SALVATIONIST RIOTING. Exciting Scene at an "Army Meeting.

Te Aroha News, Volume II, Issue 80, 13 December 1884, Page 5

SALVATIONIST RIOTING. Exciting Scene at an "Army Meeting.

On the evening of the 16th in«t., the usual evening services of the Salvation Army at the Protestant Hall, Castlereagh-street, Sydney, were the scene of a disturbance that eventually terminated in a most alarming manner. Shortly after the band had played the opening hymn it was evident that among the audience, numbering some two thousand people, there were several more on amusement than salvation intent. The interjections of "Glory be to God" and "Hallelujah" were intersdersed with "Hear, hear," and a duet of groans on more than one occasion. Matters, however, gradually grew worse as the service proceeded. First one offender was removed by a " Sergeant " of the army, and then the man of stripes was called on to eject another. The delinquent objecting to this proceeding, and snowing fight, the stalwart son of ' l blood and fire, '^despite the struggles of his larrikin antagonist, took him on the nursing principle,andwiththea»sistanceofacomrade succeeded in clearing the gallery of his presence. Meanwhile the friends of tho ejected one had left their seate, and, following in the wake of their friend or companion, were ursing him to let the Salvation guardians of the peace "have it." To drown, if possible, the noise caused by this unseemly interruption, and the disturbance consequent thereon, the bands launched forth into " Where the living waters flow." After a short time quietness again reigned, only to be followed with another interruption from the opposite side of the gallery. The "captain" from the stage then ordered two more of the audience "to leave the houseatonce." The "named" parties, amidst the breathless attention of the whole house, carried out this order by rising and leaving their seats. One, however, so far forgot himself, or otherwise through spirit of bravado, as to cover his head before leaving the gallory. " Remove that man's hat," shouted the captain," and removod it was accordingly, only to be replaced. " Does anyone know the names of those two men?" formed the next interrogation of the Salvation Army loader. No one claiming that honour, then followod tho storn command, "Put them out, and give them in charge to tho police for creating a disturbance." This was the finishing stroke. The excitement, momentarily increasing, now reached its climax. Men and women rose en masse, and made for the door, out of which tho semiprisoners had just been hustled. The crush of the staircase leading to the exit door would have been bad under the circumstances alone, but as if to swell the roll of accidents already chronicled on this score pending the ai'rival of the polico, the means of egress were blocked at the foot of the staircase by the door being closed. Close scrutiny revealed tho fact that under the stairs a guard of five '"sergeants " held their temporary prisoners in custody, and to prevent the escape of the offenders the innocent were made to suffer. After repeated expostulations one half of the door was opened, through which a half panicstricken crowd, urged on partially by fear and pressure combined, hastily escaped. At one moment the crush assumed a serious aspect, and although there were a number of bruises sustained, the injuries received were of a trifling character. On the arrival of the police, who promptly attended when called on, no arrests were made ; but the names of the offenders were officially ascertained.