CHURCH ARMY.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 257, 30 October 1935, Page 12

CHURCH ARMY.

PROCESSION IN CITY.

THOUSANDS TAKE PART.

THANKSGIVING SERVICE.

Thousands of men, women and children gathered in the city last night and marched up Queen Street and Wellesley Street in an impressive procession of witness to St. Matthew's Church, where a thanksgiving service was held to mark the close of more than two years' successful mission work in New Zealand by the members of the Church Army column from England.

Stirring band music echoed through the city buildings as the long and colourful body turned into Lower Queen Street. At its head were two whiterobed clergymen, leading the way for the band of the Ist Battalion. Behind the band a burnished cross carried by a bearer in white and scarlet robes flashed and gleamed as it caught the street lights. Next came a car containing Archbishop Averill and his chaplain, and behind again were the members of the Church Army column. Following these came white-robed men, women and boy choristers, a body of clergymen, nuns of the Order of the Good Shepherd, volunteer sisters of the Dock Street Mission, and troops of cadets and boy scouts.

Behind this leading body marched hundreds of men and women from more than 20 Auckland churches, walking in groups behind standards bearing the names of their parishes. In the middle came the Ponsonby Boys' Band. So long was the procession that by the time its head was entering St. Matthew's Church its rear end had not turned out of Queen Street. Service in Church. At the church hundreds more were awaiting the arrival of the procession, and the building was filled to overflowing. With hymn and prayer the six members of the column who are leaving the country soon were farewelled by the large congregation, and Captain S. R. Banyard, who is remaining here as New Zealand field secretary, expressed their gratitude to the gathering. He referred also to the generosity of the Auckland diocese in lending the former children's home in Richmond Road as the first headquarters of the army in New Zealand. No widespread appeal had been made, but already nearly 1500 people had pledged to support the movement. "You have taken us, I think, to your hearts," said Captain Banyard.

Each member of the column gave a brief • message, and the congregation joined with them in a farewell . chorus. Beside Captain Banyard the members are Sister K. Jutson, who said she was coming back again to be married; Sister D. Sudsbury, who is remaining in New Zealand; Captain E. Beck, Captain D. Kee, Captain V. Kernick, Captain E. Roe, who will stay in Australia, Captain F. Pearce, who will return next year, Captain T. S. Torrens, and Captain S. Grace, who will remain here for some time. The work of the newly-formed New Zealand division of the army will start officially on November 4. Great Lesson for World. Addressing • the congregation, Archbishop Averill said' that the answer to thp question, "What is God like?" was "God is love," and love meant sacrifice and service. "That is the great lesson which the world needs to learn to-day," said his Grace. "In love to serve each other. The visit of the Church Army column has definitely emphasised this great thing of which I have spoken, has emphasised the meaning of life and religion as God sees, and as God wills it." The Christian life was more than moral respectability and self-sufficiency and isolation. It meant the reflecting of the very life and scrvice of God Himself.

"My : brothers and sisters," his Grace addressed.' the column, "we are grateful to you for your witness to the ; fact that the Converted man or woman must not become a free 'lance, but must be fathered into the Christian fellowship, 'ou are witness to the fat' that we are saved to serve." His Grace said tl/at he liked the Toe H sentiment of spreading the Gospel by their lives—that was true religion. He wished the members a safe journey, and hoped that their experience in this country would be of value to their future work. "God bless you," he concluded.