The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1884.
It is really time, that something were done to put a stop to the public nuisance created by the Salvation Army.street processions, and the accompanying proceed* ings of a number of persons who do not apparently agree with the method of street worship adopted by the Army. During the last few nights most disgraceful proceedings have taken place, even eggs of an uncertain age, but possessing a most positive odour, have been hurled at those who march through the streets singing sacred words to profane tunes. These actions are very annoying to the public generally, and they hare every right to demand protection, when the peace is violated by any one. We don't sympathise with either party as both are blameable for the disturbances we complain of, and while deprecating the unruly behaviour of the interrupting body, we mast admit that the street performances of the Army are equally annoying to a number of persons whose religious views are in accordance with order and quietness. It is quite unnecessary to go into the subject of the desirableness of the existence of such bodies as the Salvation Army, any consideration of their merits or demerits, or a thought as to their sincerity or other qualities; all we hare to consider is the public peace and popular convenience. If either be interfered with by any person or persons the offender or offenders should be brought to a sense of duty by the officers appointed for preservation of the peace. The first processionists may urge that it is not they who cause a disturbance. This is absurd ; they are the origin of the nuisance, and seeing that, their movements against the public peace should be stopped. They have the same means and method open to them to carry on their forms of worship as other persons have; they are, through the liberality of their patrons, provided with an extensive hall wherein they may publish their doe* trine?, deliver their diatribes to their heart's content, and please their followers without end ; and anyone not desiring to listen to their preaching, follow their teachings, or be beguiled into contributing to their support need not attend their meetings; but the line must be drawn somewhere, and when this body of people —small in number though they be— interfere with the! public peace, we protest against it. Let them continue their practices in their hall, and carry out their views amongst themselves, but we most emphatically urge that they have no right to annoy respectable and quiet-loving people by their public processions and attendaut performances. Not only ia tbe nuisance we have referred to to be considered, but when a so-called officer of this body goes so far as to use language calculated to provoke a breach of the peace, viz., threatening to ride down persons who propose to march abroad as he and his party are in the habit of doing, it is surely tjoje for (be ftythoritieij to py some *tte&»
tion to the snbjeot. We feel called upon to ask for an interference by the peace officials in this matter, and if the law does not provide means for putting a stop to such unseeiDly/proceediDgs as have lately been -witnessed in connection with this body and its processions, steps should be taken by the Borough Council to frame a by-law preventing the public beiDg annoyed, and securing orderliness in the Borough thoroughfares.
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Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4770, 23 April 1884, Page 2
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581The Evening Star. PUBLISHED DAILY AT FOUR P.M. Resurrexi. WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 1884. Thames Star, Volume XV, Issue 4770, 23 April 1884, Page 2
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