SALVATION ANECDOTES

Evening Star, Issue 21099, 11 May 1932, Page 9

SALVATION ANECDOTES

> GENERAL HIGGINS'S STORIES WHEN THE BOTTLE WAS SAFE. Though the leader of. the Salvation Army, General Higgins, in his speeches in Sydney dealt mainly with the serious side of the world-wide work of the organisation, he continued the knack which was in evidence during his New Zealand tour of introducing into his addresses anecdotes, recounted with excellent effect, which lend colour to what he is saying and keep his audience in happy mood. This was exemplified when, during the course of a lecture in the Town Hall on 1 Salvation Army Activities,’ he told several good stories. General Higgins related how, in London, he was summoned by the City of Birmingham, and fined £1 for keeping in Birmingham a common, lodging house in which, on a certain night, he had permitted 371 men to sleep instead of 370, for which the place was licensed. “ I was fined,” he ; said, “ because I allowed one poor unfortunate fellow more than I should to sleep in that house. Next day I received hundreds of letters of protest against the fine—and they all enclosed £1 with which to pay it. I wished more summonses would follow, for I never got money more easily and at less expense.” Telling about the work of the Salvation Army bands—all of which, he said, were voluntary—and the extent to which their music has improved, General Higgins said that when he was sent to Durham many years ago he called for support for a Salvation Army band. Money was forthcoming, twenty instruments were purchased, and volunteers were called for. There was a large attendance on the night when the bandsmen were to be selected. He asked those who knew anything of music to put up their hands. Not a hand went up. So the best-looking were picked, and the “ hefties ” were given the large instruments. “ They were on the streets the next night,” he said. “ I shall never forget hearing them, and going to the man in charge and asking what they were playing. He said it was ‘ Bright Crowns.’ I had never heard the tune before, and I have never heard it since.”

After speaking of the temperance policy of the Army, General Higgins told of an occasion when he was travelling in South Africa. The train pulled up for some time at Bulawayo, and all the staff except one captain, who had some letters to write, left the train. A man entered the carriage, peered intently around, looked at the captain, walked out, then came back some time later. Opening his coat he produced a largo bottle of whisky, and asked the captain if ho would mind looking after it.

“ Don’t you see who I am?” asked the captain, pointing to the Salvation Army star on bis collar. “ That is why I am giving it to you to look after,” replied the stranger. “ I have looked through the train, and I cannot find anyone else to whom I can trust it.”