GENERAL BOOTH.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 76, 1 April 1899, Page 5

GENERAL BOOTH.

WELCOME AT ONEHUNGA

General Booth, the head and founder of the Salvation Army throughout the world, arrived at Onehunga this morning from Wellington by the s.s. Rotoiti. A large gathering of representatives of the Salvation. Army, and the general public, assembled on the wharf to welcome General Booth, Commandments Herbert Booth and Pollard. Colonels Lawley, Estell, and a large number of. other staff olHcers.

WELCOME.BY THE MAYOR

As General Booth left the gangway he was formally welcomed by Dr. W. R. C. Erson, the Mayor of Onehunga, who said: 'General Booth: On behalf of the residents of Onehunga,- I offer you a hearty welcome on your arrival here to-day. We have had the opportunity, upon this wharf, of welcoming many distinguished visitors, and to none give we a more hearty welcome than to you. We have welcomed the coming- and speeded the parting of governors, of distinguished admirals of Her Majesty's fleets, and of gallant soldiers whose breasts were emblazoned with medals for valour, but we welcome in you to-day a general of another and vaster army. The. generals of Her Majesty's service, in discharge of their duty, have to take life and entail suffering upon the human race, but the army of which you are the general is for the purpose, not of taking- life, but of saving it, and minimising suffering. We trust that your trip to these colonies may be productive of such a renewal of health as will enable you for many years to carry out the good work of the great army of which you are the distinguished head. I again welcome you to the Auckland district.'

General Booth in reply thanked the Major for the kindly words of welcome, and said that by the mercy oi God. by a remarkable arrangement of Providence, and by the assistance of many good men the}' had been able to do something to alleviate the condition of the poor and starving, to help the vicious -arid miserable* and to rescue lost men and girls, but beyond all this God had vised their organisation to bring hope to many a man ami woman, of a far better country than even New Zealand: which was indeed a fair land and one in which lie had been treated with the \itmost kindness and hospitality. He again thanked them for their hearty reception,. and spoke at some length on the character of the religion they were trying to inculcate, concluding by invoking the blessing of the Most High on the Onehunga residents and all present, after which he left in a carriage for Auckland. ARRIVAL IN AUCKLAND. About noon General Booth and his officers reached the oity and drove at* once • tothe residence of Dr. A. 0. Knight, Ponsonby Road, where the distinguished visitor ,wjll stay during his sojourn in Auckland. Although now all but three score years and ten the General looks well, and still possesses.his old fire. This evening General Booth-meets the members of the Auckland branch of his vast organisation at the Barracks, Albert-street.