A HEARTY WELCOME

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12559, 23 September 1926, Page 9

A HEARTY WELCOME

COMMISSIONER AND MRS HAY CIVIC RECEPTION GIVEN YESTERDAY ARMY IN NEW ZEALAND Most enthusiastic was the civic wel(ome given to Commissioner and Mrs fames Hay, the new chieftains of the Salvation Army in the Concert Chamber yesterday. There was a big muster of all ranks of the Army and of other citizens. Welcoming Commissioner and Mrs Hay the Mayor (Mr C. J. B. Norwood) said that this was not the first time that a civic reception had been extended to Commissioner Hay. Seventeen years ago when Wellington formed part of “Australasia” he had been welcomed here. The Commissioner had had a very distinguished career, having risen from the lowest ranks to absolute command of the district in which he had first served. This was an experience which fell to few, and was most creditable. In addition he had had command in England, South Africa and Australia. We, in New Zealand, had our problems, and were deeply grateful to the Salvation Army for its work, and it was highly gratifying that one so well endowed with administrative experience should come here. COULD HAVE NO DOUBTS The excellent work which the Commissioner had done in Australia left no dpubt as to his ability, and he hoped that Commissioner and Mrs Hay would sojourn here for a long period, and give the Dominion, full benefit of their long and ripe experience. He hoped, too. that the Army work here would be found to be all that they would have it. The founder if the Salvation Army was undoubtedly one of the world’s greatest men, a man whose ideas were not bounded by any narrow concept of nationality. Councillor G. A. Troup remembered the Army when he was a boy in the streets in Edinburgh. In those days the Salvation Army was in its beginnings, and he remembered well the ridicule with which they were greeted when they marched in procession through the streets. Contrasting the “welcome” which the Army received then with the welcome which its New Zealand head was receiving that day, one could not but be struck by the change of front and seek the reason for it. And the reason was that once a person or body decided that it had a God-appointed task there was no power on earth, of ridicule or anything else, that would keep them hack. THE CLEANSER OF SOCIETY He was proud that the Army had come through until it was what it was to-day (to pnt a low estimate on it), the great cleanser of society. He held that the men who went forward to do God’s will and work had not. alone the sign of apostolic succession but of apostolic achievement. He hoped that the Commissioner would put plenty of blood and fire into his work. (Cheers and laughter.) There followed Mr P. Fraser, M.P., who said that he was all the more pleased to welcome Commissioner Hay because. .] p doing so he was welcoming a 'distinguished fellow countryman! (Laughter.) Commissioner Hay bad followed the usual rule, had gone out into the world and given a lead. (Laughter.) He had a distinguished career, much experience, and was not alone a citizen of the Empire, hut a citizen of the world. In that part of the city which he represented in Parliament a great dee) of the Army’s work was done, and as ho came in contact with it ho was doubly pleased to welcome the Commissioner. . STILL ADVANCING The Army had made wonderfnl progress since his association with it, saic|, the Rev. F. E. Harry, and he. had boeJar associated with- it one year longer than Commissioner Hay. Christianity was making wonderful progress, and th«j Army had done remarkable work. But it should never lose its primary aim, which was the saving of souls. The church was a fighting organisation, an aggressive organisation, or it should go out of existence. And the Army was aggressive; it shamed their lack of zeal. He assured the Commissioner that he would have the co-operation of ‘a fine body of officers, and extended his best wishes, for the Commissioner’s stay in New Zealand. The audience rose and cheered as Commissioner Hay came forward to rospoud. The nations outside thought a great deal of New Zealand. They did not measure a nation by its square mileage but by the character of its people. Curiously enough on the day that New Zealand had been proclaimed a colony his father had been born, and on the day that the seat of government had been transferred to Welington he had been born. MUCH BEFORE THEM Last February he had been appointed to another part of the world altogether, and how he shonld have got on there he did not know. But a change had come about that he had nothing to do with and he had come to New Zealand. The race was not declining, nor was the British race declining. God had ’not done with the British Empire, and still had much work for them to do. In that work they must share sinoe the Army had much before it. There were now something like 2,000,000 Salvationists in the world and 4,000,000 adherents who lacked the courage to go all the way. New Zealand would do its share. Already New Zealanders had gone abroad, and were doing good work. The offi-cer-in-charge' of their work in Ceylon was a New Zealander. And there were five in India and five in China doing f;ood work There would not be any ack of energy or enthusiasm in his efforts while he was here. ._ As long as the Salvation Army women were in Wellington the Mayor could be quite safe, said Mrs Hay. amidst laughter, for if the men failed him the women would come to the resone. They were seeking the betterment of humanity, and were ready to go to the rescue by night or dav, and to do honour to their Lord and Master, who had come to seek and to save. The appreciation of the Army of the reception given the new leaders was t oiced by Colonel Knott. Perhaps, being busv people, they did nut stop to consider how sympathetic were the authorities towards them, but they did appreciate this reception.