RAPID GROWTH

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 23, 27 July 1927, Page 13

RAPID GROWTH

THE SALVATION ARMY;

MANY STEW" BRANCHES

The new Salvation. Army Hall opened at Karori last Saturday is only one of the many- new buildings either erected or contemplated by this body. Some idea of the rapid growth of the Army during past months was gained by a

"Post" representative in an

terview with Commissioner Hay, the chief Salvationist officer in the

Dominion. ■ "The Army is carrying on. an extension campaign throughout this^year up and down the whole country," said Commissioner *Hay, "and it is hoped to build twenty or thirty new-halls within the year. Already we have opened up new work and buildings at New Brighton (Christchurch),. .Matanra in Southland, Edendale in Auckland, Te Kuiti, Bluff, Wairoa (Hawkes Bay), Gonville (Wanganui), Sew Plymouth, Lower Hutt, Island Bay, Miramar, and last Saturday at Karori. Next Saturday we will open a hall at 'Upper Hutt, and others will follow very shortly. They are required for .the growth of the Salvation Army's evangelical operations. In a short time we will be opening buildings of- a larger character at Masterton, but by fax the biggest will be begun at Auckland, where a large central citadel is to be built close to the Town Hall.

Buildings were also being secured for social work, aaid Mr. Hay, such as a new home for men at Auckland..ln addition to these, again, throe-new buildings are to be erected in. Auckland in January next, and possibly twenty additional corps for Army work will be established during this year and.veryearly next year. The membership of the Army has increased tremendously during the past sis months, and there has been much greater open air activity. The Sunday schools' attendances have also shown an advance of ona thousand. per. Sunday during the last »is months. GOOD GIVERS. "Notwithstanding the difficult fin-, aneial times," continued-.the Commissioner, f the giving of Salvationists and their adherents has been so good that I consider New Zealand Salvation, ists give better than any I have knowledge of, and I have had experience in many parts of the Empire. .Our literature is also steadily, increasing. A3 regards training, next year;it is probable that there will be a record' number entering into training in'-our-col-lege in:;Aro street." The Candidates •Board at a recent meeting had "dealt with more applications by young men and women to train as-, officers, than'at any previous sitting of the boarf -^ Commissioner Hay performed the opening service at the KaroriuHall on Saturday, and Lieutenant-Colonel Gnnn I made an encouraging start-with thework on Sunday, the first attendants at the 'Sunday school numbering about 20. The hall stands on about a quar-> ter of an acre of land in Beauchamp street, and the money required for the i. land and hall'has been loaned by headquarters to the Karori district* •■ ■ ' Two lady officers.. Captain Ward and Lieutenant Finale, are in charge of the work in Karori, and-it ia-hoped thatin a' short time a still larger" hall will j be erected and the present one used as a Sunday school only.- ■••'"■