VALUE OF FAITH

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 307, 23 September 1926, Page 3

VALUE OF FAITH

PRAISE FOR SALVATION ARMY WELCOME TO THE NEW COMMISSIONER A civic reception was accorded Fominissiouer J. Hay, 0.8. E., end Mrs. H >. who arrived on Tuesday to assume erm mand of the Salvation Army in Zealand, by the Mayor of Wo 'V nslo V (Mr. C. J. B. Norwood' at the Conciil Chamber of the Town UalJ nt l-. 10 V those on the platform '"ere the Mayor and several city councillors, Mr. P. Fraser, M.l’., representatives of the churches, and a strong contingent of the lieadauarters st aft of the Salvation Army. Apologies for unavoidable absence were received from .^e-Muns-ter of Education (Hon. R. A. AVright) and the Hon. Sir Robert Stout, M.L.C. The Mayor's Tribute. The Mayor, in welcoming Commissioner and Mrs. Hay to Wellington on behalf of the citizens, said that this was not the first time that Commissioner Hay had been welcomed to the city, as 17 years ago, when in command or tlie Salvation Army in Australia and New Zealand, he had visited Wellington and had been welcomed by the then Mayor. Commissioner Hay had had a distinguished career. He had been honoured by the King, and it was therefore fitting that Wellington should honour him. Tho now Commissioner had at various times been in command of the Salvation Army forces in England. South Africa, and Australia. New Zealand and Wellington had to thank the Salvation Army for tho valuable social work they had performed over such a long stretch of years. He was sure New Zealand would gain as a result of Commissioner Hay’s wide and ripe experience. He extended the heartiest of welcomes to Commissioner and Mrs. Hay. Refining Fires of Persecution. Councillor G. A. Troup, in joining in the welcome, said ho remembered the ridicule and scorn with which the advent of the Salvation Army in Edinburgh had been received, and when he contrasted that treatment with the public welcome which was being extended to Commissioner and Mrs. Hay that day he was constrained to ask wh.it had caused this groat change of front. The change had ccme because tho Salvation Army had been ready to dare anything 'in carrying out God’s work. Tie was proud that the Army had come safely through the cleansing fires of persecution, and stood to-day in (ho honoured position it did. They looked forward with great interest to the work which would be accomplished by the Salvation Army under Commissioner Hay. He hoped that the new commissioner would put plenty of “blood and fire” into his work. (Loud applause.) “I hope,” he said, “that when you come to lay down your fools or go on to another command you will leave us a more God-fearing country than we are to-day.” (Applause.) A Great Social Organisation. Mr. P. Fraser, M.P., also heartily welcomed Commissioner and Mrs. Hay to Wellington. Commissioner Hay, he said, could be regarded as a citizen of the world. The Salvation Army was looked upon not only as one of the greatest religious organisations, I ut also as one of the greatest social organisations, and they not only carried theirfaith into the highways and byways of all countries, but put that faith into active practice. “J wish you and Mrs. Hay and the Army under you the greatest success,” he concluded. “Under the direction of Commissioner Hay, I feel certain there will be no shrinkage in the force and spirit of the Salvation Army's work in New Zealand.” Welcome From the Churches. The Rev. F. E. Harry, on behalf of tho combined churches of Wellington, said this was the third Salvation Army Commissioner whom ho had assisted to welcome within the past four years. Christianity was making headway in social life. The Salvation Army was doing its best in multitudinous directions; they were lifting up the fallen and helping the weak. He hoped they would never lose their primary object—the salvation of souls. He always liked to bo associated with the Army because of the zeal they put into their work. They shamed many of the Christian churches by their zeal. Any church or army which was not aggressive might as well go out of existence. Commissioner Hay would find a splendid body of officers here, and he hoped his command would be blessed with great success. A Servant of Christ. Commissioner Hay, on rising to respond, was received with enthusiastic cheers.. He thanked his hearers for being ready to extend so hearty a welcome io strangers within their midst. New Zealand was by no means unknown at Homo. There they did not judge a country by numbers of square miles, but by the quality of its groat men and its citizens, and in this rescect New Zealand camo out well. He had been glad to hear the reference that day to faith. When he read the gloomy t’oreiwlings which had been given utterance to bv Dean Inge he felt that ho wanted to apply a strong injection of faith to the dean. Britain, he could tell them, was by no means done yet. (Loud applause.) The social work of the Salvation Armv tackled al 1 "cases. There were New Zealand Salvation Army officers ho were doing excellent work abroad. Tho officer in charge of Ceylon was a New Zealander, ami New Zealand officers were doing valuable work in China. Ho thanked them for. (heir warm welcome. He was there as the servant of Jesus Christ, and believed in tho Salvation Army programme. After experience in 22 countries, he thanked God that there were other organisations besides the .Army which were doing noble work for humanity. A Good School. Aire. Hay eaid thev bad listened to some weighty words that morning, but they bad all come from the male side of the congregation. She could assure the Mayor that if the men failed him the Salvation Army women of Wellington would come to (he rescue, for the Army was a very good school. She found wherever she went that there was work to be done. Wherever tho sun shone or the clouds hung heavy there were sad, distressed lives. The Salvation Army was there for tho betterment of humanity. Shb had learnt, in slum life in London that no one was too far down in the social scale to bo beyond rescue. Civic Sympathy. Colonel Knott, on behalf of tho Salvation Army, thanked the Mayor for having extended the welcome to Commissioner and Mrs. Hay. They were glad to realise how deep was tho sympathy of the Mayor and councillors in the Army’s work. He moved a hearty veto of thanks to the Mayor, which was carried in characteristic Army style. ' The Mayor assured Colonel Knott that lio and the city councillors bad the greatest admiration and sympathy for the noble and valuable work tho Salvation Army were doing.