SALVATION ARMY.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1955, 27 September 1888, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY.

TO THE EDITOR. Sir,— lv reading over your valuable columns last ovenlng I noticed that the Salvation Army Captain had been fined for obsttuolDg the street. I have noticed before this that onr looal authorities or eomo one else appear ve?y anxious to get tho Army convicted, and now they have succeeded. Ido not think It Is muoh to their credit. It Is not my business to go Into the real liw of the matter. I hava no doubt that our J.P.'a and police had something to go upon, but does it not appear remarkable that bo tnaoh troab'e should be taken to catch these harmless people, who are trying In their well-known I way to do good tr thoae who need It 1 i They try to follow bat tbe injanotlon to "go out into the highways and compel them to come m," and so that some may rhear they stand In our street and inviteIt Is well known that tbe Army trie) to raise the lowest of the low, and make them good oitizons m tho beat nenae of tbe word They have won many from the downward path of sin end shame. They have gone to the outcast and bldth>m "Oomel" while other peoplo stand idiy by, and deolaro they can do nothing. Many a poor wanderer has been attracted fiom gin shops by their bands and dinging. All people ara bound to cay they do good ' to a oenain olaaa, and mentally pat them On their backs, but at the same time they must uot parade our Btroeta hnro In Ashburton ; they are so crowded ! I should like to know how it la that other large towns, suoh as Ohrlstcharoh, Danadln, eta, do not prevent them Are their streets not so crowded? I think they are It may be that our police havo no*i muoh to do and want work If that la bt, I wish they would kindly divert some of their attention to preventing oar oltlzma from gutting the worse for liquor on Sundoya. It is commonly reported tha v . drink can ba got any Sunday In town, and that drinking Is going on oonMnually. Why, Sir, only last Sunday I know several wellkoown men were seen the worse for drink. I think If the law were enforced more strictly to keep publloanß, tfcafc will break It, In order, It would be better than pursuing the harmless and useful Salvation Army, who mean well to all mm and evil to none. I think It would be creditable If the authorities were to render all tbe assistance they can to help the Army In their noble work of rescue. I have great reppect for the law, but I detest i's being made to press heavily on come while others are continually winked at for the breach of It. Why cannot all the people be made to oitoply with tho Wvr 1 when we 1 pay so men for that purpose ? With the power the police hava every house m the town could be dosed at the legal tlmo if they set themselves to It m earnest. It is a farce to call them doted when all the , doors In the house are open, but one, and the bar lighted up on Sunday evenings. With thanks for spaoe, I am, eto , '• Not One 01? The Army, 1 But a Well wisher