Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1883-01-23
A nlslsTER suRO rOR LIaEL,
"iialleiRjah Laases's Described
as "a Band Of Hungry
COrmOrants."


WAo W niIeueau ana MIS-.
Sophia l.. ID. Marshall, two "Hallelu.
jah lasses," or female members Of the
Salvation Army at Patterson, N. j.,
have brought suits for Islander against
the Rev. Charles Pelletresu, rector Of
the Protestant Episcopal church OF
the molly Communion in that city.
The papers were served yesterday.
Each of the plaintiffs claim $4,000
damages. The alleged slanderous ut
terances we're made 10 q sermon which
MI. Pelletreau preached to bis CON
gregration on last Sunday, in which he
severely denounced the Salvation
Army and its methods.
No especial reference was made in
the sermon to the plaintiffs in the suit.
and tits thought that the leaders OF the
army, who were very indignant at the
minister's sctthing rebuke, held a
conference and selected the two
women to bring the action, they both
being we'll to do and likely to excite
sympathy for their cause. The suit
cannot be tried until the April term
Of the court.
The sermon, which was published
in the Patterson Press on the day
after 1t was delivered, caused much
talk, most Of it favorable to the cler-
gyman. The following are the strong
est passages in Mr.. Pelletreau' s sermon
the text of which was from Matt. Xxx.
II: III the blind lead the blind, both
shall fall into the ditch"
l have the best reason to belive that
these people are actuated by anything
but the highest motives IN giving their
support to a bold, shameless religious
rowdyism. The very bills that are
posted on our walls and fences are
enough to disgust any sober minded
person. They deal in monstrous and
blasphemous parodies Of the most
sacred acts in a mans spiritual train
ing, and deal with the Sacred Name
as they would with that of some low
bred companion with whom they were
on terms of easy familiarity.
Their worship supports a large mum :
Der OF lazy, worthless fellows who
disgrace the absurd gaifOrm that they
wear, by flirting with silly minded
young women on The public thorough.
fares. 1t disturbs private citizens BY
nightly exhibitions Of minstrelsy,
gathering about its noisy members
the very refuse of our slums. and
subjecting law abiding people to in.
suits from the loafers that follow in
its train.
l look upon the members of thi.
band as a lot Of hungry cormorantl
let loose upon a community to destroy
all the real good that faithful, God
fearing men are labOring to accom-.
pllsh. Young women are absent from
their homes until IL, | and 2 o'clock il
the night, and are betrayed and ruined
through the indirect influence of a
body OF low men and women who
preach gutter slang and call it Chris.
tianity. If we can find no mightiel
leverage than this to elevate the Life
of our people, in the name of God lei
us leave them alone, for whatever sin,
they may have to answer for, bias.
phemy against the holy name of Jesu:
will not be among the number.
1t is a cruel, disgusting monstrosi,
ty, a poisonous excrescence thrusI
upon a community against their will
aud abhorrent TO all their finer anC
better interests.
Why should you as citizens be taxed
to pay for police protection to a set o
fanatics whose meetings are tenfolC
less respectable than the Bowery
Theater? Do the Christian churcheI
Of this city find it necessary to station
a uniformed officer at their doors /,
prevent scenes of rOwdyism aud OBJ
scenity.
The foul jests, the coarse inuuendoes
the impious slang that one must heaI
who mingles With the crowds that pat
ronize this infamy are suggestive o
corrupt brothels rather than assem
blies Of converted sinners. If this il
religion, if this is morality, | woulC
say to all who have never come uudel
its influence, shun it as a man would
shun a poisonous viper. Pass it b,
on the other side. Do what yoi
can to crush it and drive it away. 1
1t ever leaves, there are some parts O
our city that will need moral disin
f~ectants to rid them of the poisonous
odors that will remain.
Pixies TOOthaehe Drops cure n