Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1883.

Poverty Bay Standard, Volume X, Issue 1252, 20 January 1883, Page 2

Poverty Bay Standard. Published Every Evening. GISBORNE: SATURDAY, JANUARY 20, 1883.

The Salvation Army, if we are to believe in the statements made by the Colonial Press, will shortly march through New Zealand, and we can only express a hope that they will not visit Gisborne. True religion is not unculcated by a flaunting of banners or a masquerade such as those indulged in during the times of “ Good Queen Bess.” The “ Army” consists of officers, ranking from commander-in-chie£ down to full privates, and possibly it has attached to it an “ Awkward Squad.” This insane movement is just the very thing in this sceptical age to damn rather than to encourage a religious spirit amongst I the people at large. The “ Auckland Star” says:—“Our opinion of the Salvation Army was expressed some time ago, and we do not find in the documents submitted to us anything calculated to alter that view, viz , (1) that the military organisation is opposed to the genius of Christianity, and (2) that the language employed by their converts on platforms and in tneir newspapers sounds like a travesty of true religion ; but that (probably because of the first point, and in spite of the second) a vast amount of good has been accomplished among the neglected masses of the Home population. Had ihe Army confined its operations to the wide field which it finds in the large cities of the old country, we would have had nothing further to say. But, in view of the threatened “invasion,” we are perfectly justified in enquiring what has been done by these colonies, and NewZealand in particular, to desevre this delicate attention. If we ask—Why is the Salvation Army sending officers to the Colonies ? we shall, of course, be answered—To convert the godless to Christianity; and granting that there are among us a few Materialists and practical Atheists, it is surely fair that we should ask—What kind of men are being sent to accomplish the conversion of these people ? One of the pamphlets now before us supplies the reply to the last question. From it we learn that Captain Sutherland, who is the leader or the movement in Adelaide, was “ a poor, drunken, swearing farrier, when the Army crossed his path in Hackney, London.” We do not know, but we presume that the gentleman sent to New Zealand will oe of the same calibre, as most of the “ officers” of the Army are made up of such converts.” With these views we are in accord, and can assure any “officers” of the Army who may be sent to Gisborne that we (speaking editorially) shall warmly welcome him.