"A SUNNY ARMY"

New Zealand Times, Volume XLIII, Issue 9953, 24 April 1918, Page 9

"A SUNNY ARMY"

WARM HEARTS MAKE GOOD CHEER EVERYWHERE

I Everywhere the soldier goes the Red Jersey is with him. From the time that ho enters . camp the Salivation Army has a warm heart and a help ing hand for him. "Well or sick, free or iri~ prison, a Bed Jersey or a Blue Bonnet will find him and comfort him. A proverb says that "Time and the tide wait for no man." "The Army" beats time and the tide; it waits for a mam, and waits upon him. Indeed, it does not waste time in waiting; it is up and doing. ' The Salvation Army has proved itself a "Sunny Army.'-'

This service is don© with a maximum of efficiency, "at a minimum cost. In the early years of its social work, the '•'Soldiers "of Good'-" had to rely on one widow's mite to help another; by the self-denial of the poor, the poorer and the poorest were comforted. That i is how "The Army" .learned to make] a shilling perform feats of nimbleness ■ beyond the imagination of minters. i In the hard school of poverty "The' Army" learned to be economical, and the lesson has not been forgotten. The copy-book maxim, ff Wilful waste makes woeful want," would be merely humorous on an Army wall. This body's careful and wise use of money and material has become proverbial. The Army' 8 practice is handsomely in line with its precept of thrift. It is the simple life for the Red Jersey and the Blue Bonnet. The salaries paid to Salvation officers at the front do not encourage dreams of; retirement on a fund of savings. It is tVe Salvation Army scale for all—a rate which necessitates self-denial practised cheerfully, for that is a basis of "The Army" service. Men and women enlist' in this Army not to make money for themselves but happiness for others.

WHAT THE ARMY IS DOING. The range of Salvation Army service includes: — t Institutes in all training camps.

Huts and hostels on fighting fronts. Naval and military homes in Great Britain and the Dominions.

Convalescent homes throughout tho Empire. A total accommodation has been provided for tens of thousands in theso institutions within the Empire and in, the fighting areas. The Salvation Army has a motor ambulance corps, comprising sixty cars, driven by Red Jerseys, on the Western front.

Besides men workers, the Salvaiiori Army has scores of fully-trained and experienced women officers doing hutment and hostel work throughout the Western front. In addition to the 1600 officers ancl employees, the Salivation Army has a large number of experienced workors. The wives of staff officers and the wives of men who are engaged in work with the troops on other departments are giving their time free for the great humanitarian, operations. t

MONEY AND MATERIA!/ THE ONLY LIMIT.

Salvation nurses are regarded a? miracle-workers in many hospitals, and they have their Blue Bonnet sisters to help them in comforting the sick and wounded. These sunny callers bring delicacies and other little extras with a refreshing presence; they write letters for the patients to their loved and loving ones; last messages are taken from the dying an..d sent to the nearest of kin. * _

In all large centres of England—particularly in London—and also in towns of the Western front, the Salvation Array has well-organised brigades for night-patrol work. Thus some are rescued from harpies and other parasites.

Trains are met, and soldiers have every assistance on arrival. The Red Jersey is also about at a time of departure. Everything that human ingenuity and energy, inspired by kindness, can do for the Empire's soldiers, the Salvation Army is doing within its means. The only limit is that of money and material —and this is the point at which the public here can help.