THE “SALVATION ARMY.”

Kumara Times, Issue 2573, 20 September 1884, Page 3

THE “SALVATION ARMY.”

[CONRIBUTED.] Regarding a threatened advent of the “ Salvation Army,” the Mataura Ensign speaks, and its sentiments certainly have the merit of being open and undisguised :—“ Gore has for some time been threatened with an invasion by this the latest development of modern enthusiasm. We have been spared such an infliction so long as to induce us to hope that the blackguard storm would pass by, and that our streets would not be infested by a ragged mob of blasphemous vagrants who have adopted this discreditable means of earning a livlihood. True religion has no worse enemy than a fanatical and brutal display display like this. Anything that brings religion into contempt injures it, and the laceration of the mind by the Salvationist is no more acceptable to the Creator than the laceration of his body by the votary of Juggernaut; the antics of the dancing dervish are not more disgusting than the contortions of the Hallelujah Tinker. It is not the ‘ peace that passeth all understanding,” &c. 1 In singular accord, though differently expressed, is a leading church paper which says—“ The scripture rule is ‘ Let everything be done decently and in order but Mr Booth has invented a gospel of noise and tumult. 1 Not a novice or one newly come to the faith,’ is the apostolic precept: ‘ I fish for sinners in the gutter,’ says Mr Booth, * and when I have caught them, I set them to preach at once.’ ”

In Kumara we have faith in the Borough Council devising a remedy in the shape of an effective byelaw that will be more effective in stopping fanatical processions and ribald parody-singing, annoying the inhabitants, than all such expressions of disgust or contempt, which, after all, frequently defeat the end desired, by giving an excuse to objectionable parties to don the cloak of martyrdom.