SALVATION ARMY CONGRESS

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28868, 13 April 1959, Page 12

SALVATION ARMY CONGRESS

2000 Attend Rally In Wellington

(New Zeaiana Press Association) WELLINGTON, April 12.

There were no “Iron Curtains” between men in the sight of God, said the Eastern Australian Territorial Commander for the Salvation Army, Commissioner F. L. Coutts, in an address to a congregation of about 2000 in the Wellington Town Hall today. The citizens’ rally was part of the 76th annual congress of the Salvation Army. About 400 Salvation Army officers from all parts of New Zealand are attending the congress. The Commissioner chose his subject from Bunyan’s “Pilgrim’s Progress”—“A man whose name was Help.” “Help” had worn various garbs over the centuries—the habit of St. Francis of Assisi, a Quaker bonnet, the badge of a Salvationist—but all had one thing in common, he said. They were prepared to make a person-to-person contact in their work. “The work of a man or woman whose name is help is not done by proxy,” Commissioner Coutts said. “The life saver must enter the water to reach those he wishes to save.” Official Guests The Mayor (Mr F. J. Kitts) was chairman of the rally. Official guests included the Prime Minister (Mr Nash), the Leader of the Opposition (Mr Holyoake) and Mrs Holyoake, several Cabinet Ministers, the Canadian High Commissioner (Mr G. R. Heasman) and Mrs Heasman. Colonel A. B. Cook led the congregation in prayer. The president of the National Council of Churches (the Very Rev. J. Baird) read the lesson and conveyed greetings to the Salvation Army from his council.