THE SALVATION ARMY

Press, Volume LXX, Issue 21354, 22 December 1934, Page 23

THE SALVATION ARMY

ROYAL INTEREST IN WORK WIDE EXTENT OF ACTIVITIES " (FROM OUB own CORRESPONDENT.) LONDON, November 9. The Duke of York presided over a meeting at the Albert Hall, assembled to take farewell of Gerenal E. J. Higgins, of the Salvation Army, and Mrs Higgins. The Duchess of York was present, as well as Ambassadors and Ministers representing 12 countries, British statesmen, the High Commissioners for the Dominions, and leading representatives of the Churches and social life. "The Prime Minister, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Mr Baldwin and the Lord Mayor, who could not be present, sent messages, and a message was read also from the new general, Commissioner Evangeline Booth. When the Duke and Duchess reached their places, having walked along the ceremonial aisle through the" hall, 10,000 officers and soldiers of the Salvation Army crowded in the arena' and over four tiers of the building sang the National Anthem and a joyful opening song, "God is Love." Those on the platform included the Bishop of London, the Rev. J. H. Rushbrooke, president of the Free Church Council, the Rev. Dr. Archibald Fleming (Church of Scotland), and the Chief Rabbi. Prayer was offered by Dr. Fleming; the Bishop of London read a lesson. The Duke of York referred to.tho great interest which the Royal Family had always taken in the Salvation Army, and recalled that the King had received General Higgins in audience. "The Salvation Army," he said, "makes a great claim upon the regard, not only of members of the Royal Family, but of all sincere and thoughtful neople, because it helps undoubtedly to make more tolerant religious opinions and class distinctions. "I believe there is to-day more mutual sympathy and understanding, nationally and internationally, and the Salvation Army, among other religious and philanthropic bodies, has had a full share in bringing that about. General Higgins represents in himself those qualities of friendliness which belong especially to the Salvation Army, with quiet confidence nn the future he is handing on a united Salvation Army to an elected successor who bears an honoured name and has a distinguished record. He has served the army throughout the world with love and devotion."

Work of Practical Christians Mr Rushbrooke said that representatives of the Churches must admit with shame that the Salvation Army ought never to have been necessary had they done their duty. They cave the impression that they had lost contact with the vast masses of the people, and the Salvation' Army stepped in in its wonderful work of piactica Christianity. . • General Higgms reviewed the 1m mense and widespread activities of the Army, which included the operalion of 89 main hospitals. Kven of them for lepers only;; 18 separate and distinct colonies for plac nfc poor families on the land and giving training in agricultural pursuits, 120 fully established homes, for deseited and orphaned children; the provision of 34,000,000 meals m a year for the hungry poor, 139 lab °u bureaux, and 224 workshops; the tracing of missing persons; work in 172 slum areas in the large Jitieo of the world; the preaching of the Gospel in nearly 17,000 halls, of which more than 6000 were in nonChristian countries; and the direction and control of 45 training colleges. , . It was to the leadership ol a vast organisation which embraced all this work and more that he wars appointed by the High Council of the Salvation Army in Februai y, 19-J. He knew and realised then that his duty was to conserve that which was entrusted to nim, to develop and consolidate that work, to make such advances as were possible when opportunities and needs presented themselves, and to maintain the spirit of Salvationism throughout the Army world. As to how far he had succeeded in that herculean task, he must leave others to judge During his period of office he had travelled some 220,000 miles and visited 22 countries, in all but two of which he had been received by the head of the state. He and his wife had conducted 1090 public meetings in those countries, and had given 58 broadcast addresses. There were nearly 27,000 officers in the Army, and they had met more than 24,000 of them in council. During the period work had been established in eight new countries. In General Evangeline Booth the Army would have a leader of intrepid courage and resources which would be used to carry their great movement to richer and mightier conquests.