SALVATION ARMY.

Press, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20626, 16 August 1932, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY.

CONFIDENCE IN YOUNG PEOPLE. ADDRESS BY COMMISSIONER. Complcto confidence that the young people of the Salvation Army would be able in a few years' time to fill the places of the best leaders in the past was expressed by Commissioner John Cunningham, commander for New Zealand, in a short address at the young people's demonstration in the Citadel, Victoria square, last evening. Commissioner Cunningham said that with the experience gained from the older members and the better opportunities and training, the Salvationists of the future would be even better than those of days gone by. The proceedings opened with a marchpast by 180 life-savers, guards, scouts, and sunbeams, the Commissioner taking the salute as the young folk filed on to the dais to form a massed choir. The hall and gallery were crowded. with adults.

The hymn, "Onward, Christian Soldiers," and prayer and Scripture reading by Colonel F. W. Burton preceded the Commissioner's address.

Commissioner's Address. "I am particularly pleased to see such a large gathering of grown-ups, for this evidence of their interest must bo great encouragement to the young people's workers; I regard the young people's work as the most important feature of Army work," said Commissioner Cunningham. "It is most satisfactory to know that in a few years' time wo shall have a crowd of young folk to take the places of the older ones—and these young people are going to be better than the fine folk we have had in the days gone by. I am not one of those who think that when the old members pass on there will be none to take their places. The Army is going to be fortunate in the soldiers it will have; they will have the experience passed on from the old members, and will have benefited from the better opportunities and training given. By the enthusiastic and selfless work of young and old, the Arm}' is going to swing around tho whole world and win all men and women to the service of the Lord Godv" General's Tassel Presented. Commissioner Cunningham then pi'esentcd the General's Tassel, the highest award obtainable in the life-savers, to Patrol-Leader Iris Jackson, of Ashburton. Not many young folk in the Dominion had passed the examinations, the Commissioner said, and it was to be hoped that she would continue with her studies and work, and be the first in New Zealand to get the Founder's Tassel.

The rest of the evening was filled in by the following items:—Song, United Life-Saving organisations: action song. "What Young People May Become," New Brighton Young People; recitation. "Johnny Beads the Newspaper," Lance Hairiel * (Jvaiapoi): descriptive item, "Sunbeams at Play," Linwood Sunbeams: vocal solo, Audrey Wilkes (St. Albans); descriptive item, "Light, Life, and Service," Spreydon Young People; comet duet. Bandmaster Goffin and Bandsman Xeeve; "Free Ambulance Brigade." New Brighton Young People; dialogue, "The Better Plan." Sydenham Young People; ' 'The Rising

Sun," Kaiapoi Young People; set of pyramids, Linwood Life-Savers; illustrated song, "Dream of Paradise," Christehurch Young People; recitation, Lorna Stewart; action song, "Lads and Lassies," New Brighton Young People; dialogue, "The Pearl," Rangiora Young People; song in character, "Caller Herrin'/' Linwood Life-Savers' Guards; flag drill, Sydenham Boys; tableau, "Holy, Holy, Holy!" Christehurch LifeSavers ' Guards and Sunbeams.