The “Salvation Army” and the Village of Glencoe

Free Press, Jan. 28, 1886 [...]

The “Salvation Army” and the Village of Glencoe.
To the Editor of the Free Press.

[...] About three years ago, the Salvation Army people, with their fanaticism, came from a distance and took up their quarters here. At first they were kindly received by several of the ministers of religion, and serious-minded church members who thought they saw good in the effort. Soon, however, the ribald character of the movement developed, and the clergy pretty quickly changed their opinions! The unusual antics of the Army going down in the mud of the streets to pray (the muddler the spot the better), the fanatical exhortions, the impious appeals to the Deity, the frantic shouts, the noise of the drum and tambourine, and the yells and derisive cheers and sneers of the onlookers in response to the ecstatic shouts and exclamations of the leaders – drew forth the ridicule of the unwashed and the comtempt of the relfective. The novelty of these outdoor exhibitions of intemperate zeal wearing off, the street urchins and others took to “chaffing” the Army. Reprisals ensued, and the law has several times been invoked. Respectable people here have been shamefully accused and fined on the venal, trumped-up tesimony of “disturbing the Army,”