SALUTE FIELD-MAJOR GORDON

NZ Truth, Issue 1103, 20 January 1927, Page 4

SALUTE FIELD-MAJOR GORDON

TO have toiled among the more lowly of one's fellow- creatures for

nearly a quarter of a century is no mean achievement, but such is the record of Field-Major Annie Gordon, of the Auckland branch of the Salvation Army.

Her position is known as Samaritan "officer, and during the fleeting years of ' her devoted service m the cause which has been her mission ln life, it is safe to say that she has become a human document.

Would she but recount them the major could reveal a very library of life stones; stories of pathos, bathos, . joy, sorrow, penitence, reformation, and wanton disregard or callous neglect.

But she .is a closed, book, and it would seem to be her objective m life to do good and help with the minimum of publicity for herself. Garbed iii her sombre uniform, for ever Carrying her little dispatch bag m her. hand, she may be met with m every part of the wide city of Auckland bent upon her good works. There is no brightly- enamelled car to carry her from place to place, no flourish of trumpets'; m all her works of 'kindness the gallant major travels on the humble tram-car or bus, until at the end of her long days she re-

turns dusty and weary to her headquarters.

During the course of these years of half -recognised toil m the great cause, the modest old lady has come into contact with very many of the "powers that be" on the lesser and higher bench and with legal men innumerable. She has toiled on with a greatness of heart which it is hard to believe could be contained m so frail a frame. If ever Shakespere's words: "The evil that men do lives after them, but the good dies with them," might be proved to be wrong, the case of Annie Gordon's endeavor should, be an exception, for surely the sincerity of her religion must bear fruit m many lives which are as yet hanging green on the tree of life's garden. It is doubtful if the major would retire to a life of rest and contentment were the opportunity offered her, but who knows that some day some big-hearted person may say to her: "Take a rest," and enable her to do. so by placing a rest-

tui little nooK at ncr aisposai to make a life of ease her own. There is only one fear which Major Annie has been heard to express, and that is of being shot— by a camera fiend — but for once, the majority had to be considered and the deed was a painless one. . \