The Salvation Army.

Manawatu Standard, Volume IX, Issue 59, 11 February 1885, Page 2

The Salvation Army.

(UNITED PBKSS ASSOCIATION. 1 Blenheim, Fek 9. " The charge against a meinb.er of the Salvation i Army of exposing AVar Cries for sale on the public street on Sunday was dismissed. The defendant was m the habit of purchasing a^b'undlo of War Cries and distributing them m the striae ts, accepting money when offered, but generally giving them away for nothing. On this occasion a publican asked him for three copies, and gave him a threepenny piece, which he put into the Army box. 'Defendant so far from making a profit out of them, put all his takings into the box. The Magistrate considered the case trifling and trumpery, thougli he was clear that the Army had no right morally or legally to. sell War Cries on Sunday, and that if they had any regard for the sanctity of the Sabbath they would give up selling them. The charge against Horace Baker, of Wellington, for maliciously beating a drum to the annoyance of a resident; m Market Square, was also heard. It was contended ,by Mr Sinclair, for the defence, that boating a drum was part of the ordinary Salvation Army worship, and the Police Offences Act applied no more t6 it than to church bells. For the complainant Mr McNab contended that the whole proceedings wero a blasphemous mockery of religion, but that whether part of religious worship or not, the complainant must lie protected from aiinoj'nnce. His worship dismissed the case, holding that although the charge was proved and the complainant had good ground for laying the information, yet, as it was the first charge under the Act, and not a very serious nifttteiY.ho felt justified m acting under section 87, which gives a magistrate power to dismiss a; case when proved if it is of a trifling nature. His worship held that there was no analogy between a drum and church bells' as the latter would be a nuisance if carried round the streets and rung out of their place.