ARMY'S NEW HEAD

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 117, 13 November 1929, Page 12

ARMY'S NEW HEAD

A CIVIC RECEPTION

COMMISSIONER CUNNINGHAM

STATE REPRESENTED

There was a large attendance in the Concert Chamber at "the Town Hall to-day, when a civic reception was accorded to Commissioner John Cunningham, the new commandant of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, who, ■witli his wife and family, arrived in Wellington by the Ulimaroa yesterday The Mayor (Mr. G. A. Troup) presided, and amongst those present were Conncillors E. A. Wright, M.P. Hildreth, and Morpeth, the Hon. Mr. A J. Stallworthy (Minister of Health)' Pastor W. G. Carpenter and the Rev. Dr. Pinfold (president and secretary respectively of the Wellington Ministers' Association), Colonel Taylor (chief secretary, and other officers of the Salvation Army. On behalf of the citizens of Wellington, and of the people of New Zealand the Mayor extended to Commissioner Cunningham, Mra. Cunningham, and the three members of their family, a very cordial welcome to the city, and assured them that they would find, if they had not already discovered it that the Salvation" Army was. not only held in the highest esteem in the" Dominion, but that the New Zealand people had a very warm corner in their hearts for the Army, and for the great work it was doing. . There were many reasons for that, but first and foremost was the fact that the Salvation Army exercised the virtues of self-denial and sacrifice, which would always win recognition, no matter how, strong the opposition might be. Having been connected with the Salvation Army for forty years—practically the whole of his working life, Commissioner Cunningham had had experience of every grade and department almost of that great organisation, and had . climbed from the lowest rungv of the ladder to the high position that he now oeeupied. The Mayor felt that, as a result of that great training, not only the Salvation • Army in New Zealand, but the Dominion as a whole, would be considerably enriched. He hoped that the greatest blessing would result from his coming to New Zealand, that the great work of the Army would continue to prosper, and that he would be hamjv m seeing it do so. ' THE GOVERNMENT'S WELCOME. Mr. Troup said he had received the following" telegram from the Prime Minister (the Eight Hon.-Sir Joseph Ward)—"Regret owing to indisposition unable to be present at civic reception to Commissioner John Cunningham, Concert Chamber, Town Hall; but have arranged tor the Hon. Mr. Stallworthy to be present and represent the Government at the reception." . The Hon. Mr. Stallworthy expressed regret that, owing to illness, the Prime Minister was unable to be present and extend, on behalf of the Government and' people of . New Zealand a very hearty welcome to Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham. However, he counted it a great privilege to be present and to wi-como iliein to the shores of New ZeaJl x. was not alt°gother unselfishly that he welcomed Commissioner Cunmiiffham to New Zealand, because New Zealand had its problems—eeomonie social, and spiritual—and he confessed very readily that the, Dominion could not face those problems with nearly so good a heart, if it had not got the baivation Army co-operating with every splendid agency of uplift.- (Applause.) He had watched tho organisation and activities of the Salvation Army from the North Cape to the Bluff; he had come .to value the work of the Army and he was there on that occasion to pay a sincere tribute to the status the Army had won in the life and organisation of the Dominion. (Applause!) He trusted that Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham would bring into tho life or the Dominion—into the lives of the men women, and children of New Zealand—a very fine impetus enabling them to go forward and solve their problems and achieve a civilisation that would be not only a glory.to the British Emworld. (Applause.) , ft 0™1, 6*11" £• A- Wri Bht- M- p-. on bewi &ty c°nn«"ors, heartily welcomed the guests, and paid a high tribute to the work of the Salvation Army, m "keeping the flag flying in many ways," and particularly in its aggressive work in preaching the 'Gospel on the old, sound, fundamental

On behalf of the Council of Churches Pastor AY. G. Carpenter cordially welcomed Commissioner and Mrs. Cunningham; and Colonel Taylor, in a brief and happy speech, welcomed them on behalf of the Salvationists, not only in Wellington, but throughout the Dominion. At the call of the Mayor, three hearty cheers for tho guests were then given. THE COMMISSIONER'S REPLY. In reply, Commissioner Cunningham thanked the Mayor, councillors, and peoplo of Wellington for their very fine reception, and the Hon. Mr. Stallworthy for his kind welcome on behalf of the Government and the people of New Zealand. There had been a time, he said,' when they of the Salvation Army did not get such receptions. Ho remembered the days when they got something of a very different kind. However, he was very delighted to be there, and to be in New Zealand. Coming intp the harbour' the day before, he had been charmed with its delight-

fully green surroundings, and the sound of the Salvation Army Band had had much the same effect on him that the sight of the kilt or the sound of the bagpipes had on a Scotsman. The Mayor had said that the present status of the Salvation Army in New Zealand was due to its sacrifice in the days gone by; and ono result of the sacrifice was the kindly telegram of welcome that the Prime Minister had sent them and the kind speech of welcome delivered on behalf of the Government by the Hon. Mr. Stallworthy, who, he hoped, would convey to the Prime Minister at the first opportunity his hearty thanks and good wishes. Commissioner Cunningham added that his position in New Zealand to-day was due in the first place, not fo General Higgins having appointed him to the post, but to the fact that forty-three years ago he had definitely decided for Christ; and he had been very pleased to hear all the speakers that day come out so strongly for Christ and righteousness- Mr. Cecil Ehodes had said on one occasion to General William Booth: "I have done my utmost to make the Empire, but you arc doing a greater work. You are making new men." And it was to carry on that great work of. making new men that he had come to New Zealand. He had an idea that somewhere up and down New Zealand there were dear fellows who needed a helping hand, and by the grace and power of God he would extend to them that helping hand; and in the Salvation Army they had a fine band of men and women who would aid him to carry on that work. They adhered to the fundamentals referred to by Mr. Wright, and were determined never to budge from them. They were prepared to do all they could to help those in need of help; and he was sure that the peopie of New Zealand, who had been generous indeed in the past, to the Army's work, wpuld stand by them so long as they stood true to their faith and to their great object. He thanked them very much for their very kind welcome to Mrs. Cunningham and himselfJ