Early opposition

Charters Towers was a roughshod miners town in the early days and the Salvation Army’s band marches and passionate street preaching wasn’t always greeted with enthusiasm. During some open-air meetings it’s reported that the men would form and outer circle around the women Salvationists to protect them from street ruffians. On some occasions Christian prize-fighters would step in to help deal with the intruders! Despite such interruptions, The Salvation Army in Charters Towers thrived and was at one stage the biggest Salvation Army corps (church) in Australia with street marches of 1000 people, led by officers mounted on white horses.