CIVIC RECEPTION

Evening Star, Issue 19375, 8 October 1926, Page 6

CIVIC RECEPTION

HEW CHIEFS OF SALVATION ARMY. TRIBUTES TO A GREAT WORK In Commissioner James Hay and Mrs Hay tho Salvation Army’ has able advocates of its mission. To-day they’ were accorded a civic reception as the new leaders of the Salvation Army’ in New Zealand, the function taking place at the Town Hall. The mayor, Mr H. L. Tnpley, M.P., presided, and there was an attendance of about sixty local Salvationists and representatives of other churches and members of the public. In his reply to tho speeches of welcome the new commissioner showed himself to be a scholarly speaker, and his wife displayed tho splendid gift of being able to lift the cold facts so well presented by her husband into tho sphere ol emotion—the driving force of any’ great ir.'fc cnient. THE MAYOR’S WELCOME. The Mayor extended a sincere and warm welcome to Commissioner and Mrs Flay. This was not the commissioner’s first visit to New Zealand, as ho had come here in 1910, when he was the commissioner for Australasia, said Mr Tnpley. Their guest had rendered service not only to the people of Australia generally, but also to the soldiers who wont to tho Groat War. So valuable were his services that they wore recognised by the King, who conferred on him the 0.8. E. Commissioner Hay had since then performed duty’ in various parts of the world, and New Zealand was fortunate in getting tho services of Mrs and _ Commissioner Hay. The speaker paid a tribute to the work of Mrs Hay in her assistance to erring womanhood. Mr Taplcy went on to eulogise the work of the Salvation Army in New Zealand. In his capacity’ as mayor he had often had occtasion to call upon the assistance of the Army, and he had never met with a refusal when it was a question of rescuing someone who had fallen by the wayside. At one time there was an inclination to scoff at the Army, but to-day everyone felt inclined to doff his or her hat when the Army uniform came in sight. On behalf of tho citizens lie accorded a warm and sincere welcome to Commissioner and Mrs Hay. (Applause.) OTHER WELCOMES. Sir Charles Statham said lie welcomed the privilege of being allowed to speak on such an occasion. Though thoughtless people might have scoffed at tho Army when it first arrived in Now Zealand, to-day it received the respect and approbation of the whole community. He could assure their guests Dint New Zealand was very British, arid that, whatever part of tho British Empire they had been in before, they would be equally at home in this country. He had the greatest pleasure in joining in the welcome extended to Commissioner and MrsHnv.

The Rev. H. 10. Bellliouso (president of the Council of Christian Congregations) also extended a welcome to the visitors, and paid a warm tribute to the work of the Army, which, he said, had the faculty of somehow appealing to the people which the chulrchcs were not so successful in dealing with. On behalf of the churches he represented lie extended a warm welcome, and trusted that the work of Commissioner and Mrs Hay would be fraught with great blessing. (Applause.) THE COMMISSI ONER’S REPLY. Commissioner Hay, who was greeted with great applause, paid a tribute to the beauty cl Dunedin. Ho said he had been travelling rapidly since ho lauded in New Zealand, but he had found the Army in this country so well tutored in Salvationism that lie could see that if Jie went wrong lie would soon be converted. (Laughter.) The Salvation Army camo into the world at a time when material benefits were highly expressing themselves; when material improvements were more important than at any _ other epoch in the world’s history. Singularly, the Army came into being when those conditions were prevaling, to remind man that “ man did not live by bread alone.” On the streets of towns all over the world the Army reminded man of his obligation to Cod. The Army dealt with the other side of life, it made companions of the sinner, the lowly, and the weak, 'The social work of the Army was known in every part of the world. Ho know of no humanitarian work which was worth five years of life unless it had behind it the great, impelling force of the love oi: Cod. He saw strong evidence of this quality in the Army up and down New Zealand. He honored his comrades in New Zealand for their splendid activities in that way. Each age had its own way of expressing its obligations to the rule of God and of throwing _ back its .social problems. He hoped Salvationists would always be ready to meet the needs of the day. He expressed sincere thanks for the welcome extended to his wife and himself. (Applause.) In at neat little speech, which sparkled with wit, Mrs Commissioner Hay also returned thanks and gave some brief .sketches ot her work in the London slums. Her descriptions of the way in which the slum children to be taken on an outing to the country acted were humorous yet pathetic, li/conclusion, she trusted that her sisters of the Army and she would be of some assistance in New Zealand. Her remarks drew loud applause. On the motion of Colonel Knott, supported by Brigadier Burton, the mayor was accorded a vote of thanks for presiding. The gathering sang “For they are jolly good fellows,” and gave cheers for the guests of honor, and the singing of a verse of the National Anthem concluded the proceedings.