SALVATION ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 84, 10 April 1933, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY.

JUBILEE CONGRESS.

CELEBRATIONS IN AUCKLAND.

HISTORY OF MOVEMENT.

There were large and enthusiastic attendances at the meetings and services in connection with the New Zealand Salvation Army's Jubilee celebrations, held at the Congress Hall yesterday. Commissioner J. Cunningham, commander of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, spoke on the origin of the movement and the Army's history.

Sir George Fowlds presided. In a brief address, he said that throughout the world, wherever the work of the Salvation Army was carried on, the community had come to lean to some extent on the social work performed by its members. Great work had been done, but there was, nevertheless, still greater work to be done to-aay.

Commissioner Cunningham touched oil the life of General William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army. He was first ordained as a Methodist minister. When he married, he went to live at Newcastle, where Mrs. Booth soon became interested in the poor and distressed. Her enthusiasm grew, and there came a time when she actually preached from the pulpit. Both had begun to realise in what quarter their life work lay. William Booth left the Methodist ministry, and he and his wife went to the East End of London, into the very thick of the'slum area.

"Our founder and his wife were admirably equipped for the woik. They had no sooner commenced their activities than ready helpers joined them, and the movement grew and evolved," the commissioner said. The movement spread quietly. A Lancashire weaver, emigrating with his family to Philadelphia, commenced the work in the United States. Two tradesmen began the work at Adelaide in 1881. The Army in New Zealand. In 1883 a Dunedin woman appealed for funds to London headquarters. She sent money for the fares of two officers, who were Captain Pollard and Lieutenant Wright. By the time they arrived at Port Chalmers, three Australian workers had been prevailed upon to come over and commence work in .the Dominion. Although, at first, the movement was considered a menace, the opposition gradually petered out. In several towns Salvationists were imprisoned. This was, of course, glory to the Salvationists. They had only to remember the sufferings of Christ, to be like him.

But to-day, continued the commissioner, there was a different story to relate. There was, a great system of social institutions. In the past 12 months the Army had provided throughout the Dominion a total of 1,500,000 meals and 500,000 beds for persons under its care.

"Although the Salvation Army is carrying much more than its fair share of the burden of caring for the poor and the outcast to-day, it does not intend to retrench or restrict its activities," said the commissioner. He made mention of the imperative necessity for recognising the problem of young mothers who came under the notice of rescue workers. The public should know more about that work.

Pounders' celebrations were conducted in C6ngress Hall at three o'clock this afternoon. In the evening there will be a musical festival in the same hall. Tuesday morning and afternoon will be taken up with officers' councils, while in the evening, at 7.30, there will be a young people's demonstration o. music, elocution, drill, and tableau items in the Town Hall. The southern delegates depart on Wednesday. "Old Identities'" Meeting. An "old identities' " meeting was held in the Congress Hall on Saturday afternoon. Commissioner Cunningham presided, and extended a hearty welcome to the large number of veterans present. Messages were received from the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, and Lady Bledisloe, who congratulated the Army on its meritorious achievement, the Prime Minister, Mr. Forbes, and the Minister of. Finance, Mr. Coates.

The commissioner said that the spirit shown was in keeping with that of the two Auckland pioneers, Ted Wright and Lieutenant Bowerman. During the meeting an address was delivered by Brigadier S. Church, editor of the "War Cry." The old identities present—those connected with the early organisation of the Army 30, 40 and 50 years ago— were:— Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Mr. and Mrs. J. Hammond, Mr. and Mrs. Gladding, Mrs. Medland, who had come up from the Great Barrier Island, Mrs. Clara Baker, Messrs. Mill, W. Gooch, H. Tremain, C. Beeby, L. Gladding, J. Palmer, Mitchell, Mackrell, Bree, R. Bates, G. Kirton, J. Way, B. Jacob, Whatford, H. Chapman, C. Newton, Lomas, W. Gladding and William Gladding.