ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1913. THE SALVATION ARMY.

Marlborough Express, Volume XLVII, Issue 138, 13 June 1913, Page 4

ESTABLISHED 1866. The Marlborough Express PUBLISHED EVERY EVENING. FRIDAY, JUNE 13, 1913. THE SALVATION ARMY.

Whatever objection there existed a few years iago to the methods employed by *ihe Salvation Army in carrying out their religious and philanthropic work has long since faded away, to give place in the minds of the public to a very general and almost unqualified satisfaction with the splendid # results achieved in the cause of religion and humanitarianism by the marvellous organisation which was brought into being by the late William Booth. The laying of the foundation-stone of a Booth Memorial Training College for Salvationist officers was made the occasion at Wellington on Monday last for the delivery of some exceptionally interesting speeches by the Prime Minister, the Hon. James Allen, and the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, and by a leading officer" of the Army, Commissioner Richards; Both Mr Massey and his colleague^ warmly and1 very rightly eulogised the work of the Army, and paid honor to.the memory of its devoted and illustrious founder. Oommissioneir Richards's speech) was on more practical lines, and dealt in detail with the; character and extent of I the work which lias been and is being done in this country by the Salvation Army. Not only does the Army conI earn itself with the saving of souls, but it brings comfort and happiness to J hundreds of homes by its practical philanthropy. We vise the word "practical'! advisedly, for it is a leadI ing maxim with the Army to help , those who try' to help themselves, and wherever possible the Army instituI tions are run on self-supporting lines. Admirable work is being done in connection with the workmen's homes which have been established in the four chief centres of population. There the "out-of-works" can have comfort- ! able beds at., rates varying from a shilling down to as low as fourpence a night, and meals from sixpence down to the humble twopence. Further thlan this, where pence are completely lacking shelter and food are provided free. Thus Commissioner Richards stated that during the last "Army year" free beds had been provided for 7351 stranded men and women, while no fewer thian 10,873 meals had been given free of all charge. But the work of the Army does not stop at seeing that the poor and homeless of ouir cities have something to eat and a decent night's lodging. It goes further, for the officers form one vast bureau for the unemployed, and ■are largely successful in finding employment for those who have "fallen by the wayside," and are in! sore need of a helping hand. Reference was also made to the Prison Gate Homes, where, from the gaols landl the streets, over 400 men and women outcasts from society had been taken and assisted. Of these it is good to learn that 185 had been sent to suitable situations, and 192 safeguarded until they could go out and look for employment themselves. Maternity homes are also part of the Army system, and !here agiin the record is one of excellent work done in the cause of humanity. Orphanages are also run by the Army, and we must not omit to make special mention of the noble work done by the Army in connection with the 'rescuing of girls and women from immoral lives. Altogether, said ithe Commissioner, fifty-three young girls had been taken from a foul life of prostitutionl on the streets, and from the Police Courts 72 more unfortunates had been received into the Rescue Homes. It is good to know that during the year 107 girls had been passed out into satisfactory situations, and were giving earnest of their desire to reform and lead decent and useful lives; 103 being still under the .care of the Army matrons.

Reference was also made to the work which is being done at Roto Roa Island in the attempted reformation of habitual drunkards. From time to time there has been some doubt expressed as to the exact value of thia particular kind of rescue work; but •although it is admitted that in a certain proportion of oases the devoted services of the Army officers are met by disappointment and failure, still there is good reason for the work being continued, for out of 110 cases discharged during the year, 45, or nearly half, are reported to be turning out well and refraining from any relapse into evil habits. Much of the work that is being done by the Army could not be done—at any rate it ha® not

been done in the past—by the older religious and philanthropical organisations, and there can be no doubt that a deep debt of gratitude is due from the public to the Army officers for the zealous devotion to their noble ideals of duty towards their fellow-men, by which they are actuated.