SALVATION ARMY PERSECUTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Evening Post, Volume XLVI, Issue 52, 30 August 1893, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY PERSECUTION. TO THE EDITOR.

Pin — "Things aro not always what they seem." r.n ' the reported speeches dnlivered at the " inuitmation " meetings at Petone and Taranaki-strcet lemind one of the old Scriplure " zeal without knowledge." I think, sir, when the facts of the chso aro laid before the public, it will be spi n that Mr. Hawkins, X.SI , who is already highly respected in the Tokomairiro District us an impartial judge, has not exceeded his duty, but has rather tempered justice with mercy. I do not hold a brief from Mr. Hawkins, but fair play demands that all the facts of the case shonld be made public, which are the following :— For nine yearß past the Salvation Army has paraded the streets of Milton with a flourish of trnmpets and flying banners without any interference from the Borough Council, although contrary to one by-law. The Salvation Army officers in charge, with their contingent, have posted themselves outside certain publichouses, and according to the evidence given at the recent trial used insulting language to the proprietors or those establishments. During a recent visit of Major Robinson (Salvation Army) he led the attack against a certain publican, to the annoyance of the latter person and the readers of the Athenamm, which adjoins the publichouse. In tho opinion of many of the soldiers of the Salvation Army the Major on this occasion acted very indiscreetly indeed, »nd told the publican that he had an old score of eight years' standing to pay off. The menaolng manoeuvres of the Salvation Army induced the publican to put into opera ion his gong and bell, to counteract the sweet strains (?) discoursed by the Salvation Army Band. The Jarrikinß joining in the fray, onr little town was soon in a state of riot and disorder. Happily no blood was shed, but expletives were employed which were a oredit to neither party. Complaints were then made to tho Borough Council by many of the business people, and which was sent to the Salvation Army with a copy of the by-law that parading the streets without permission and disturbing the community would not be tolerated. Ignoring this kindly warning, the Salvation Army continued their offensive operations, and Borne of ths soldiers were summoned, who, after a patient hearing, were fined Ss and costs. The desired effect was not produced, and from a spirit not Christian, but of bravado, the Salvation Army defied the representatives of peace and order. Receiving reinforcements Irom Dnnedin, the Salvation Army carried on the war with a great deal of animosity, with the result indicated in-a recent telegram, that Captain Kerr (Salvation Army) was fined £3, or a month's imprisonment. Sir, 1 have always been, and am still, as a Christian minister, a sympathiser with the Salvation Army wh(-n carrying on Christian work, but when it descends to become a disturber of the peace, and tha unnecessary promoter of riotous proceedings, the sympathies of rightthii king, peace-loving people at onoe become alienated. Permission wonld have been given to tb« Salvation Army, ai it

was given to the pnblio band, to parado the streets, if npplied t«v, bnt tins was a course HUKgehtins defeat to the Snl\ ation Army, which the,} couM not tolorutti. The Salvation Army bnve a right to be pro. tectod, and so have peace-loving lnw-nhii'ing citizenß. The Prince of Peace haa left <m record many Hubliine utterances, not the least of which is, '"Hemler unto CieKar the things that are CiEFar's, and to God the things that are God's. ' ' lam, &c, J. G. Chapman, Milton. Wellington, 29th August.