Salvation Demonstration.

Gisborne Standard and Cook County Gazette, Volume II, Issue 202, 29 September 1888, Page 2

Salvation Demonstration.

COMMANDANT BOOTH IN GISBORNE There was a great commotion in Salvation Army circles yesterday afternoon and last night. By the Te Anau there arrived Commandant Booth (third son of General Booth), together with Colonel Taylor, Maj >r Lovelook, Staff-Captain Allen, Captain Strand, and a number of other officers and members of the Salvation Army, The Ta Anau was unusually late in arriving, and thus the visitors were unable to take advantage of the beautiful afternoon that would have greeted them had they got in at one o’clock. The boat arrived shortly before four, but it was some time after that when the launch returned, THE BKOEFTION. As a matter of course the local members of the Army presented themselves at the wharf in strong force to give the visitors a hearty “ hallelujah welcome," and there were besides a good many people there who were not connected with the Army. The reception arrangements were upset owing to the Snark landing most of her passengers at the breakwater structure. However, the best welcome was given that was possible under the circumstances.

THE GtSBORNS CAMPAIGN. The members of the Army were early in the field in the evening. Shortly after six the sound of tha big drum was heard for the first time in Gisborne- that is to say, the Army’s big drum. The corps marched down Gladstone road, and then, after one or two halts for the purpose of holding brief services, a return was made to the barracks, where Commandant Booth gave an excellent address on the Army’s work. The hall was completely packed, hundreds being unable to gain admission. If the interest displayed last night can be taken as a fair criterion of the footing which the Army has obtained in Gisborne, then it is likely to flourish and prosper. As the launch was to leave at nine sharp, the meeting could only be of short duration, but it lasted sufficiently long to enable the Commandant to give a capital description of the good objjets for which the Army had first been iniiiated, and of the great success that had attended its endeavors in this direction. His words seemed to convey a grave impression upon his hearers. In our next issue we shall give a few of the figures qlducei. Colonel Taylor and others also spoke, incluiing Captain Strand (the offioer to take up the Gisborne vacancy).

THP FARKWEt-t,. The meeting concluded at 8 30, when a procession such as is seldom seen in Gisborne marohed down Gladstne road. A-stranger could hardly believe that he was in the same town that he had arrived in a few hours previously At ths wharf there was undoubtedly the largest crowd that has ever congregated there. The launch left punctually, and thus the visit was terminated. Referring to Commandant Booth’s visit to New Zealand the N.Z. Herald says :—ln addressing themselves pr.marily to the humblest classes, and even the moat degraded, as the principal field for operations, the members of the Salvation Army have unquestionably occupied, and very effeitually, a sphere that was only too much neglected by the Churches before. The prejudices which were aroused among many religious circles by the first appearance and operations Of tffe Army have almost entirely disappeared before the unmjst ikoable evidence of its being actuated by the noblest motives of doing good. Commandant Booth says his father, General Booth, will ere long visit the colony He expected to come out last year, but the illness of Mrs Booth led to the trip being postponed.