The Observer.

Observer, Volume 7, Issue 225, 3 January 1885, Page 2

The Observer.

Satukda?, Janhtaby 3, 1885. THE SALVATION BABBLE. From time to time I have been impelled by a sense of duty to denounce in strong terms the vagaries of the band of fanatics who have dubbed themselves an Army. They consist for the most part of ignorant and bumptious blatherskites, who imagine that they have been divinely called to save the world, and that the most effiiacious process of saving men and women is to din salvation into their ears with^ discordant brass instruments and energetic pounding on big drums. The pride that apes humility is shown in the impertinent obtrusivencss with which these self- called evangelists assume that all other folk are depraved and wicked, the offensive manner"""* in which they flop down in front of private I houses inhabited by better people than them- M selves, and deliver incoherent raphsodies through their noses. Two scenes I witnessed the other day which were shockingly repulsive to anyone who retains genuine respect for religion. A group of Salvationists had taken, up their stand on the Queen-street wharf. Among the so-called "soldiers" were two or three under-sized, bandy-legged, mis-shaped abortions of humanity, who would have disgraced even Falstaff's ragged army, and there were several spindle-shanked, crooked, cada-verous-looking consumptives whose proper place is a hospital for incurables. JJne greasy, hypocritical fellow, with an unniistakeable criminal type of countenance, was haranging the bystanders in an incoherent jargon of exhortations through his nose. "A few|,%, coppers more to make the big drum start — '% only a few more for ' Jesus!" he appealed, J% and a lot of grinning bushmen contemptuously threw in a shower of pence, just as I remember to have seen in the days of street , tumbling in London.

The other scene was in front of a wellconducted hotel in Freeman's Bay. A small band of salvation fanatics planted themselves in front of the house, while one of their number kneeled down in the road with his face towards the door, and with upraised hands, exhorted a few harmless and peacable men who were refreshing themselves at the bar to " come out of hell, and forsake Satan." Had the publican turned a hose on the crowd I think he would have done a meritorious act. Why the police do not interpose and stop these shameful and repulsive travesties on Christianity and public decency has long been a mystery to me. Are they afraid of the moral support and countenance which the Salvationists are supposed to receive from some of tne religious sects ? Were any other set of people to follow the example of the Salvationists they would probably be arrested under the Vagrant Act.

I am glad to see, however, that most of the leading journals in England are protesting against a continuance of the indecencies which characterise these open-air orgies. A leading Home paper says: — ''Among the most offensive annoyances of the present day in many country towns are the so-called religious processions and marchings, accompanied by brass bands and drums playing vulgar tune.?, to which the most sacred words are adapted. It is not surprising that these wretched burlesques of religion should excite the opposition of that portion of the mob not disposed to join them, and that street fights disgracing the very name of religion should be the 1 result. The free enjoyment of every religion is one of the principles of the time and of the country in which we live ; but it is an insult to common sense, and an abuse of the liberal toleration of the age, to permit any set of religionists, however sincere they maybe, to render themselves obnoxious and offensive to those who think differently from them. The streets of a town are for the purposes of traffic, and should at all times be free to passengei's. The occurrence of noisy processions, objectionable to a large number of the inhabitants and pedestrians, is to be regretted, not only from their offensive, character, but from their tendency to excite strife and discord, which are opposed to the cause they are supposed to serve."