SALYATION ARMY SOIREE.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 243, 15 October 1886, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY SOIREE.

Commissioner Howard and Marshal Barritt.

A Salvation Army toiroo for tho purpose of welcoming Commissioner Howard and Major Barritt, on tho occasion of tho former otlicer'a iirst viiifc to Auckland, took phico last night in the Choral Hall, and was largely attended. A contingent of tho Army, headed by the band nnd tho two subjects of tho ovation, and bearing gaudilycoloured banners, marched from the Barracks to the scene of festivities at six o'clock, and tho tea commenced shortly afterwards. Tho only dosorations inpidu the Hall was a largo white linon cloth depending from tho front of the gallery, and displaying in rod, yellow, and bluo lottors the inscription "Real Salvation, Love, and Welcome to our doar Commissioner." It was Hanked on ono Eiclo by the words, "Light, Life, Equality," and on the other by " War, Victory, Olcry."

Comaiissionor Howard oponed tho proceedings by expressing his ploastiro at Eocing co many present to welcome him, and by inviting tho assemblage to sing tho ITS'.h hymn.

Tho hymn was then sung to the sputtering of lariikine'equibs and crackers outpido, whilo tho last ver?e was accoinpaniod by tho fluttering of handkerchiefs in token of welcome, and tho singing wound up with a volley of applauso.

Aftor prayer, Commissioner Howard led oil the hymn "Sing Lord," accompanying himself on tho concertina.

Another hymn having boen sung, Major Barritt expressed his gratilication at ngalu boing privilogod to address tho Auckland branch. These woro the first of a series of mootings which would extond throughout tho colony, and ho hoped thoy would be greatly blesfed. Tho Major then road a portion of Scripture.

Commissioner Howard reiterated his ex pressions of pleasure at mooting tho frionds in Auckland, and hoped everyone would feel perfectly at home. He took exception to tho inecription on tho placaid outsido tho hali, " Commissioner Howurd of Australia," for ho belonged quito as much to Auckland and Now Zealand as to Australia. (Hallelujah.) Ho folt himself a thorough colonial, and he belonged to this end of tho world. Ho hoped the next timo ho visitod Auckland he would bring tho General with him. (Volloy of Hallelujahs.) He then invited tho audienco by joining with him in singing tho common experience of the sanctified, "At tho Cross I was saved."

Captain Wilson, of tho Thames, was tho next speaker. Ho blessed God that ho had boon saved, and kept so.

A woman's testimony followed, and then moro singing, led by tho Commissioner's concertina.

Commissioner Howard paid tliafc ho and hid coadjutor, Major liarritt, for tho latt six or eight wooks bnd been travelling through tho colony, and ho could havo wished that Auckland had boon at the beginning instead of at tho end of thoir heavy tour. Tho Salvation Army was tho last of a lon^ serios of experiments to conquor tho people at large for God. It had beon tho crowning Christian efl'ort to get at tho mneeos, and if the system, wore blotted out tomorrow, it would havo served to convincingly show that thoro was no class of men and women who could not bo reached and brought into tho fold. So far as the Army was concerned,the experimentiugstngowaHpast, and tho Army was a succojs. It only remained for it to progress upon its proeont lines. Rapid as had beon its advance, and grand its duccees, tboy wanted that advance and that success to be multiplied an hundredfold in the futuro. They wanted more than over to lay themselves out [on'onnlly and collect ively for tho salvation of tho people. The half-and-half Christianity which wasso popular nowadays was more of a hindrance than an assistance—a curse ratherthan ablet-sing. Popular Christianity, with its parade of creeds, its open Bible, and its intricacy of c.romonial and organisation was of vory little service to the Lord More powerful than tons of thousands of Itibles were tho lives and experiences of tins followers of Josus. Ho urged them to Bhow by their lives, their worde, and their zeal for the salvation of souls that thoy appreciated tho truths of the Blessed Book. He wondered whether their non conformity with the world was so patent and manifest as to require no declaration of the fact. He hoped they would be soon delivered from^ a half-and-half Christianity. There was" no middle course for him between "out and out for God " and black Atheitm.

Some more singing and prayer, and several other addresses exhorting the listeners to accept of protlered salvation, followed, and brought the service- to a close.