the rival marches. Party feeling ran high, and "respectable citizens" were in fear of an imminent riot. The police claimed they could do nothing because holding open air meetings, or making a noise was not a crime. They would however prosecute either side if they obstructed the highway.
In November 1887, the Skeleton Army made a point of as usual organising a march and meeting at the same place (Spittal Square) as the Salvation Army. This time they were not content to just make a noise. Some of the Skeleton men - I have found no local women identified as members - bought rotten eggs with them and threw them at the speakers. One hit Salvation Army member Mrs Sarah Moody of Queens Rd, who complained to the police. The thrower was Skeleton member and drummer William Lloyd, a journeyman butcher. He denied it, and presented a witness, Augustus Creswell, who said he had stood next to Lloyd watching proceedings and had seen no eggs thrown. Unfortunately for Lloyd, several other witnesses had seen him make the throw and he was fined 7s 6d plus 12s costs.
Criticism of perceived police lack of action was mounting. In December 1887 they finally found a means to bring both Skeleton and Salvation Army members to court - they found they were obstructing the highway during one of their forced joint affairs in Dean Street. Salvation Army captain John Thomas Hillary was summoned, along with Skeleton Army drummer William Lacey, a carpenter. The case "excited much interest" with numerous supporters of both sides present at the Magistrates court in Trinity Road. After lengthy arguments which can be summarised with the idea the other side was the one obstructing the way - the decision was made to find both sides guilty. They received a nominal 1s fine each plus costs.
1888 - A DANGEROUS YEAR FOR THE MARLOW SALVATION ARMY
Things escalated the following year. Two nasty acts of violence were committed against Salvation Army members, more of which below. Perhaps they were a reaction to what was perceived as an upsurge in Salvation Army activity in the town. In June, General Booth's son, Henry, led 130 "Salvation Army Life Guards" into Marlow, where their band played to thronged streets. They finished in Crown Meadow (Riley Recreation Ground) to hear an "animated" address from several members. And to sing hymns of course. There does not seem to be reports of more than heckling at this event but that was not to last.
Mindful of the risk of fines should they impede the highway, the Salvation Army had organised that some of their members should endeavour to keep the roads partially clear. Salvation Army member Daniel Lovegrove of Marefield was trying to do this during a August evening meeting in Dean Street, whilst also selling the Salvation Army journal, the War Cry. When he asked a group of bystanders to stand back, two of them took exception at being told what to do and told Lovegrove they had just as much right to be there as he had. One of them followed this up by punching Lovegrove twice in the eye, and the second came up behind and struck another blow. He threatened to split Lovegrove's head open should he ever parade past the attacker's home. With the victim's story confirmed by witnesses, the aggressors James James and John Folly were bought before the magistrates for a dressing down and a fine apiece.
Then William Edwards was convicted of assault for deliberately riding his horse into an assembled Salvation Army crowd, knocking down 11 year old Eliza Fry and Salvation Army member Sarah Edwards qv. The child was left with concussion. Bystander Richard Wye was also injured. Edwards claimed he was just trying to make his way along the street and the horse had shied because of all the noise around it. Witnesses however said it had appeared a deliberate act of aggression as he had made no attempt to avoid anyone. This evidence and the fact he had a previous conviction for a similar offence**, meant a sentence of 3 months imprisonment.
To make matters worse, the Salvation Army were evicted from their Oxford Road base in 1889 after landlord William Bowles received numerous complaints about their noisy evening band practices. The following year they did secure a piece of land adjacent to the gas works for a "barracks" or base. The foundation stone was laid in September 1890. This building was replaced in the 1930's with the one that's still there in Crown Road, now used as a nursery.
The acts of violence directed at the Salvation Army, seem to have started a gradual softening of attitude in at least some of those who had dismissed them as troublemakers previously. The Salvation Army may have been disruptive, but they were never instigators of violence and their turning of the other cheek against such provocation won them respect, albeit begrudgingly given at times. The Skeleton Army became less active here although noisy meetings still risked attracting a catcalling element. The landlord of the Cross Keys, Mr Williams, started a petition against the Army's use of loud drumming on a Sunday outside his premises. He presented it to the magistrates but they said they could take no action and give no legal advice. They could not deal with the issue of noise they said, only criminal matters presented by the police. Let's hope he bought some ear plugs. Similarly Frederick Plumridge came to the magistrates court to ask for summons to be taken out against both the Salvation and Skeleton Armies for their "disgraceful" behaviour in 1887, only to receive the same answer.
It's interesting that the South Bucks Standard claimed in 1897 that the cause of the Salvation Army had never been very flourishing in Marlow and whatever influence they had previously had had now began to wane. This does not necessarily tally with reports of their activities at this time. In this year, 5 Marlow members* were fined for singing in the street, causing an obstruction, but they refused to pay, opting to receive a 14 day prison sentence instead. The 3 women and two men were released after 9 days and posters were put up around town to announce their planned arrival time back here. A large reception committee was waiting at Marlow station but the station master refused them access to the platform. Those waiting gathered outside the station instead and cheered the prisioners arrival. The infamous 5 were put into a wagon and were paraded behind a brass band consisting of 9 members, one to represent each day in jail. They went up Station Rd, High Street, Market Square (where they prayed for the pub landlord who had complained about them singing outside his premises there) Dean Street and around Marefield back to the barracks at Crown Rd. After a celebration tea, the prisoners gave a fund raising talk on their experiences, admission 1d.
WORK WITH POOR OF TOWN
The Salvation Army began to work in the poorest areas of town, focusing their efforts in the areas around Dean Street and Marefield. Many a Christmas and new year in particular must have been brightened up due to their presence. Their band made a habit of performing in these streets as well as the more prosperous ones on Boxing Day, and often on Christmas Eve too. In 1905 they entertained 200 of the poorest children to a Christmas tea, then provided games and gifts for 400. All went away with a bag containing cake and an orange. The fact they could afford to do this shows how their membership and support had expanded in Marlow.
Disasters further afield were not forgotten and collections were made for various causes. One that stands out is a collection made for victims of the sinking of the Titanic a few weeks after the disaster in 1912. This followed a special Titanic memorial service, presided over by London Colonel Tait.
GENERAL BOOTH STOPS BY
Salvation Army founder General Booth visited Marlow some 30 years after his son, in 1908, and in a much more pleasant atmosphere. The General was stopping by on the way to Reading and Henley. It seems the official welcome was fluffed a bit as while the General arrived in the Market Square on the dot of noon as advertised, only about 30 people were assembled. Everyone else was down by the bridge end of High Street where the Salvation Army band had gathered, expecting him there. It appears a message had got through that the people meant to give a formal welcome to him had not been able to come, so the crowd had moved off from the Market Square where this meeting was supposed to take place. When the General arrived, it was considered impolite to ask him to wait for the crowd to reform so he was welcomed quietly. In the end of course, word spread and the General was able to enjoy a satisfyingly large audience by the time he came to say a few words. The papers noted that there was no sign of any disorder of any kind on the occasion of this visit. How times had changed.
*The infamous five were:
Sarah Griffiths of York Rd, the leader of the Salvation Army in Marlow
Jessie Last
James Bullock
Charles Wilkinson
Christina Farmer.
(Joseph Lunnon - was also convicted but paid fine and so was not imprisoned.)
The outdoor meeting was outside the Crown in Market Square and it's landlord had made the complaint. He asked the Army to be quiet twice, especially because there was a very sick child staying there in one of the rooms overlooking the square. Unfortunately the members said while they were aware Mr Cole had come out to speak to them, they couldn't hear what he had said!
NOTES
1. This building had earlier been used to house Samuel's large satin stitch and baby linen manufactory, and subsequently used as the infants school before the existing Oxford Lane premises were built. It was later used as the place of worship for those from All Saints church during the period the old church had been demolished but before the new was ready. Later still it had been used for storage. It no longer exists. They later used a couple of different rented premises in Marefield before their last Marlow "Barracks" opened in Crown Road 1935. It's now closed and in commercial use as a day nursery. The work of the Army from this premises was instigated by 12 members from the "Clapton Training Room".
*I have found the first report of a visit by the Salvation Army to the town in 1883. They attracted a large curious crowd, especially due to their habit on this march of dropping to their knees at intervals to offer a prayer. They seem to have experienced no outright hostility although the inevitable complaints about noise were not absent. The reports of the march tended to be rather dismissive or comic in tone ..the marchers were "waving their arms about in great excitement" according to one newspaper.
**William Edwards had been fined 2s 6d and bound over in the sum of £5 to keep the peace for 6 months earlier on in 1888. This was related to his repeatedly kicking Salvation Army Captain Joseph Vincent during an open air meeting in Quoiting Square. Sixteen year old William Harvey was convicted of the same offence and recieved the same punishment.
Researched and written by Kathryn Day.
Related Posts:
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SOURCES:
Punch, August 29 1885, Punch Publications, digitised by Google and accessed by me November 2020.
All about the Salvation Army, The Salvation Army 1885, from Oxford University and accessed via Google books August 2020.
Kelly's Directory 1939 (Kelly's Directories Ltd.)
Booth, William, Darkest England, and the way out ( Funk and Wagnells, New York 1890).
Pick Up Issue 166, (Heinneman and Balestier 1889) Digitised by Google.
Henley and South Oxfordshire Standard, 22 June 1894, held at British Library Archive and accessed via the BNA.
South Bucks Standard 13 September 1890, 20 March 1891,9 September 1892, 17 September 1897, 3 January 1902, 1 & 6 January 1904, 24 July 1908, 25 April 1912 as above.
Bucks Herald 10 September & 3 December 1887, 28 April 1888, 23 November 1889 as above.
Maidenhead Advertiser May 1883 & 27 June 1888, as above.
Chesham Examiner 10 September 1890, as above.
Slough Eton and Windsor Observer : 2 December 1886, March 17 1888 - Slough Borough Libraries.
©Marlow Ancestors.
