SALVATION ARMY LEADER.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19785, 25 November 1929, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY LEADER.

WELCOMED TO CHRISTCHURCH. COMMISSIONER AND MRS CUNNINGHAM. Scenes of enthusiasm marked the weleoaaa of the Salvation Army in Coriatehurch to Commissioner John Cunniagham, the new leader of the Army in N«w Zealand, and Mrs Cunningham, in the Citadel on Saturday evening. The welcome was a typical Salvationist one, with plenty of singing by the large congregation, band music, and speeches punctuated by hearty "Hallelujahs." Colonel L. E. Taylor, who presided, said that Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham came rich in experience and with the blessing of the General of the Army. "We axe here," he added, "to pledge our loyalty to the Balvation Army principles and our co-operation to the great work that will engage their heart* artd mind* during their stay in the Dominion." He went on to say that Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham had n trendy come to N«* Zealand, in Wellington. Their leaders would be convinced. if they needed convincing, that they had come to a warm hearted people. They would be convinced, too, that there were in New Zealand many wholehearted, zealous people who had been carrying out the injunction of their Master to seek and save the lost. Practical Baligion. The Mayor (Mr J. K. Archer) extended a welcome on behalf of the City. He was quite certain that all Christchurch was interested in that meeting, and trey all wished their new leaders every blessing and happiness, lot only in Christchurch but in New Zealand. The time for boosting the Salvation Army was over, he said. It needed no boosting. It held an honoured place and there was no group of Christian men and women standing up for the word of God, who were more respected among them. The Army worked not only in theory but in practice "I believe that if the Chureh is going to keep pa>-e with the times." Mr Arrher added, "sr have to remember that while our head* are :n the sk> our feet are on earth. The Army looks after bodies as well and that is the reason why it is so respited." He made reference to the recent lender. Commissioner Hay, who had made a great impression upon the people of Christ chureh. He advised them to let their new Commissioner express his own personality and not to expert hira to be Conimiuiontr Hay or anybody else. Each person had his own personality and was sent into this world to eipress it—nor to imitate someone else. Commissioner in Kaply. Replying to the Mayor, Commissioner Cunningham expressed his warm thanks for his cordial welcome on behalf of the p«ople of Christchurch. "Mrs Cunningham and I are delighted to !>♦• in New Zealand." he said. "We are both Scottish, but with your permission and help we will endeavour to be New Zealanden. However, whether Scots, Englishmen, or New Zcalanders, we are men and women all the world over and very much the same. We may be intelligent white folks and think we know more than the savages of Africa, but when we coma to oar sorrows the same tears

eome to our eyes and we have got to go through the depths together. We have alt been created alike and in the image of God to serve God. Alas, many have been carried away. "A Ijovaly Land." "It's a lovely land, this New Zealand of yours," Commissioner Cunningham continued, "and I hear New Zealandcrs crack it sky high. I believe a Scotsman once said, 'Lord, gie us a guid conceit o' oursel's,' and I think that Scotsman might well have lived in Xe ' Zealand. (Laughter.) You have such excellent opinions of yourselves and think such wonderful things of your country. Alas! •in is about. It is marring the lives of j some of them, and I am going to tell j them that they can become new men ] through Jesus Christ." (Cries of "Hallelujah:') Mrs Cunningham said that they had heard a great deal about New Zealand, and everything they had heard had been true. "I have been agreeably surprised, and I have been very much charmed with your beautiful country," Mrs Cunningham added. She also congratulated the City on the fine buildings it had for its various institutions. Later in the evening, after representatives of the various branches of the Army had extended their respective welcomes. Commissioner Cunningham referred to the singular success of the Darkest England scheme which had been initiated by General Booth. They had met with support from all quarters and had discovered that it was not only regular supporters of the Church who had the warmest hearts. Now, if they were to visit the Thames Embankment on a night in November they would not find twenty-five men who were sleeping out, where before there were a thousand. Earn night in their shelters they had 10,000 men, and at least 9000 would be able to pay for their beds and breakfast. They were there under the Army's care, and thousands became good citizens and decided to live a Christian life, and had started life anew. "The Mayor has told you not to export mc to be Commissions Hay," Commissioner Cunningham added. "I hold Commissioner Hay in the highest respect; I admire his energy, and I appreciate his work thoroughly, but I don't love him enough to try to imitate him. I don't intend to imitate anybodv. f am going to lie John Cunningham, putting tru«t in the loving God, putting my heart into His work, living from day to day, and by the grace of God all "will come well. "Some of my own friends and relatives." he concluded, "tried many vears ago to dissuade me from becoming a SaH:iriorii*t. I am a Salvationist 'by ron\ irtioii. and I will always be a Salvationist. I did not come into the Armv for a job. I am going to try day by day to keep the flag of the "Lord Jesus Christ well to the front." EVENING SERVICE. There was a very large attendance at the Citadel last evening, when both Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham spoke. Mrs Commissioner Cunningham spoke briefly on "The Compassion of Jesus." The Commissioner prefaced his address with a brief account of his experiences i as a Salvation Army officer. There had I been those who thought he would be I wasting time in not seeking a more j remunerative vocation, but he took the 1 view that what the world needed was not more law but a new spirit to help men keep the laws of both God and maiu When he returned to England after thirty years abroad he found that manv ' people had reased to be church-goers I They pleaded that the war and the ', years immediately following had I brought about a slackening of moral fibre which had caused them to drift I