SALVATION ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21919, 3 April 1933, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY

JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS MEMORIAL TABLET UNVEILED The Salvation Army jubilee celebrations were continued on Saturday, when a memorial tablet to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the first meeting held in New Zealand was unveiled in Customshouse square by Commissioner J. Cunningham. The Mayor (Mr R. S. Black) presided over the gathering, which numbered several hundreds. The tablet, which has been placed at the base of the Cargill Monument in Customhouse square, bears the following simple inscription:—"Here the Salvation Army started on April 1, 1883." The meeting was opened with the hymn, "Will You Come?" which was the first hymn sung at the first service held at this spot.

The Mayor said that this was a wonderful dav, not only for Dunedin, or even New Zealand, but for the whole world. There were not a great many present who could remember the first service held there 50 years ago, but those who could recall that momentous occasion had been privileged to watch a wonderful march of progress since then. Fifty years ago there had been no paved streets in this place, but during the intervening time Dunedin had progressed until it was the beautiful city they now saw. He went on to say that all those present had a duty to perform, so that their descendants 50 years hence would be able to say that the work started in 1883 had been faithfully carried on. Continuing, the Mayor said he had a great amount of admiration for the Salvation Army, which was the only army that should exist on the face of the earth to-day. Messages of congratulation were read by Lieutenant-colonel F. Burton. The first was from General Higgins, who said: "You will require no assurance that my heart, like yours, is overflowing with gratitude and joy for all thia jubilee congress represents. The acorn of 1883 has grown into the sturdy oak of 1933, and stands as a miracle of God's goodness and power and a tribute to the loyalty and self-sacrifice of officers and soldiera alike. It would have given me great delight to have been among you for this

happy and momentous event, but this has not been possible. lam positive tna* the .territory will continue to win triumphs for the Cross I value and appreciate all you have done in the dimcult days through which your beautiful Dominion is passing and I again assure vou of mv love and prayers, and my confidence that you will keep unfurled the glorious flag of blood and fire. A message received from the GovernorGeneral (Lord Bledisloe) read as follows: —

"I most warmly congratulate the Salvation Army in New Zealand upon its iubilee and regret that our absence from the Dominion during the period of its celebration prevents the inclusion in it of some form of hospitality at Government House to its officers. In its simple, earnest, practical methods of conveying tian message of peace and goodwill upon earth and of showing by selfless example and unceasing acts of discriminating helpfulness how best that message can be rendered effective in a world torn and embittered by human discords and saddened by human suffering, the balvatipn Army is doing work in this part of the British Empire of untold value both from a religious and from a social standpoint. If this is by nature ' God's Own Country (and there is none in the world which so fully merits such a description) it can only be and remain so in actual fact it the degradation, vice, and destitution which flow so copiously from disobedience of God's laws are firmly kept in check, and if the sunshine of sympathy, love, and mutual helpfulness penetrate abundantly into the darker corners of human environment and experience. It is this grand objective which your gallant band of earnest men and women, fortified with the Woid of God and convinced of the potent efficacy of its eternal truths, so joyfully, energetically, and persistently pursue and for which the whole body politic is under a deep debt of obligation to them. Laay Bledisloe joins with me in cordially congratulating the Army on its past meritorious achievements and sincerely wishing it Godspeed in days to come." Messages of congratulation were also received from the Prime Minister (Mr G. W. Forbes), the Minister of Finance (Mr J G. Coatcs), and the Leader of the Opposition (Mr 11. E. Holland). Commissioner Cunningham said that they were gathered together on an historic spot and on an historic occasion. Fifty years ago Captain Pollard and a small number of officers had unfurled the Salvation Army flag at this place, and had conducted the first service of its sort in the Dominion. Since then the work of the Army had spread throughout New Zealand. Had they been living under normal conditions instead of in times Ox stress, an effort would have been made to erect some permanent; and useful memorial, but perhaps some day when times were better contributions would be more freely made and the Army would find itself in a better position than at present. He expressed appreciation of the assistance rendered by the City Council in the laying of this memorial tablet. He was sure that the spot would be visited by members of the Salvation Army from all parts of the world in days to come. After the Commissioner had acknowledged the sentiments expressed in the various messages received, he unveiled the tablet, and called for cheers for the Mayor and citizens of Dunedin. GATHERING OF PIONEERS.

After the unveiling ceremony a large crowd gathered at the Dowling Street Fortress, where a pioneers' meeting was held, Commissioner Cunningham presiding. . . Throughout the afternoon reminiscences of days gone by were exchanged, and a considerable part of the time was spent in the singing of the music popular in the Army many years ago. Mrs Strain, who took part in some of the earliest services, sang the solo "Are We Waiting? " which she had sung many years ago when the Army in New Zealand was in its infancy. Community singing was also popular to the accompaniment of the tambourine band and also to hand clapping, which was the accustomed form of accompaniment before the banda were formed.

JUBILEE TEA. A jubilee tea provided by the Dunedin j soldiery was given in the Early Settlers' Hall, and was attended by upwards of GOO officers, soldiers, and others. At the principal table was a large cake decorated with a model of the Cargill Monument and standing on this were figures representing Captain and Mrs Pollard and Lieutenant Wright, who conducted the first service held there 50 years ago. MUSICAL FESTIVAL. An interesting programme of music was provided in the Salvation Army Fortress on Saturday evening before a large attendance. The first item was a congregational song in which the audience joined heartily, and a brief address was then given by the chairman (Commissioner J. Cunningham). The Dunedin City Band gave an attractive rendering of the march " The Red Shield" (Goffin), and Mrs Envoy Bridge sang "The Lost Chord," very effectively. The South Dunedin Band wag then heard in the selection " Songs of Sweden," and the Congress Songsters presented " The Lord is My Light." The North Dunedin Band gave a spirited rendering of tlm march " Keeping Time," and the Officers' Band also played an attractive item. The solo, '"Beside Still Waters," by Mrs Jackson, was nicely sung, and a particularly good item was the male quartet " Nearer, My God to Thee." Several further selections were given by the bands, and other items were as follow: —Cornet duet, Captain Morley and Lieutenant Stein; Bible reading, Staffcaptain Davies; trio —Mrs Adjutant Thomas, Mrs Jackson, and Sister Elaine Rowe; duet, Envoy and Mrs Bridge; and a band quartet—Bandsmen H. Millard, T. Stanton, A. Stanton, and Bandmaster Millard. Tlie final item was the song " Salvation War," by the Congress Songsters. CONCLUDING FUNCTIONS YESTERDAY'S PROCEEDINGS. The jubilee celebrations were concluded yesterday, when three meetings, which attracted large congregations, were held in the Town Hall. The morning meeting was held in the Concert Chamber, the speakers being Mrs Colonel Taylor, Lieu-tenant-colonel Burton, and Commissioner Cunningham. In the afternoon the Mayor (Mr R. B. Black) presided over a large gathering in the Town Hall. With him on the platform were the Mayoress (Mrs Black), Sir James Allen, Dr Falconer, Mr Charles Falconer, Mr F. Valpy, Dr N ortllj Dr Newlands, and the Rev. H. E. Bellhouse,

and a number .of other citizens, while Army officers present included Commissioner Cunningham, Colonel and Mrs Taylor, Lieutenant-colonel Burton, Brigadier Macaulay, Brigadier Church, Major Suter, and Major Bear. ■ Colonel Taylor read messages of congratulation from General Higgms and from his Excellency the GovernorGeneral. , .... . "Extol the Veterans" was the title ot the piece sung by the congress songsters, and the chairman made this the basis ot his remarks. There was a tendency nowadays, he said, to forget their forebears—the veterans who had borne the burden and heat of the day and had planted the seeds from which a mighty oak had grown. Mr Black here paid a tribute to Sir James Allen, one of New Zealand s veterans, for the great work he had done for the country when Minister of Defence Salvationists should be thrilled that dav that it wag their fiftieth anniversary.' The Army had done a grand work 'in New Zealand and had stuck bravelv to its task in spite of scorn and ridicule that greeted it when it was nrst established. THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE ARMY. ADDRESS BY THE COMMISSIONER. Commissioner Cunningham gave a sterling account of the foundation of the Salvation Army in London by William Booth, and of the spread of the work throughout the world. New Zealand first heard a Salvation Army service m 188.1, he said, when a small band of Salvationists who arrived in Dunedin m April of that year worked so effectively that the services were being held in the main centres all over the Dominion within a year The commissioner's references to the progress of the Army in New Zealand were particularly interesting. THE ARMY'S HISTORY. The address by the commissioner was opened with interesting references.to the life of the founder, William Booth, who was born in 1820 at Nottingham. Ihe father of the founder was a fairly well-to-do tradesman who had-fallen on evil days. At the age of 16, William Booth became converted to the Methodist. faith, and his conversion was the beginning or a marvellous career. Booth then went to London and worked hard, preaching pu Sundays, until an appeal was made by his hsarers to give himself up to tne Church. Friends helped him, and in due time Booth was fully ordained. He married a fine woman, and then went to Newcastle-on-Tyne. Many had heard or the strange action of his wife, who in that church walked into the pulpit and addressed the congregation. Her story moved her hearers, and thus started the public life of Mrs Booth Some had thought the wife of the founder bold, but she was a modest woman, and a hater of publicity; however, she threw open the pulpit to Christian women all over the world. The refusal of the Methodist Church to allow Booth to do evangelical work led to his leaving that ministry, and together the pair (68 years ago) went into the ugliest quarter ot all London to start their great work.

THE ARMY FOUNDED. In the slums of Whitechapel and Poplar William Booth found his destiny, and there, in the East End of London, was begun the Salvation Army work of today. General Booth did not dream ot organising the great Army, however, but was filled with a passion for the salvation of men. With a number of converts he started a mission in the East End, and slowly and steadily the Army evolved. From the city the work spread to the provinces, and thence to Scotland, where great work was done in Glasgow and Edinburgh. A weaver and his wife went from Lancashire to the United States of America and held the first open-air meeting in 1 Philadelphia. To extend thenwork the founder sent eight men, under the enthusiastic leadership of the famous Commissioner Railton. The Army started in Australia in the same way, two Army tradesmen meeting in 18S1 and starting the work in Adelaide. In the same year the Army extended its field to France. AN APPEAL FROM NEW ZEALAND. In 1883 a Dunedin lady appealed to vLondon headquarters and sent the money to cover the fares of two officers to New Zealand. These men arrived at Port Chalmers on April 1, 1883, and were accompanied by three Australians. They held their first meeting at the fountain at Dunedin on the same day, and a tablet had been erected on the spot to commemorate that meeting. The crowds were speedily attracted, in spite of opposition, and the penitent form (so often joked about) brought many to the grace of Jesus Christ). The young enthusiasts, within 12 months, were carrying on work in 16 of the large towns in New Zealand. The authorities on occasions opposed the meetings and processions, and at some towns —Patea, Milton, and Hastings, for instance —Salvationists were imprisoned. There was nothing very much in that to stop the work of the Army; prison and persecution never stopped the work of God. THE SOCIAL INSTITUTIONS. Commissioner Cunningham, referring to the social work of the Army, said that it had never been the intention of the Army to found a great system of social institutions. They had been forced upon the organisation, for men and women came to them who were out of work, hungry, and who had sunk very low in life. They needed the care of the Army, and now there were shelters and homes for men and women, maternity homes, and other institutions which were saving bodies and souls. In the Army women's rescue homes there were now 90 inmates; there were 500 children in the Army homes,

and in the maternity homes last year 500 babies were born. The great work o the Army was to convert the hearts ot the people, and there were now 400 centres in New Zealand in which work was being carried on by 600 Salvation Army officers. The work among the young people was one of the greatest cares of the organisation. The active and splendid service of the 1000 or so bandsmen ot the Army who had carried music and song to all corners of the world and would continue to do so, was also referred to by the speaker. - Mr Charles Falconer moved a vote of thanks to the chairman and .the speaker and recalled the time when his father, his brother and himself met the Army pioneers at Port Chalmers. The meeting was brought to a close by the pronouncing of the benediction by the Rev. Mr Bellhouse.