The Washington herald., 1908-07-15
RELIGIONISTS MUST
ACCOUNT FOR FUNDS
Street Collections Will Be
Reported to Police.
ALL MEETINGS TO GET PERMITS
Salvation and Gospel Armies end
Central Union Mission Troubles
Settled at Conference with Com
missiOners-Street Sessions to Have
Music il Objection Is Not Raised

A definite and final arrangement Of IN
matter Of the conduct Of street religious
eervices by the Salvation Army. the Cos
pei Army, the Central Union Mission an,
bther organizations engaged in this work
was made yesterday afternoon at a con
ference held in the Office of Commissioner
West IN the District Building. between
Commissioners NIacfarland. West and
Morrow, Mai. Sylvester. and representa-
tves Of the several organizations
As a result Of the conference. which
look the place Of a public hearing before
the Commissioners. announced for to-day
four new regulations governing the mat.
ter were formulated and viii go into ef-
fect al once, as follows.
First-At the discretion Of the major
and superintendent OF police. permits
VIII be issued 10 organizations 10 oc-
cupy public space for religious serv-
ices.
Sec0nd-These PERMITS shall specify
not only the place where the gathering
IS 70 be held, but also the time Of oc-
cupsncy. 20 prevent conflicts between
rival organizations.
Third-The use Of drums and musical
instruments is permitted 10 the organ
izations. unless specific complaints are
made against IT, in which case. If the
superintendent Of police shall decide
that the reason for the complaint is
well founded, their use shall no longer
be permitted.
May Take Up Collections.
Fourth-Orgauizatioas holding serv-
ices, according TO licenses. are permit
ted TO take Up q public collection. but
10 other person or persons are allowed
this privilege.
II Is further ruled that the various or
ganizations shall report monthly 10 the
superintendent OF police the amounts col
lecJed by them and what disposition has
been made Of the funds
These rules. which were agreed upor
and approved by all concerned. appear
70 cover the case. Each and every or
ganization viii have its own place for
services and a set time for holding them
Conflicts OF hours and space are done
away with. and the question OF the pub
lie Offering settled Similar rules exis,
In many other cities
The ruling concerning the offerings
which specifies that no unlicensed person
shall be permitted 10 take a collection
ls the outcome OF complaints which have
been made frequently that many such
collections taken up by supposedly itln-
Grant preachers and teachers on the
streets amount to little more than or
binary street begging. which is prohibit
Cd by law.
Sylvester States Case.
When the conferees had assembled fl
Commissioner Vests Office. Commisslonei
hacfarland called upon Mai. Sylveste,
to state the case from the point OF view
Of the police. inasmuch as the entire
agitation, practically. IS the outcome Of
two cases Of arrest-one Of members Of
The Gospel Army. on one occasion. and
the other that Of several members Of
the Salvation Army last week
In the former instance. the complaint
was made against the Gospel Army by
the Central Union Mission. on the ground
that the beating Of the drums and playing
OF Instruments IN Market space greatly
disturbed their meetings in the Mission
Building. in Louisiana avenue The
second case, where members Of the sal
walton Army were the alleged offenders
was the result Of arrests made on the
complaint Of a number Of merchants en-
gagged in business IN Pennsylvania avenue.
between Ninth and Tenth streets.
Il Is said that about a year ago these
merchants made q similar complaint and
that the officers Of the army at that time
agreed that they would not continue the
use Of the Instruments In the confer
snCe yesterday It was brought out that
The officers OF the army have been trans
Tered since that time, and the present
ones had no knowledge Of the agreement
Fully satisfied by the result OF the con
ference OF yesterday. however. they are
agreed 10 stand by the new rules The
two cases before the Police Court will be
withdrawn at once. and the colIaterals
taken for the appearance Of the officers
arrested VIII be returned.
Among those who attended the confer
snce with the Commissioners were Col
R. z Holz and several subordinate OFF
GERS OF the Salvation Army: Gen w Z
NJhley. Of the Gospel Army Rev. F. D.
Power. representing the Central Union
Mission. and Fulton R Gordon. repre-
senting the Gospel Mission.
Salvation Army Satisfied.
Adjutant Charles Wiseman. in command
1f the Salvation Army in Washington.
when seen last night by a reporter for
The Washington Herald. said that the
rules made by the Commissioners met
With his approval
The adjutant said he thought such rules
we're necessary Tor The best. conduct Of all
legitimate organizations. In regard TO the
citing OF public space for public worship.
N. Wiseman believes the new rule will
n no way conflict with the movements Of
he Salvationiscs. provided the space is in
/ central location where a crowd can he
gathered All rules have met with his ap-
'roval and the approval Of other officers
II the army. said Mr.. Wiseman. He con
inued. on behalf Of the Salvation Army
hat he was glad the difficulty had been
-micIbly settled and thanked the District
Commissioners and police officials for in
eres; shown during the last few days.