Early opposition

Not everyone appreciated The Salvation Army’s boisterous open-air meetings and loud band marches through the main streets of Albury. During the late 19th century and early 20th century many local councils employed a person in the role of “Inspector of Nuisances”. The role seems to have had a wide-ranging job description that allowed various inspectors to harass the early Salvation Army!

An 1894 report in The Salvation Army newspaper The War Cry carries an article titled The Albury Difficulty in which it details a case being brought against local Salvationists for allegedly obstructing a local street. … in consequence of which the Captain and several of our comrades were sentenced to pay a fine and are daily expecting to have to take up their quarter in goal for not doing so. But despite this early opposition, The Salvation Army in Albury thrived, and continues to maintain a vibrant presence in the city today.