S.A. Bonds Withstood Ordeal Of War

Northern Advocate, 5 January 1946, Page 4

S.A. Bonds Withstood Ordeal Of War

l | (Special) AUCKLAND, This Day. | War had tested the strength .of the : international bonds of the Salvation j Army, but they had survived the | ordeal. The international leader (General j George L. Carpenter) said this yesterday. Courage, ingenuity and faith had overcome difficulties, he said.

When it was ordered in Holland that the Salvation Army should be liquidated because it was directed from England, officers pointed out that it was primarily a spiritual organisation. They were allowed to form a new body with the name of “Faith Mission."

FRANCE AND CHANNEL ISLANDS

In France, the territorial commander, an Englishman, remained in Paris when the Germans approached and a skeleton staff was sent to the south. The work was kept going in Vichy territory. The English leader was later interned and all spiritual work was closed down, but the social institutions, mainly in Paris, were allowed to continue.

In the Channel Islands, while other Churches were allowed to continue, the Salvation Army was banned, street meetings forbidden and uniforms made illegal. Staunch members joined up with other places of worship and, when liberation came, emerged to take up their work. The band instruments were buried in gardens and on the first Sunday after liberation music was being played at crowded open-air meetings..