SALVATION ARMY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 22 January 1926, Page 5

SALVATION ARMY.

NEW OFFICERS WELCOMED. FUNCTION AT HAWERA. Assurances of amicability between the churches and wishes for a successful term dominated the social of welcome tendered last evening to Adjutant and Mrs Will Sawyer, who arrived on Wednesday to take charge of the Hawera Corps of the Salvation Army. Sergeant-Major J. J. Dowdle presided over a good attendance, which included representatives from various other religious bodies in. Hawera. The chairman expressed pleasure at * seeing so many members .and triends present to welcome the new officers, who, he said,, were old friends cf bis. He was extremely satisfied that ibe corps had been fortunate in' being able to secure such real good ’Officers.- He could only ask the corps, to stand bv and help the new officers, and he hoped that when they were again transfer:ed they would be able, to look back upon a most successful term. On behalf of the Methodist Chinch, Mr C. J. Rowe offered, a hearty we!-' com© to the adjutant and his wife-. Be said that the Methodist Church was very sympathetic to the Salvation Army, and he could assure the new officers of that church’s, support. He ’; . wished them a very successful term in Hawera. Bandmaster Stone said he was glad to welcome Adjutant and Mrs Sawyer. He could only hope that at .the end of their term it would be seen that their efforts had not been in vain, many souls having been saved. He would extend a hearty welcome to the officers. Brother Stebbing asked the public _ _ and members of the corps to rally round and do their utmost to assist the officers who had come .to extend God’s kingdom, and do their utmost to save souls. He hoped that everyone would do their best to ensure that die term of Adjutant and Mrs Sawyer,, . would be a very happy one. Mr L. A. Bone, on behalf of the Presbyterian Church, apologised for the absence of the Rev. Mr Evans. After offering a hearty welcome to the officers, he deplored the system whereby the Salivation Army officers were transferred so frequently. He thought it was rather a disadvantage, hut, he added, they certainly did not have t time to grow stale in a district. He * assured the adjutant that in Hawera lie would find the religious bodies working together in a manner seldom seen in New Zealand. Mr Bone emphasised the necessity of die members of a religious body working together. He said that it was from. _ T the efforts of the church members that * * the officers received their inspiration, 50 lie could only p’ead with them to support loyally those that God sent to labour in the town. The Salvation Army was doing the greatest work of any religious body in the world. The Army seemed to touch a certain c'ass —although it was a- pity there were classes —that the other churches found it impossible to influence, so all honour to those men who gave up their lives for the work of God.

There was a danger, continued Mr Bone, in the Salvation Army and other churches of commercialising their work and forgetting the spiritual connections. It seemed more, necessary to show a good balance-sheet than to produce a good sou’-saving record. This was a thing that must be fought lestthe great work of the churches be lost' sight of in the anxiety of the pursuit after the things of the • world. ■• He stressed the necessity of upholding thework of the churches, for without religion a town would fall. It was necessary that the children shon’d be taiight the Gospel in .order to. give them something to carry.with them through life. If they were taken ‘into the Sunday School and made to feel nart of the religious life they would become some of the best in the' community. . ' Air Simpson, on behalf of the Baptist Church, spoke appreciatively of the. work of the Salvation Army, and said that no inte’ligent Christian coilld overlook the fact that the Army reached a state where the other churches failed. He urged the members of the corps to back up their officers in order to ensure a successful term. . Sister Stone also spoke on behalf of the sisters of the iunior cadets. Adjutant and Airs Sawyer expressed their appreciation of the welcome, and trusted that when the time came for them to leave Hawera they would be able to ’ook back upon a most successful period. Alnsicai items were given during the evening as follows: —Songs, Sisters Dillard and Stone, and Bandmaster Stone ; duet, Adit, and Airs Sawyer; cornet solo, Adjt. Sawyer. The band also gave items. Supper was served by the 'a dies. Prior to their departure from Stratford. Adjutant and Airs Sawyer were tendered a farewell social, when eulogistic references were made to their good work in that town.