The Wilmingtonian., 1886-08-07
A Clear Decision.

Many of the citizens of various communit-
ties in this country while paying all proper
respect to any genuine religious attribute
claimed by or belonging to the strange
enthusiasts indifferently calling themselves
Salvationists, Heavenly Recruits, &C., will
experience an accession of relief in bearing
the decision of the Supreme Court of the
State of New Hampshire upon the mooted
point of public rights and the claims of
these devotees who demand, it may be said
without uugentleness, much more than is
their right when even judged by the code of
that greatest of men whom they call their
Leader.
Friday last, at Concord, N. H., the Su-
preme Court rendered decision denying
the right of the Salvation Army to beat their
drums in the streets of any city, town, or
village of the State.
The defendants claimed that their drum
mings were in obedience to the dictates of
their conscieuces, as au act Of religious wor-
ship.
The Court held that this was no defence
that no act of religious worship can be
allowed to disturb the public peace or vic.
late reasonable police regulations.
In Wilmington we have had experience Of
the Salvationlsts.
But case in point in this city has occur
red within the last two months which has
demonstrated that the religionists or church
people who attend divine service, regularly
after orthodox fashion on Sunday, to be by
comparison with the enthusiasts referred to. a
much more exemplary body than their noisy
neighbors in so far as the ''greater COM
mandment" given out by the Great Exem.
plar, is concerned.
The case is that of the recently introduced |
Heavenly Recruits who during some weeks |
past have occupied vacant lot on Tenth |
street between Poplar and Walnut Here
they pitched their tent, and as is usually |
their custom prosecuted their religious wor-
ship with all the noisy demonstration that is |
their daily custom. This was tolerated dur
ing week days but upon Sundays when hun
dreds of other christians gathered for orderly |
and quiet, aud it is believed none the less |
genuine purposes, in contiguous places of |
worship, the incessant din and bowling
sounds waited from the locality of the
Heavenly Recruits, morning aud evening,
during successive Sundays, made the devo
tions of these woIshipers in their regular
places of devotion almost impossible to be
carried on. On occasion the preachers
words in sermon or prayer were hindered
by the untuneful, intrusive and vigorous |
bellowings of the distant enthusiasts. and to
such an extent that the minister couId not
be followed on account of this distrac-
ton which was great annoyance all through
the service both to the congregation and the
clergyman.
But the church that was annoyed in this
manner while attempting to conduct then
church service made no complaint against
their brethren, hoping Sunday after Sunday
that the thoughtlessness of their conduct
might strike the logical mind of some one or
other of the Recruits.
1t was vain hope however and the an
noyance had to be endured for many Sun.
days.
Now, who was right in this case? Who
had the right of protection and vindication.
that is supposing the aggrieved parties cared
to invoke legal protection We think the
latter party showed the truer split of
Christianity in their greater forbearance.
And the question is what title to mupiei.
pal, much less christian consideration has
any body of people who prove themselves
lacking in those commonly looked for es.
sentiais of civilization and common sense de.
mand, viz: an ability for ntuitivc, voluntary
consideration of the possible rights of their
neighbors, to be felt and shown outside of a
forced, police inhibition of their modps oper-
andf which public inhibition all pron,r
christian communities hesitate TO use, even
under compulsion and in self protection
against their neigbbors, protesting ohrist..
ians or otherwise.