THE CHURCH ARMY

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 88, 10 January 1923, Page 6

THE CHURCH ARMY

Sir,—On Saturday last a letter came from the Church Army headquarters, Afarble Arch, London, acknowledging the first £lOO sent for Christmas dinners. Up to December 20 we cabled home £2OO for the London poor and £5 for the Russian. . Last year £250 was remitted for London poor. Many of the subscribers were unabl© to give as much M forrverly iu the financial stress, although they wero as sympathetic as ever. I thank all who have helped on this annual treat. Many of. your little guests do not know what it is to nave a square meal except on such occasions as the "New Zealand children * annual gift dinner.” I understand that there will be an increase in the amount of black wool to the Church Ar, my to help keep all the homes open where children of soldiers and sailors are being maintained bv us. It was estimated there would be a deficiency of nearly £lO,OOO in this department, unless additional help was forthcoming. Till now these chi dren have been maintained', principally bv the expenditure of unexpected war funds given to the Church Armv. As thesis are used up, it is feared that, some of the homes will have to bo closed and tho children returned to their fathers or mothers, who are ready too poor to keep them. .Many of the children are motherless and'more are fatherless. The fathers of these children either kept tho flag flying shoulder to shoulder with our New Zealand boys on land or on sea kept our trade routes open. It seemed appropriate that we should give the proceeds of the black wool to the children of these men, who did so much for the Empire. Ate therefore hope to be asle to a ssis ac'-ain this year,, even iioro so than . WHIBEEy ,

Hon. Sec. Church Army. The Vicarage, Ormondville.