52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks: Week 26: Conflict. Memories of the Skeleton Army-John Arthur Perry 1882-1966

 MEMORIES OF THE SKELETON ARMY

 Last week for the theme, Groups, I considered writing about my ancestors association with the Salvation Army. However looking at the upcoming themes, I noted this one related to conflict and remembered my Great Uncle, John Arthur Perry, writing about his memories of The Skeleton Army, within his auto biographical journal. As his mother died in 1891, the following incident would have occurred in the late 1880's

My parent's formerly adherents of a Primitive Methodist Chapel in Charlotte Street Kings Cross, were now members of the Salvation Army. In my possession is a 'Warrant Officers Commission' signed by Alexander Nichol D.O. certifying that "Jessie Perry is a Sergeant of No 1003 Corps." At the same time my father was "Convert Sergeant Major."

In those early days this organisation met with violent opposition from 'gangs of roughs,' known as The Skeleton Army.

I recall the gallant procession of Salvationists marching along behind their 'Blood and Fire' banner with battered instruments and drum; with the lassies following and jingling their tamborines. Shuffling along the pavement a mob shouted their ribald song as they attempted to drown the voices of the Army. It did not end there, as their invariable practice was to pelt the little band with rotten eggs, vegetable refuse and other missiles. I well remember my father's tunic bespattered with the vile content of rotten eggs. These were days when faith and sincerity were sorely tried, but "there were giants in those days." The Army was unpopular in official quarters and on many occassions the members were hailed before the courts and charged with obstruction and causing a breach of the peace by holding their meetings in the open air and marching along the streets. They gladly endured fines and gaol rather than submit to the unjustifiable objections of the authorities. Today the Salvation Army is honoured and respected by all sections of the community in all the lands.

                                                     Image from John Arthur Perry's Journal by his own hand.

So who were the Skeleton Army and why were they so opposed to The Salvation Army? 

Firstly, it is perhaps wise to look at the formation of the Salvation Army, an evolution of the East London Christian Mission founded by William Booth and his wife, Catherine. Utilising a military type structure within which women had equal rights to preach as men, decades before women were women were given the right to vote and a century before the Church of England ordained their first woman priests. Equally ground breaking was the decision to abandon the church pulpit and take 'the word of God,' to the people and living by the doctrine of 'practical Christianity.'

In Victorian England of the 1860's, industrialisation meant a social shift from rural to urban area's where there was more work. However casual and unskilled workers continued to find it difficult to find work, but now found themselves in more squalid conditions, little opportunity to breathe fresh air and finding food harder to access than in the countryside. Beer and Gin was cheap and many would numb their reality in drunkeness. 

It was amongst these 'masses' that William Booth and his 'Army,' marched, in a bid to promote sobriety, 'clean living', Christian worship and moral integrity. As would be expected their prayers and preaching had very little influence, when people were more concerned with getting food and shelter.

Taking a more practical and socially aware approach, the Army began to provide these, adopting what was known as 'soup, soap and salvation.' This approach was a worry for the those who had a financial interest in maintaining the status quo. A more informed sober worker was more likely to demand fair pay and conditions.

Although this was no doubt provided with the best of intentions by the Salvationists, to the recipients it could be argued that the moral lecturing endured was not worth the recompense of these small rewards Isolating many of the people they were aiming to attract and help, more significantly they were falling foul of the publicans and brothel keepers too. They were also seen as an irritant to the 'ordinary' people with, what was perceived as a 'holier than though,' approach. 

As it was the landowners and factory worker did not have to oppose any of the Salvationists ideals as the lower classes did their dirty work for them. Libertines, publicans, drunkards and brothel keepers joined the ranks of the Skeleton Army, who found plenty to mock in the Salvation Army's military stance. 

This rebel group's roots were in the 'Bonfire Boys' associated with South coastal towns of England. These were young working class men who built fires, burned effigies and in some cases bowled flaming barrels of tar along the streets. (A tradition maintained annually on November 5th at Ottery St Mary, Devon to this day). 

In response to the 'soup, soap and salvation', slogan of the Salvationists, Skeleton banners read 'beef, beer and bacca.' They even cobbled together makeshift uniforms. The Salvation Army bands would be drowned out by the Skeleton's own whistles, horns and drums, accompanying their own ribald and threatening song lyrics. The Skeleton mobs were known to follow and goad them, hurling paint fill eggs, dead animals and burning coals, if missiles were unavailable general brawling would take place. 

Women members were most often the target of the rebels, in 1889, a newly married Salvationist, Susannah Beatty became the Salvation Army's first martyr, having been felled by a rock then kicked in the stomach, initially losing an eye in the attack and later her life to internal injuries. The Police were reluctant to intervene and when they did it was often members of the Salvation Army who fell foul of their attention. 

In Torquay, Devon the council added a clause to the Torquay Harbour and District Act, in an attempt to arrest and imprison Salvationists by banning the 'right to march with music on a Sunday', on the grounds it encited The Skeleton troublemakers. This attempt to change the law was revoked by Parliament, stating that a lawful activity, such as marching to music, was not made unlawful by the unlawful actions of others. Under the terms of freedom of expression, this principle continues to set a benchmark in Britain's Constitutional Law. 

The Salvation Army continued it's 'work' however as a new century dawned the anti-Salvationist rhetoric became less evident and the Police were more amenable to intervening and arresting those intent on harming or harassing the Army.

The Rev. John Arthur Perry died on July 2nd 1966 at Box Hill, Victoria State Australia.    

Most of the information related to The Salvation Army and the Skeleton Army is from: 

Menace to sobriety: When Salvationists fought Skeletons - BBC News

Many thanks to J.P. grandson of John Arthur Perry for sharing his Grandfather's journal with me.