CHURCH AND CAMP

Evening Star, Issue 15968, 23 November 1915, Page 6

CHURCH AND CAMP

COMPETITION IN GOOD WORK

RAISES THE DENOMINATIONAL SPIRIT.

SALVATION ARMY ASSISTED

The question of giving financial assistance to the work of tho Salvation Army in the military training camps was considered tlvs morning at a special meeting of the Otago Patriotic and General Welfare Association, who decided ti" grant £250 out of the "unconditional'' moneys of the patriotic fund. In the course of thr discussion od the Army's appeal for a grant, the spirit of denominationalism was raised and quietly exercised. Tho Mayor, who presided, explained that a representative of the Salvation Army desired to explain the Army's work at the military camps in New Zealand. It was resolved at once to hear the representative. Major Winton said be represented Commissioner Hodder with reference to tho special appeal which wa9 now being made to tho Patriotic Association on behalf of the work of the Salvation Army at the training camps in the North Island—Trent-ham, Tauherenikau, May Morn, and Avondale. It had already cost £1,500, and it was considered that the work would cost approximately £2,000 more in tho erection of buildings and providing amusement for the boys. In order that this sum might bo raised the appeal was made to the association. The work of tho Army was non-sectarian, and of an evening the Army building had held 600 to. 700 men. In response, to appeals Wanganui had given New Plymouth £l5O, Auckland £300,. while Hawera and Marton were both running a demonstration so as to give £IOO or £l5O. Wanganui looked at the matter in this light: The district had sent 1,000 men to the front, and it had been decided to donate an average of 5s per man. Seeing that Dunedin City alone had sent 2,419 men, he was hoping that the Dunedin Patriotic Society would come to the Salvation Army's aid in the same proportion. He left his case in the society's hands.

His Lordship the Primate said it was with considerable hesitation that he rose to say that his sympathy was not altogether with this movement. All the funds were required for the military necessitiei of the Empire,-and it seemed to him thai the social and spiritual welfare of the men should he properly provided by tho Church to which they belonged. If the association were desirous of aiding such work as had been so well explained to them it had to be borne in mind that there had been work equally as important and on a larger scale carried out by other denominations, and that applications for assistance would be made by them. The Church he represented had, for example, spent considerably more than £2.000 on an institute at Trent-ham Camp, in which just such jvorks as had been described were carried out in the interests of the men. The Anglican Church proposed to erect similar institutions at May Morn and Tauherenikau camps, but they were not appealing to this association for assistance. The Church was providing them entirely itself. He believed that the Presbyterians and other denominations could give a similar story, and they were not appealing for assistance. If the' association saw fit to make grants-in-aid to such work he should feel himself that bo had at least an equal if not a greater claim for asking assistance to the Anglican com mini it v.

. The Mayor said that, the matter could either bo settled nut of hnnd or referred t(i a special committee. There were several organisation* doing -splendid work at the training camps. There was a. club in Wellington run hy women which was performing excellent work in the interest! of soldiers, principally from districts outside of Wellington. It was run at the cost of the people of Wellington. Us would like to see a .small grant given to "that club, but thorn were so many to assist that the general question should be considered with great care. Mr F. G. Gumming considered that the fu-st question to dispose of was whether they should affirm or reject tlie principle of assisvinu institutes at local camps. yiv T./W. Mitchell agreed with Mr Cuniming'K view. He pointed out thatmost of the funds were practically earmarked for specific -purposes.

.Rev. R. S. Gray .said that there wer.i two funds out of which donations could be made. A.s regards the appeal before the .association, he pointed out that the Solvation Army were doing interdenominational work which other tlemonim.it ion» were not doing. He did not think there should be .any comparison, with other churches. There was no doubt that other churches were in the main able to raise money from their own people for carrying on purely denominational "worlc, There was equally no doubt that the Salvation Army would not be able to raise money from their own members. It was a. fact that the Army catered for a largo number of men in camp who were not reached throuah other denominational channels. He knew front his own knowledge that the Salvation Army building at Trentham we* usually crowded, whiht other institutions were, to 2'ut it mildly, thinly attended. The general impression in Wellington was that the Salvation Army and the Y.M.O.A. were doing more important work than any other denominations. He did not- hold a. brief for thu Salvation Army, and their methods wore not Ids methods, but he knew what work they were doiic.;. He wished that, all denominationa! fences were broken down in this time of crisis, and that denominational competition was in its proper placi —under (he earth, not above ii. In such a. crisis they wanted to be of one mind, one heart, and one soul, and he thought. that the churches should set an example. This prompted Mr 0. Speight to remark 'hat- members were not ""present t-i listen to Mr Gray on denominationalism. Mr Gray said he would stop immediately, but net because of the interjection. The Her. R. S. Gray then moved that, a grant of £250 be made to i.Tie Salvation Army for work- in camps in New Zealand. Mr D. Pi. Theomin seconded. Dean Fit.ehett said that- the chaplains were doing just 'he same kind of work socially as 1-iie Salvation Anny peooii . For his part he would he. very plen.se.) if the association were prepared to make ,i similar grant for otiler organisations doing precisely the same kind of work in .t similar spirit. lion .1. T. Paul moved as an amendment—•'• That the matter be referred to the Soldiers' Welfare and Finance Committees to consider.'" He deprecated :i haphazard method of disposing of funds The Primate seconded. Rev. Father Coffey said that the work could he done by private subscription. The association should not affirm the principle that patriotic funds should be given for the. work of different denominations in the camps. The Salvation Army were a. denomination, and it was no uve'sayitig that thev were not.

After some more discussion the motion wja carried.