THE SALVATION ARMY.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LII, Issue 15823, 21 January 1915, Page 7

THE SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER WELCOMED.

A CIVIC RECEPTION.

A civic reception was accorded Commissioner H. C. Hodder, of the Salvation Army, when he paid his first visit to Auckland yesterday. The gathering, which was held in the afternoon, took place in the council room at the Town Hall, and was well attended.

In welcoming Commissioner and Mrs. Hodder, the Mayor, Mr. C. J. Parr, said he wished to assure the visitors that throughout the city they would find nothing but an excellent feeling on the part of the citizens towards the Salvation Army. It was recognised that the Army ■was a great power for good in any community. Auckland owes a great deal to the self-sacrificing efforts of the Army. That organisation did not advertise its work, but those who, like himself, came into touch with many phases of life in the city knew that it was accomplishing a splendid and necessary work. No religious sect accomplished as much as did the Salvation Army in its social rescue work. (Applause.) In reply, Commissioner Hodder said that mayors of cities were not always so kind as to grant him civic receptions. Thirtytwo years ago the chief magistrate of one city had given him 14 days' hard labour with equal alacrity. His offence had been that he placed his hand on the head of a boy who had disturbed the Army " ring," hitting with a stick several of the women officers. The attitude of the public towards the Salvation Army had changed since then, and it was evident that here in Auckland the good work of the Army had been recognised. Otherwise, there would have been no civic reception that day, for he recognised that the Mayor's welcome was not a personal compliment to himself, but an acknowledgment that the organisation to which he belonged had made its presence felt in the citv.

The commissioner remarked that the social side of the Salvation Army's work was really an outcome of its spiritual operations, and he believed that the more the former was fostered the greater would the latter become. He had come to New Zealand not to pull down, but to build up. Throughout the Dominion, he had been impressed with the quality of the work accomplished by his predecessors. He looked forward to a term of good service. (Applause.) An address was also delivered by Mrs. Hodder, and a vote of thanks was passed to the Mayor on the motion of LieutenantColonel Rowley, chief secretary for New Zealand, seconded by Brigadier Vince. A warm welcome was extended to Commissioner and Mrs-. Hodder in the concert chamber of the Town Hall in the evening. The gathering was mo.-t representative, and heartily endorsed the remarks of the various speakers.