COMMISSIONER HOGGARD.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17609, 11 November 1922, Page 15

COMMISSIONER HOGGARD.

MEETING IN THE CITADEL* Commissioner and Mrs Hoggard wer« ! welcomed" at a well-attended meeting in the Salvation Army Citadel last evening. Colonel Mclnness, Chief Secretary for New Zealand,, presided. Th» Deputy-Mayor, Mr 4. A. Flesher, and the Rev. J. Paterson, who represented the Council of Christian Congregations, were present. Lieut.-Colonel Carmich* ael and Brigadier Toomer assisted in the service. The Rev. J. Paterson said that he felt it an honour to represent th« Christian Congregations ot the city at the gathering to welcome Commissioner and Mrs Hoggard to Christchurch.. , The speaker had always Had a soft spot in his heart for the Salvation Army. He had learned to appreciate the Army for its practical work and its influence" on the. lives of people. It was easy to be religious on Sunday but not so easy to be so from Monday to Saturday. The people of the. Salvation Army took their religion out and practised it. The only real savings mad© in this life were the things we had given to other people. The Council of Christian Congregations was really an oil-shoot ot the spirit which the Salvation Army had brought back into religion. Mr J. A. Flesher said that he had been associated with the work of th« Salvation* Army for many years, and he wished to express his appreciation of that work. The ramifications of the _ Army were wonderfully extensive. The speaker expressed the hope that Commissioner and Mrs Hoggard would have a very successful term of office. Lieut.-Colonel Cannicmiel, on behalf of the Canterbury and <Yest Coast provinces, welcomed the Commissioner and Mrs Hoggard. On behalf of the women of the movement, Mrs Carmichael extended a welcome to Mrs Hoggard. Mrs Hoggard, in thanking the speakers for their welcome, said- that the Salvation Army might be regarded as the platform of opportunity for women. She hoped that the movement would never lose the true spirit of salvation. Commissioner Hoggard said that he had never met with welcomes as warnt as those he had received in New Zealand. In the early days of the movement in England the Army had experienced great opposition, but ultimately it had converted its enemies. The movement must continue to seek the eoula of men. The Sydenham, Linwood and Christchurch United Bands were present and contributed selections during the evening. The Christchurch City Songsters, under Divisional Bandmaster Taylor, sang the anthem "The Earth is the Lord's," and Staff-Captain Bladin sang a solo.