SELF-DENIAL WEEK

Evening Post, Volume XCVI, Issue 57, 4 September 1918, Page 3

SELF-DENIAL WEEK

SALVATION ARMY SPRING FAIR

The Spring Fair in connection with the Salvation 'Army's annual ■ self-denial week was opened in the Vivian-street Citadel last, night by the Hon. Sir Francis Bell. There was a crowded and very well-pleased attendance, and the completeness and brightness- of the stalls and the arrangements hold promise of a thoroughly successful week. Commissioner Hodder, in addressing the gathering, referred to the origin and the remarkable subsequent success of the self-denial week. Money was urgently required for the extension of the Army'* work, and General Booth hit upon the plan of asking all Salvationists to practise self-denial to meeti those needs. The result came as a surprise to everyone, for between £5000 and £6000 was raised in England that year. Other bodies, which had hitherto looked; with something approaching disdain upon the Army's work, began to eulogist; the spirit which prompted: the effort and then the Army itself. The tide began to turn, and with tha increased activities it was found necessary to make tho self-denial week an annual, one. As a result, India had been opened, and in that country alone there were now some 2000 corps; Japan and China had been openedl; and' at the present time the Army was a powerful factor in sixty-threo countries and colonies, speaking no'less than thirty languages. The self-denial week brought in £100,000 in England last year, notwithstanding the war, and £38,000 was raised in New Zealand, and in proportion to, her population -New Zealand led the world in; self-denial. It was hoped that this year the aim of £50,000 would be reached. '■ - " Sir Francis Bel! apologised for the absence, through illness, of Sir James Allen, who was to have opened the Fair, but ho brought with him the ActingPrime Minister's wishes for a successful Fair and a successful year.- "I sympathise with you that 1 you" have to listen to me instead of to Sir James," said the speaker, "but I will not allow myself to be second to. him in my admiration of the Salvation'Army." "(Laughter and applause.) Continuing, he said that many of the older persons present would remember what the conditions wei>e before the Army began its many worthy activities, and could compare those conditions with those of the present day. There were no men and women willing and ready to sacrifice themselves for the uplift of- others less fortunate in those days, and no organisation to enable such work to bo carried on. He had none but the most profound respect for the Army's work. For many years he had acted as Crown Prosecutor in Wellington, and during those years it was brought home to him personally how hopeless and helpless the criminals, men and women, were without the help which in the early days was wanting, but which was now nobly extended by the Salvation Army.

The Fair was then officially declared open, and after a brief programme of vocal and band music, and a recitation by Mr. G. Kirk, those present turned their attention to well-stocked and tastefully^arranged stalls. The majority of the goods offered have been made by workers during some months past, and other articles have been generously donated by friends and adherents of the Army. The stall attendants »wear dainty Dutch dresses, in white and spring green, and the decoration of the stalls and the building, for which Staff-Captain Burton is largely responsible, is very gay and attractive. _, 4 •/ The stall-holders were as follow: — Band, Mrs. Adjutant Caporn and staff; cake, Mr. Ruff; flower, Misses Holmes; social, Major Dennison and staff; single sisters, Sisters. Iremonger and Smith; picture, Bro. Bowater; provision, etc., Bros. Kelly and Olsen ; ■ Y.P, stall, Mesdames Sanson and Walker and Miss Drake j primary, Candidate Hodder and staff; pickle, Mesdames Rudrcan and Reeves and Sisters Ivilly, Kirk, and Anderson ; sweet, Miss Hensil and Mrs. Hoare; tea kiosk, Sisters Hawker and Sadd.

The fair will be continued each evening to Friday. This ■ afternoon Mrs. Commissioner Hodder is holding an "At Home," and the Owen-street'Home girls will deliver a short musical programme. On Wednesday evening the Wellington Amateur Orchestral Society will render a varied and attractive programme of instrumental music, and the Rev. A. E. Hunt • and party will supply tlie entertainment on Thursday evening. On Friday evening a concert party, including many Wellington favourites, will add to the enjoyment of the final evening.