THE SALVATION ARMY

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22102, 4 November 1933, Page 9

THE SALVATION ARMY

PORT CHALMERS CORPS CELEBRATION JUBILEE EARLY HISTORY RECOUNTED H*' The Port Chalmers Salvation Army | Corps will reach its fiftieth anniversary j on November 9, and celebrations befit- ■ ting the occasion have been arranged. Looking back across 50 years in review i of the work of the Salvation Army in , Port Chalmers, and drawing upon the ex- | pferieuces, many and varied, of the i veterans still with us, some of whom have | been Salvationists from within a tew ) weeks of the inception of the corps, it is | apparent that the survival of the'Array in the district depended to a large degree upon the courageous spirit and unshakeable faith of early converts who, with the officers, came in for a good share of the persecution meted out to the Army in those days. This was at times extremely bitter and hostile, and a great deal of it was due to ignorance concerning the aims and objects of the new religious organisation which incorporated the methods and terms of secular eoldierehip with the soldiership of Christ. Gradually the opposition forces were worn down, and finally disappeared, and the people began to realise that, the Salvation Army had come to stay and was a body of people actuated by the highest and best of Christian principles, exhibiting practical Christianity in life and conduct and seeking the blessing and uplift of all HISTORY OF EARLY DAYS. Port Chalmers possesses the honour of being the town in which the first officers (Salvation Army) landed in New Zealand. During the last week in March, 1883, Captain Pollard and Lieutenant Wright landed there and were received by Mr- A. R. Falconer, missioner of the Sailors’ Rest, and his two sons, now Dr Falconer, of Dunedin, and Mr Falconer, of Wellington. Associated with Mr A. R. Falconer, at thi« time in connection with tbs great work carried on through meetingo held in the old bond were such men as Mr Ings, of the Baptist Church, Mr Brunton, ami the Rev, Lindsay Mackie. It was only a little while before this that Mr Fyank T. Bullen, the well-known author, was converted in the old bond meetings. These, with Mr A. R. Falconer, were warm friends and helpers of the Army in its formative years. Seven months after inaugurating a corps in Dunedin (the first in New Zealand) Captain Pollard, with a party of recruite, among Whom were Envoys Manly, Wilkinson, and Hughson, and Brother Dwight, returned to Port Chalmers and started a corps there. ine first meeting was held in the old : Foresters’; Hall on November 9, 1883. This was characterised by some rather ani-mated-incidents. These early-day Salvationists were a buoyant demonstrative type, and one old lady who attended the first meeting was so taken aback that she exclaimed in amazement and asked If this were the end of the world, hor a long time these Salvationists were a source of wonderment and curiosity to. many, whilst others resented their bold denunciation of folly and evil and force-, ful exhortations to live righteously, and expressed their disapproval in active opP °The veterans of the corps still have vivid recollections of pepper and flour and " superannuated eggs, well as missiles of a more substantial nature. These were sometimes thrown into the, band instruments as they '*® re * ■played, but more often at the Pla>eFf?hie only strengthened the determination of these early fighters to stand by their convictions. “ The oldest soldier of the corps is Sergeant-major T. Anderson, who was converted and joined up within few weeks oL the 'Army’s arrival. He was closely • followed by bus wife, who served as young peopled sergeant-major f °Th?re Dy ar y e ea o?her soldiers who have served from 40 to 46 years a« Salvationists, and who are still working with zeal and faithfulness m-the cause of Jesua Christ and His Kingdom. , The first officers of Port Chalmers corps were Captain and Mrs Lieutenant Kate Ramsay, who did excellent S Captain and Mrs Robinson were promoted some years afterwards to the rank of major and placed in charge of the Dunedin division. Some ot tne early converts of the corps became officers in the Salvation Army and I rose to responsible positions. The following is a list of soldiers -who became officers flistera M M‘Ara, S, Campbell, Adeline Julicr? Ada Julier,’Beatrice Thompson M. Shearer, E. Thomas, L. Sansom, and E. Porter; Brothers R. Sansom, H. Holden, R Tavener, W. Crichton. “ Captain and Mrs Parker are the present officers, and assisting them as local Officers are Sergeant-major T. Anderson. Mrs Taylor (treasurer), N. E. Styles q{ visstore { rom various parts, some of whom have been associated with this corps in the near and distant past, will be taking part in the jubilee celebrations extending from November 9to November 13. • A list of events m connection with these celebrations is as follows: November 9—meeting of thanksgiving and prayer (Foresters’ Hall); November 10 —open-air meeting (Rotunda); November 11 —unveiling memorial board, reception and old identities’ ■ reunion, grand jubilee tea (Foresters’ Hall), jubilee programme by Dunedin South Silver Band and local talent; November 12—hohuess meeting, public thanksgiving and praise meeting (Lauder Theatre, Port Chalmers Municipal Band in attendance), jubilee salvation meeting; November 13—jubilee festival of music (Dunedin City Band and Lieutenant-colonel B. W. Burton (field secretary for New Zealand), assisted by Major and Mrs Bear and district headquarters staff, will conduct the proceedings.