§ MR. WILLIAM JOHNSTON (Belfast, S.)I beg to ask the Chief Secretary to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland whether he is aware that several members of the Salvation Army were arrested on Sunday the 6th instant, in Abbey Street, Dublin, and brought before Mr. Mahony, the divisional magistrate, who, in sentencing them to fines, accused them of profanity; and that, on Sunday the 13th instant, two members of the Salvation Army walking up and down at the same place were surrounded by a mob who struck one of them three times; and whether steps will be taken to protect the Salvation Army in Irish towns.
§ THE CHIEF SECRETARY FOR IRELAND (Mr. G. W. BALFOUR, Leeds, Central)My attention has been directed to the proceedings referred to in this question. I understand that counsel acting on behalf of the accused has applied to the magistrate to state a case for the decision of a Superior Court, and this being so, my hon. friend will concur with me in the opinion that it is undesirable to further discuss the matter at the present stage. With reference to the last paragraph, it would be the duty of the police to afford such protection; but it does not follow from this that Salvationists, or other open-air preachers, are entitled to carry on their services in such a way as to cause an obstruction of the public thoroughfare, or to endanger the preservation of the public peace.
MR. T. M. HEALYIs it not the fact that the proceedings of the Salvation Army disturb the services of a number of Protestant and Presbyterian churches in the street in which they assemble, and was it not for their protection that the police intervened?
§ MR. G. W. BALFOURI understand they intervened because they considered the "army" were causing an obstruction of the highway.