The Salvation Army and their Alleged Social Work.

Wanganui Herald, Volume XXXXIII, Issue 12585, 5 October 1908, Page 7

The Salvation Army and their Alleged Social Work.

TO THE BDITOB.

Sir, — Just a small space in your valuable columns re above wilL open the ey«jß of the public. We hear it on every h-tnd, "Oh, they do more good than all the churches put together!" Indeed! Now, sir, I never go to church, but must «fjy they (churches) do not stoop to such tactics as standing otiteide a public house, and calling it the house of Slioll, an.l immediately afterwards sending the .lower of their womanhood into the same iiousH to bsg money from the keeper of the lintel, and his customers, after blaspheming a!! connected with his place. The churches do not provide meals for the derelicts of humanity by begging the very food in the name of charity, ;>ud then selling it at a handsome profit, thus deceiving the average of the public, who really think they are helping some poor starving soul, but it is only a false impression. If space would, permit I couH pen aome horrible practices that would make the public shudder. Just one instance. It happened in. Sydney, and this is a disgusting state of affairs. A rran applied for admission to the People's PaTace, Sydney, and not having the exact amount to pay for hie bed was refused admission, and was picked up stone oead on their very doorstep afterwards. Of course, the system has got the average number of a generous and confiding public blinded, but it will coflie out yet, as' it simply reeks with deception, and eventually the Government will have to interfere and run things in this respect thpmsrlvrs, as is the duty of every Stats. I am, etc.,

A. PICARD

Wanganui, October 3rd, 1908. ("Soma of the methods adopted by the

Salvation Army may be open to question, and mistakes rfre doubtless made, but the work must be judged as a whole and from a broad staiwipoint. Few who judge of the social efforts of the Army from this basis but will admit that ihe organisation is doing a great and noble work, well worthy the support of all. — uJd. W.H.].