In Britain, You Can Lose Your Job For Wearing A Crucifix, And Nobody Cares. Compare This With The Situation In Dartford In 1906 . . .

The following Article is taken from DARTFORD TOWN ARCHIVE

Dartford Salvation Army Brass Band.

Picture Credit: Dartford Museum.

In defence of the Salvation Army - wild scenes on the streets of Dartford.

There was a massive and fervent response to the arrest of Dartford's Salvationists. A defence committee was formed to co-ordinate the protest campaign. Public meetings of protest attracted large crowds; protest marches were held and banners, slogans and posters appeared all over the town.

Banners declared 'IMPRISONED FOR CONSCIENCE SAKE'; 'DEFEND RELIGIOUS AND PERSONAL LIBERTY' and 'WE DEMAND LIBERTY TO PREACH CHRIST'. 15,000 people gathered at Dartford Station to welcome home the prisoners when released from jail, two of them still wearing their prison uniforms bearing broad arrows.

During the course of the exuberant celebrations the Dartford police were stoned and pelted with rotten fish heads and bad eggs. Hooligans used the occasion to vent their spleen on the local constabulary. Dartford's Superintendent Poole was pelted for four hours. Policemen were stoned to the station. There were violent speeches at the Drill Hall - a torrent of rancorous abuse.

CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNT FROM THE DARTFORD PAPER.