SALVATION ARMY.

North Otago Times, Volume CV, Issue 30938, 23 July 1917, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY.

VISIT'OF COMMISSIONER HODDER. ADDRESS r ON ARMY'S WAR WORK. A bciics of sorvicca, the main interest centreing i omul that held in the Opera House on Sunday afternoon, were conducted by ConiniisMonei and Mis Ilotlder, leadcis of the Salvation Aimj in New Zealand, in.QamaiV on Saturday ■and Sunday,. Major Corvin, .', of' the 'Divisional Headquarters} and StaffCaptain Sliarp,-"also assisted. A large open-air demonstration, in Thames' street on Saturday night commenced the scries, when addresses were delivered hy the several officers. On Sunday morning at, the barracks the Commissioner preached to a crowded congregation, when he based his address oil' an appeal,, "Call to Workers," on Isaiah, chapter I six, "Whom Shall.! Serve?". .. A large crowd gathered at the, Opera I House in the afternoon to hear Commissioner llodder's address on "The Army's Work Among the Troops." Hisi Worship the Mayor, Mr']?. Milligan, presiding. On the stage were the Tenth Regiinent»Baud, who' played several choruses. St. Paiil's Presbyterian Church choir, under the baton of Mr C. W. Naylor, several Salvation - Army ladies dressed as Red Cross 'nurses, and life-saving scouts. His Worship said that it was universally recognised Mat there was no organisation that surpassed

the Salvation Army in its service nml work for mmikiml. All t'iiey did was for the love of their fellow-men, The Salvation Army'was not a sectarian organisation, and was entitled, to /the enthusiastic support of everyone. Referring to the Salvation Army Appeal Vuiul, lie said that North Otago district had pledged itself to the modest sum of £IOOO. It was not anticipated that there would be any difficulty in reaching that amount.

Commissioner IToddcr, in n stirring

address, said the people belonged to'a p:\ace-loving nation, and it was high time that the nations adopted 'some <;:hcr means than that of war for settling disputes. A better example ought to be set to the heathen. The opening of the Army's war wflrk was in Cardiff,

among the miners, who, after rushing into the city's recruiting offices, which were unable to immediately cope with the numbers, were stranded and helpless. The Salvation Army oflieer in charge at Cardiff offered to place all the buildings at the commandant's disposal, the latter gratefully accepting the offer. From that first effort the Salvation Army launched out in all directions, even in Germany, in the building of hostels. Probably the best work accomplished was in assisting the Belgian Government, and transporting'-8080 wounded to England'to their hostels. The Army, as a whole, sheltered :t0;000 meniii England. There were now 5000 soldiers being cared/for every'night in the week in' London. Thinking that they couM help iii hospital' work among the sick and wounded, (he Salvation Army offered live hundred of its' women officers to' tliii Goveniiiient, They were not required, so twenty field, ambulances, fully equipped, were offered, and. were accepted, To date,/ said the speaker; .100,000' wounded" men' had been carried from the trendies in these conveyances Here the Commissioner illustrated the work among the wounded, and indicated the vital necessity for funds by relating incidents of the liable-' field, Referring 'to/the work of 'tlie' canteens, Commissioner Hodder said that the V.M.C.A,'and their organisation were working well together. Great work and assistance was rendered by these 'institutions. Another considerable work was the engraving of names and the erection of crosses upon the graves of our, fallen. Comforts' were distributed, to the sick and wounded men, and help was administered to them behind the lines, 'Their chaplains' work had received special recognition. The'' Commissioner concluded his address with tales of the experiences in Galli-. poli, and later in France, of that great Salvation Army hero, Cliaplain'-Lieuteu-' ant-Colonel Mackenzie—"Mac," as he used to be called by his men,

During tlie service St, Paul's choir contributed the anthem, "God is a Spirit," and the Regimental Band played the chorus, "Worthy is the Lamb," and "Amen." A collection in aid of the War Fund was taken up. ,-The' service dosed with.the singing of the National Anthem.

There was a large attendance at; the evening service at the barracks. "Last, Words from the Cross" formed the subject of the Commissioner's sermon which was not without its effect upon' the congregation. : Staff-Captain Sharp also spoke. Major .Col vin took charge of the prayer, meeting.' ( '