SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS TREE.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20288, 22 December 1927, Page 19

SALVATION ARMY CHRISTMAS TREE.

Once again Ensign Coombs, the local Samaritan officer, and her willing band of assistants bad a splendid Christmas tree provided in the Army barracks in Dowling street to mark the festive season. The tree was a beautiful pine, and it stood in the centre of the staging, hung with multifarious toys, and nicely decorated with streamers. Surrounding it were other toys dear to the heart of children, and it may be mentioned that one of the more important gifts, from a well-known city firm, was 100 51b tins of biscuits. It may be explained that the treat, although arranged and carried through by Ensign Coombs and her assistants, was not confined to the children of those connected with the Salvation Army. As a matter of fact, very few Army children were amongst the guests invited to make the acquaintance of the tree and Father Christmas, who became the recipients of the gifts. The method adopted in arranging for the distribution of the articles was to send so many tickets to each _ of the officers in the various districts in the city, inviting parents to bring along their children.

Needless to say, the invitations produced a ready response, and the barracks yesterday afternoon presented a scene of the greatest animation. Children of all ages were there, and they watched the tree with glowing eyes with the keenest anticipation, and awaited their turn to go forward with one of the assistants _ to make the acquaintance of Father Christmas and receive gifts from the tree. He was a benevolent-looking St. Nicholas, as was only to be expected, and he handed over his gifts with a kindly word and a happy smile which would live long in the hearts of the delighted little ones. There were hundreds of gifts on the tree and the stage, and everyone received a present to mark the Christmas season. All the presents were gifts of the people of Dunedin, and the Army, by its praiseworthy forethought, has brought happiness to many a home in Dunedin. The officials, indeed, had their full reward for their weeks of canvassing and the arranging of the tree in the happy faces in evidence in the barracks hall yesterday afternoon. They may be said to have taken as their motto the words of the great Teacher: “Suffer little children to come unto Me, for of such is the Kingdom of Heaven."