THE SALVATION ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 16964, 28 March 1917, Page 8

THE SALVATION ARMY

SOUTHERN CONGRESS OPENED IN DUNEDIN. The Salvation Army holds an important place among the religious organisations ol f 1 "") ( ' olaLUJon - Five years ago New Zealand was formed into a separate territory, with a commissioner in charge, and annual conicronces of army officers liavo since boon Hold in Wellington. Tliis yoa r a new departuro nas boon inaugurated, and instead' ol the Central conference two congress meetings .take its place. Ono of these lias just conducted in Auckland, composed of North Island olliccrs, and the other was opened in Dunedin yesterday, with 200 delegates from all parts of tho South island, as well as a number of divisional commandants and soldier delegates from the North Island. Jt is tho intention to hold movable conterences in tho future, as is tho custom with other bodies.

Last night, at 6 o'olock, about 600 persons sat down to tea at tho barracks in Dowhng street. •the civic reception was fixod for 8 o'clock in" the Dowling street oitadel, which was well filled, while tho platlorm was occupied by army officers and visitors, among whom wore Commissioner Hodder (leader of the army in the dominion}, Lieutenant-coloncl M'lnnes (chief secretary, Wellington), Brigadier Carmichael (divisional commander, Auckland), Brigadier Glover (National Headquarters, Wellington), Brigadier Gest (1 raining College principal, Wellington), Major Colledge (National Headquarters, Wellington), Major Colvin (Dunedin), Mrs Hodder, Mrs M'lnnes, Mr J. J. Clark (Mayor ol Dunedin), Mr F. G. Gumming, and Dr Falconer. Tho chair was occupied by tjho Mayor.

Procerhngs commenced 'with tho singing of a hymn; Lieutenant-colonel M'lnnes led the meeting in prayer ; Mrs Hodder read a chapter of Scripture; and the City Songster Brigade contributed a chorus.

The meeting sang "I Love Him Better Every Day," alter which Lieutenant-colonel-M'lnnes expressed tho appreciation of tho army at the presence of tho Mayor of Dunedin in their midst. —(applause)—and invited him to address tho meeting. Tho Mayor of Dunedin, who was well received, extended to officers and soldiers a cordial welcome, and assured thorn that the city considered it a great honour that the congress was being hold here.—(Applause.) Dunedin was tho b.rthplace of tho army in New Zealand, and from Dunedin there spread throughout tho whole of the doinion various branches of tho army's work. Ho hoped the congress would bo tho moans of strengthening, invigorating, and enlarging the work of the army in this dominion. He trusted, too, that officers and soldiers would gam renewed enthusiasm by the meeting. The civic life of the city would also benefit in its best and truest spirit. Tho influence of the army was undoubtedly for good, and tho work of the congress must tond to tho betterment of tho city. In all sincerity, therefore, he welcomed the visitors and hoped they would iiave a pleasant sojourn hero.—(Applause.) He believed ho voiced tho opinion of the great majority of tho people when ho said they appreciated tho noble, self-sacrificing work of the army. Speaking of General Booth, ho said it was only now the people were beginning to realise the depth of gratitude the whole world owed to that magnificent personality and phenomenal organiser.—(Applause.) Only a few years ago there was no Salvation Army, but to-day the army was known everywhere. It occupied about 60 different countries, and was preaching tho Gospel m between 50 and <10 different languages. Over 2£),000 men and women wore devoting the whole of their time in carrying on the work of tho army, while innumerable in'dividuals were giving much of their timo to its work.—(Applause.) The army, it semcd to him, was not content to pray. It offered to the down-trodden and the stricken tho means of entering on a better lifo, and by so doing it won much of its success.— (Applause.) Never had the army had such opportunities for its work as it had in the present dark hour. Its leaders and its soldiers were realising their responsibilities and wore taking their part in uplifting tho fallen, and in raising the standard of life. It taught that the best way of raising the standard of human lifo was by means of tho. spiritual and by means of religious teaching. He also wished to say that in tho great war the army had played* an important part. When tho call to arms came many of the men of the Salvation Army answered it at once. —(Applause.) It 'was to tho honour of the army that it did not bid its men to stay. Its members went to fight the cause of the right, -and with bravo hearts the army bade them go and do their duty.—(Applause.) A collection was taken up while the band played a march. Commissioner Hodder, who was -welcomed with applause, thanked the Mayor, for his address. Ho went on to say that it had been stated lately here that there was no certainty about the religion of tho Salvation Army. In answer to that statement he said tho Army stood for righteousness, truth, holiness of heart and life, and practical service in the interests of men It believed in sin as the most terrible thing on the earth. It believed in Christ aa the Saviour of every man, and it believed that,-unless a man was saved, ho would not only havo a bad time here, but a worso time hereafter. No one could say thero was any uncertainty with regard to the relig'on of tho Salvation Army ; —(Applause.) Someone had also said in this city that it was not wise to havo tho Salvation Army with its children's orphanages—that the Salvation Army should get from tho Salvation Army the money for the Army's institutions. Did some of those people follow tho same practice themselves? Did the Anglican ministers content themselves by fishing in their own pool?—(Applause.) He thought they had sometimes como to tho Salvation Army and wanted it to assist.—(Applause.) They had also asked the" Catholics to assist, and tho brewers to assist, and all kinds of people to assist. ' Tho "Salvation Army's boys' or girls' homes, or institutions of that kind, did not contain 1 per cent. of Salvationists.—(Applause.) Theso homes contained, unfortunately, a good percentage of Presbyterians, a good percentage of Anglicans, a good percentage of Roman _ Catholics, a percentage of Conpregationalists, a smaller percentage of Baptists, and a still'smaller percentage of Brethren.—(Applause.) It was stupid for religious organisations, or for any people, to bo jealous of the Salvation Army. Never mind who did the work, so long as it was dono.—(Applause.) The speaker referred at length to tho operations of tho Army. It was now working in 65 countries and colonics, and preaching, tho Gospel in-"41 languages. '"It had 11.520 societies or institutions of ono kind or another, which were guided by 23,780 officially appointed officers and employees. He also pointed out the extent of the Army's social, industrial, and other branches of work, and spoke of the attention it wis giving to tho welfare of tho boys and their parents in Trentham camp. In alluding to the position of their chaplains in the military camps, ho said that they were willing and ready to go to the war. If, however, thero was to bo exemption for ono. thero should bo exemption for all, and in that respect tho Salvation Army claimed the 1 same right of appeal as was given to others. As for the mission ministers, if the Presbyterians or tho Weslevans wished their mission ministers to be recognised by tho authorities, let them put forward tho.claim that these ministers were ordained men, and, if they were not ordained, let them bo ordained.—(Applause.) The speaker concluded by saying that this was, at any rate, some of the work tho Salvation Army had in hand! No matter who did the work, it was being done day by day in the Master's causo, and that was. after all, it seemed to him. the best kind of Christian spirit.—(Applause.) A vote of thanks was accorded tho Mayor for presiding, and tho meeting was closed with 'the benediction. .To-day and to-morrow officers' councils will be held. Thes« meetings aro not public. To-morrow night thero will bo a united young peopifc's programme.