The Salvation Army.

Thames Star, Volume XIV, Issue 4484, 19 May 1883, Page 1 (Supplement)

The Salvation Army.

The degeneracy of the age has caused to bud into life a number of institutions which have, ostensibly, for their purpose, the regeneration—spiritually speaking—-, of mankind. One of its latest novelties^ is the Salvation > rmy. We very recently had occasion to refer to the threatened advent of this body in oar midst, and we endeavored to point out the undesirable* ness of countenancing such mountebanks, but since then the numerous instances of the mischief wrought by them, and the countless discoveries of the humbug upon which thoy are travelling, have cropped up that it would be dereliction on our part were we not to enter some protest against the encroachments of these money •seekiug adventurers, who are dragging religion in the miro, and sacreligtpusly bringiug into contempt, things divine. No record is kept of the doings of these creatures, no account is taken of their collections. Not one individual has the least idea as to how the money they procure—-from the possessors of the souls which are to bo saved by them from the lire—is to be spent, and only the members of their own community have an opportunity ot ascertaining what is. done with the funds bo abundantly.

supplied to them by a portion of a gullible public. It appears somewhat remarkable that such people as the members of the Congregational, or any other Church, should approve of the actions of such " a crew," and allow those travelling showmen to make use of th*»ir places of worship, and congregations for their own purposes. We see by our telegrams that " There will be ' blood and fire ' at t.e Onehunga Congregational Church on Monday night, when Captain Ted Wright and Lieutenant Johnny Bowerman, will appear on behalf of the Salvation Army." Now, this is Tery deplorable ; a decided confession of weakness on the part of the Congregational Ministry i Q Onehunga; and if permitted or approved of by the congregation, a direct vote of want of confidence in their minister. Surely the I denomination! referred to can supply their pulpits with ut falling back on a lot of uneducated ranting vulgarians, whose origin as a rule has been of the lowest, whose ranks are filled from the lists of reformed criminals, aod who—although their brethren have been of much benefit among classes where a clergyman would not be allowed—are not likely to make many converts among the classes they are likely to preach to. It seems marvellous to us to read such things. We have not the slightest taint or tinge of intolerance, and have even thought it deplorable that so many divisions should exist in the' camp of worshippers in our sublunary sphere, .but such divisions are in themselves sufficiently regretful, without an additional one being made by lucrehunting interlopers who have not the merit of sound preaching, charitable practices, scriptural education in the smallest degree, or ability of any order — save accumulating money-—to recommend them. We trust that the grave error permitted by the Onehunga Congregationalists will not be repeated by any other branch of their religion, or by the members of any other body of worshippers. .