THE SALVATION ARMY AND ITS WORK.

New Zealand Times, Volume LXVI, Issue 3257, 14 October 1897, Page 2

THE SALVATION ARMY AND ITS WORK.

Captain Toomer, of the Wellington corps, writes us on the above, subject, and as we believe tbe information he gives and the ap* peal he makes will interest readers, wo have much pleasure in affording his letter publicity:—

Sib, —Ton are no doubt aware that we Salvationists are now having our annual week of self-denial, by. which means we anticipate raising a good round sum of money to carry on our work. I should be glad if yon would allow us through the medium of yonr valuable paper to call the attention of your readers to this fact. On the principle that “ example is better that precept,” we, the members of this organisation, are denying ourselves of anything luxurious or unnecessary, in order ’that our social and missionary work may be maintained and extended. Few persons seem to realise what a vast, world-wide movement the Army has become, and it may be of interest to your readers to know that throughout the world our officers number 12,192, who proclaim the Gospel in 40 different countries and colonies, in different languages, holding 2,500,000 services annually. As an auxiliary to this work we carry on the largest social work the world has ever seen, comprising 371 social institutions, namely, Slam Posts, Prison Gate, Beaoue, Maternity. Children’s and Servants’ Home, Factories, Farm Colonies, Pood, and Shelter Depots, Lodging Houses, Hospi ala and Labour Bureaux. In Australasia alone we have dealt with 910 men in our Prison Gate Homes during the past year, only 95 of whom were unsatisfactory. A total of 924 men passed throngh onr shelters. On the women’s side no less than 1275 have been admitted to onr Besgne Homes during the past year, and of these only 109 proved unsatisfactory. During the year we supplied 555,305 meals and 189,977 beds. Another branch of our work is the finding of ‘‘lost friends,” and out of 782 cases dealt with we were successful in tracing 351, some of whom had been missing for 60 years. Tour readers will see at a glance that to sustain such a gigantic amonnt of work an enormous income must bo forthcoming, and seeing that this work is carried on without regard to creed or colour, I confidently make an appeal to your readers to contribute towards its support, and_ therefore invite all to deny themselves with ns, and so help to save the poor down-trodden masses, body and soul. I shall be glad to acknowledge the receipt of any donation for this ohjeot,