Salvationist Groans For The Sins of Society

NZ Truth, Issue 1186, 23 August 1928, Page 1

Salvationist Groans For The Sins of Society

Scriptural Advice

WILD THUMP ON THE BIG DRUM — '■ , '•#: ■ ■ ' ' ■ ■ ■ -.'i . ■ ■ ■ , CITIZENS CONDEMN§|> AS LOST SOULS? The principle of focusing hitter, sweeping attacks upon the tenets and faith of any religious body is abhorrent to " N.Z. Truth, " but m view of the complacent and immoderate gestures which have recently manifested themselves m the ranks of the Salvation Army, it is felt that the present situation offers direct encouragement for strong comment. One detects a strain of cant m these wide, wild wailings.

TO the plain man or woman, anything which smacks of theatricalism m public religious ceremonies, savors also of Eastern fanaticism and tubthumping cant. The whole of New Zealand was amazed, nay, frankly aghast, to hear that the Salvation Army executive had seen fit to stage a parade to mourn and deprecate "the sins of Auckland." Who is Commissioner James Hay, controlling officer of the Army m this country, that he. should arrogate the right of dubbing himself the peeper of Public Morals, m that he proposes tactlessly to address the credulous on I "The damning sins of Auckland," on August 31? It appears that by some obliquity of judgment, he . would persuade the publie-~»that : '> i "co deep-rooted is the canker of vileness m Auckland, that shock tactics is the only possible weapon to employ m arousing sinners from their apathy. He infers that modesty and tact m religious brgariizatidns are but anaemic products of bygone thought. „It is regrettable, indeed, that such an organization as the Sal- . vation Army, admirable as it is m many ways, should lend itself to vulgar pronouncements such as those formulated and advised by Hay. Is the Salvation Army sincere m its belief that public morals m Auckland have sunk to such a level of iniquity — or is this parade through the streets merely a somewhat blatant effort of self-advertisement?

If sincerity is the touchstone of such an attitude, arid it is the intention of Salvationists to flaunt themselves before the Auckland public, it must be affirmed that sincerity of this flavor is zeal ill-favored and method ill-begot-ten. From what divine authority did the Salvation Army receive special dispensation to declaim from the housetops the shortcomings of mankind? If the aim is to emphasize the need for a new mould m social and moral behavior, it is likely that the pharisaical procedure of shouting and trumpeting will achieve little more than exasperation In the hearts of those who are attracted towards a more tolerant attitude. The flaunting of religious beliefs has little to commend it, and instead of eliciting universal sympathy, usually achieves scarcely more than Ironic comment. In the proposed exhibition of emotionalism on August 31, one perceives a strong suspicion of apoplectic pessimism. Negative suggestions that any city op community is ill-favored m its public conduct accomplish negative results. If Commissioner Hay and his controlling officers have conceived the impression that they may overcome the sneers of case-rhardened breakers of morality's regulations, then their opin-

ions on mob psychology need immediate adjustment. The suggested demonstration appears as a veritable hurricane iri a quart measure; a gush of ■ qtiasiintolerance wedded to the extraordinary opinion that sin and wickedness breathe through every small pleasure and that the joy of we moderns springs from the well of iniquity. /. • It is an old, pathetically old, cry}" andwhereas it once upon a time was,accorded earnest attention, one ■ : jiow hears the peal, of incredulity following in' its wake, the voices of thdse'^vhp long ago. ceased to regard thena^ibh-, hood as a body corporate of depravity and evil; who, apprehending;;jQie^%i>odi' yet observed the twists ;;ini;|jife^an^^ sought to straighten rathe^^tt^ffi^

So over-righteous is the Salvation Army's condemnation of Auckland's citizenry; so lavishly has the brush of malediction been swept over its public life; that one very much doubts whether the Army executive has found sufficient time or opportunity' for studying those Biblical phrases which appear so apposite m application to the Army corps. '■■.'■ We. commend to their earnest consideration. a . passage of Scripture, wherein \ the world is enjoined to 'tf lidg©' not, .that ye be not judged," m the 'belief 'that it -has escaped their observation and on the presumption that the Army authorities have not placed themselves on so high a pedestal of jg^j£udie>, that they are beyond need of ■ ,- r,^'/^f^ V,

Now, is the Salvation Army so purblind to its own shortcomings that it has failed to observe the necessity for cleaning the interior of its own edifice? It is humbly suggested that such is the case. What has Commissioner Hay to say of/ the methods employed by some Salvationists m conducting a drive for the raising of money? Does he countenance the collection of money or the sale of the "War Cry" m hotel bars, where weary men have repaired for a glass of beer; the pestering of men, who, far from being drunkards and wastrels, seek the cheerful atmosphere of the hotel for a few minutes' pleasant companionship andjinodeisiajte^liquid?; refreshment ? '■:.:: ; . To^the moderate viewpoint/ this -pestering. ' /solicitation is nothing short of shrewdly bludgeoning "sinning" habitues of public-houses into contribution; a battening upon those who have the temerity to buy themselves a drink. The attitude of some Salvationist collectors seems to be that men who drink liquor should pay for their sins. A number of men who have collec-tion-boxes thrust before them have not the presence of mind to refuse, although they realize afterwards that the system of. attempting to shame men into giving alms is all wrong. - If Commissioner Hay is aware of these practices and endorses them, does he consider they emphasize a parallel with his ill-timed utterances concernIs It Hay Fever? ing Auckland — or does he acknowledge that his organization has exemplified the parable of the mote and the beam? "And why beholdest thou the mote that, is m thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is m thine own eye?" . In the ranks of the Army to-day there appears too great a predilection for shouting the cry: "Declension, declension," m respect of our mode of living. Salvationists might reply that the •Salvation Army is granted more opportunities than are other denominations for encountering sin and depravity, but it may be that officers m other churches have equally as many chances of perceiving the world's misfortunes and misfits, but nave acquired — or developed — a more tactful, less blatant method of treatment.The latest proposal of the Salvation Army savors of fussy self-conceit — a reflection of intolerant bias which can achieve but little good — and is calculated to undermine the really fine work which this somewhat unorthodox corps of religionists has accomplished. • A more generous meed of tolerance, an infinitely less . proportion of commercialism and a repression of such pointless, provoking demonstrations of self- virtue and self-praise, would commend itself immediately to , those m need of spiritual assistance.