THE SALVATION ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XX, Issue 6823, 29 September 1883, Page 5

THE SALVATION ARMY.

SCENE ON THE WHARF. Those who think that the days of religious enthuaiai'm have passed away, would have been undeceived if they had on the wharf at noon yesterday, and had seen the departure ,of the Waihora, with Major Pollard, Major Barker, Captain Johnny Bowerman, Cadet. Foley, and Bandmaster Tucker. During the morning the ffficera of the army anil many of their syn.pathisera had been busy at work in town, collecting subscriptions for the Salvation Army Barracks, which is to be ■ erected in Albert-stiett. opposite Gledhill's. They were very succes-sful, having collected somewhere.abo'it £270, besides having left a number of, papers, which iu many cases will be returned with subscriptions. At the wharf were assembled about 200 pe'sons, soldiers of the army, to bid their officers farewell. A number went on board, to have a few iinal words with Major Pollard, Captain Bowerman, and Cadet Foley. Tl e last-named is the man who, at the "Holiness meeting" the other nigb>, narrated his experience as a burglar and pickpocket. It is said he is a brother of Foley, the well-known fighting man of Sydney, whose contest with I Miller, of Melbourne, will be in the ar.emorieß', of our readers. Some Maoris happened to be passengers by the Waihora, .and Mr. C. 0. Davis, who was on the wharf, was taken on board, and explained to the nativ.es what all the gathering' was about, and the object of the Salvation Army. As the last whistle was sounded, and Captain Edie ascended the bridge, the Salvation Army paraded at the oxtreme point of the tee, and prepared to bid farewell in their own style, Lieutenant Inues acted as their leader. When the ropes were cast off, and the noble steamship began to move, the crowd Bang "There's a laud that is fairer than day." The Waihora went slowly astern, and again on going ahead passed the end of the wharf, and during the who'e time the assemblage continued singing, one hymn after another be:ng commenced. There was a large piopo'-tion of women in the crowd, from mere girls to old ladies on the verge of tho grave. All vrcro deeply stirred by a common feeling. There was scarcely a dry eye amongst th m. Nearly every one nf the SalvatiQi.ists appeared to be of the labouring classes, all persons who know the hard realities of toiling for daily bread. . As.e.ach hymn was finished, Lieutenant Innes called out, "Fire a volley," and there was an immediate and simultaneous response of "Amen!" Meantime, the departing officers stood on the poop, waving farewell. The whole scene was one not to be easily forgotten. Peoplo may say that much of, this emotion is hysterical. Probably it is, but it must be recollected that most of us are very much the creatures of accident, anil that it is not unlikely that an enthusiasm like this may put men who have been leading evil lives iu a good path, which they may continue in through life. When the Waihora had cot to such a distance Lhat the singing could not be heard, or tho figures distinguished on her deck, the crowd slowly dispersed.