SALVATION ARMY

Evening Post, Volume CXXIII, Issue 60, 12 March 1937, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY

STARS PRESENTED

Twenty-five mothers or Salvation Army officers in the Wellington district received . presentations ■of silver stars at the welcome to new cadets, held in the Vivian Street Citadel of the Army last night. Thirty-four Salvation Army cadets, who arrived in Wellington from all parts of New Zealand to ■ enter the training college to undergo a course of preparation for officership, were welcomed by Lieutenant-Commissioner F. Adams,- Territorial Commander for New Zealand. The new session of cadets will be known as "The Guardians of the Covenant."

At the welcome meeting, prayer was offered by Lieutenant-Colonel Fred Burton. Field Secretary, and a Scripture portion was read by Adjutant K. Adams. The Wellington Citadel Band played a march and a selection, and the new cadets sang in unison. Representative speakers included Cadets Edna Gray (Dunedin), Wesley Simpson (Christchurch). Jean Staples (Wellington), and Winnifred Tatton (Auckland).

Commissioner Adams welcomed the cadets, and expressed his hope that they would .complete successfully their training and so become a valuable addition to the Army's force of officers in the Dominion. Brigadier S. Smijli, Training Garrison principal, accepted them for training, and said that he and his staff would give of their best to serve the session.

A unique event in Army history in New Zealand then followed, when the Commissioner presented, the Order o£ the Silver Star to a number of mothers who were seated on the platform. The order was inaugurated by General Evangeline Booth to honour mothers who had given sons or daughters to the service of God and humanity as officers' in the Army. The badge of the order consisted of a silver star on a blue enamelled shield, and was accompanied by an illuminated certificate of membership.

Membership of the order is considered a mark of the Army's recognition of its indebtedness as well as its gratitude to. the mothers who have trained and often at great sacrifice to themselves have consecrated their children for the battle against sin and sorrow, in which battle the mothers, too, thus have their share. Those who received the stars last night are only a portion of the number of mothers throughout New Zealand who will be receiving them in the near future.

The gathering concluded with a call by Lieutenant-Colonel George Grattan, Chief Secretary, for consecration on the part of all to the service of Christ.