SALVATION ARMY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2915, 26 January 1910, Page 89

SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER AND MRS HAY. Hay (Chief of the Salvation Army, Staff for Australasia) and Mrs Haj, who arey at pressrat visitors to Dunedin, were officially welcomed to the city by the Mayor on Friday morning. Those present at the . ceremony included Mr J. F. ' Arnold, M.P., a mjajority of the City Councillors, and representatives of the various religious denominations. Sir James Mills', Rev, Canon Curzon-Siggers, ant l tho Rev. W. SI ado sent apologies for their absence. In welcoming the visitors the Mayor said : To-day, as Mayor and chief magistrate of this city, it is one of my most pkiasing duties to cordially welcome Commissioner Hay and Mrs Hay, heads of the Salvation Arrhy in Australia, to this city. The Salvation Army is now universally recognised as an organisation! for the uplifting of humanity, more particularly those who ars, by trying, if not unfortunate, circumstances, in need of its ministration. I know of «o other influence that is more powerful in reaching those who are in need of help and encouragement than that of the Army, and, that being so, I" am sure that wherever these soldiers of the causa aro the results of their efforts -will be the betterment of the classes they minister to. In this city I recognise, and we must all admit, that the Army docs good work The passer-by has but to observe the large congregations at its open-air services. But this is in the public eye. The Army has silent methods ir its practical charity and in working its grand achievements that are well understood through the world. Mr end Mrs Hay, on behalf of myself and the citizens of Dunedin —particularly those here assembled —I extend to you a very < ordial welcome, and I-trust that your visit to this city will meet the best desires of yourselves and do good in 'the valuable services your Army renders the cause of uplifting humanity. 'The Rev. Mr Fairclough, on behalf of the churches, extended a brief but cordial welcome to the visitors, and spoke of his personal admiration of the Salvation Army <yd its splendid work. Commissioner' Hay, in responding, said he appreciated very much -lllie kindly welcome to Dunedin--a town in which, being a Scotchman by birth, he felt particularly at home. Since landing, he had been much impressed wivh the comfortable and agreeable prate in which ' the oeople were. He drid not suggest that New Zealand was a heaven upon earth, but as the result of his experiences in the Army, and his observations whem travelling, he thought the Dominion by contrast might take -a premier place for comfort, decency, a.r.d order—especially in the "dry" districts. He went on to sneak of the position and functions of the Salvation Army. It was, first and foremost, a religious force, and its motive power was not ?.o much a wish to obtain social reform or anything of that nature as an honest desire to help its brother man in whatever state it happened, to find that brother. Quietly end unostentatiously the Army went about its work, and, no matte'r how low the man or woman might have fallen, it did rot attempt to patronise them ca- adopi superior airs: it tried to make them feel its time motive—that it helped them because it loved all its unfortuniate brothers and sisters._ In conseouence of this the operations of, the Solvation Army took all sorts of different shapes and* forms. In Java, for instance, it was doing special work among the lepe.rs. while in Japan it # bad been specially seeking to reclaim the women in houses of ill-fame. Wherever it went, it trktd to bring the blessing of Almighty God to whoever would accept it. He fOommissinner Hay) was converted > in Glasgow 274 years ago, and ever since then he bad been roaming about the world doiner Army .work. Army was a combination of human skill, human sympathy, and human corrage. with faith in Almighty God. and with sufficient modern courage not to be held back by the methods of vesterday. Success in Army -work depended on many things., and when he was appointed to take charge of Army work i,n Australasia he considered that he had a verv difficult fcn.sk in hand. To this was add-°d th>=' knowledge that la preat part of the civilised world was closely watching these young Australasian States, which were brintring about_ such remarkable soe'al, moral, and religious reforms. This knowledge was an added inecr>nve to Salvation Army enterprise. fo~ the Army wo.rk.ers, in common with others, knew that the eyes "f much of the world was nnon them. He had been imprewd- b" the kindlv feeling of the nee pie of New Zealand. He, had been much impressed, too. by the spirit of the -r),pj>r)le throuerhont Australasia —a sort of belief th*.fc. " ba.rdi*ome i" as handisome dioas.".. He had hpen much 'mpressed by the unionism that was anrtarent between Christian organisations and denomination*-•--all seemine - to that thev were working toother to-.- the one end. He 'weluxWl by saving that P 7 years - » go he had. seen, the offices leaving London to commence tb«' work her" : now he hsd "orae to look on and leam whiat had happened. Mrs Hay also acknowledged the welcome that had been extended' to them .by the city, the course of a brief but oyceed'nglv humorous speech. She made vryfowrtc l '* to her wcrk i.n slu~n«. aid '•aid that sb<> honed that in this V>.aii + 'ful, flair land of New. Ztaland there would be ntty opportunity for her -Vi d-°?..l with such very distressing cases as ••Two. bad encountered in the. Old Country. 'T'bere was, however I .' an owrjoirtunity for all of them to do something to assist + hosa who were in the- trrip of one evil or another. She mentioned -that she had been in thiei of the Armv the greater «vs.rt n t he>r life. Sh« .cordially thanked Ms Worship tor the kindly reception H.-"wded them. * In the eveninc 'there w*« a rmblic tea nieetinn-. at which about 400 .visitors were Pitered for. the viands having_ been provided by the various local sections of the rnny,' acting in combination. Aftor this there was a gathering in the barracks that filled the building upstairs and down. On various parts of tho hall Were displayed mdttoes printed in biar characters bidding the newly-arrived chiefs loyal greetings. and messages, pledging the: "soldiers "of the army: to more devoted service. After devotional exercises a welcome haka- was performed bv the bandsmen o f the array's city band, the vehemence of which was greatly anpAalided.. . Bri<rod:er Albiston. who presided, referred to the- anxiety members of the army

had felt as to who would be appointed as their new cardinal or bishop, but when the news was conveyed that the General had appointed Commissioner Hay to the position they felt themselves honoured, and he assured that officer he would find no more devoted soldiers than those in Dunedin, and that they would do all that was possible to make his visit successful and his work amongst them profitable. When their late chiefs left them they did not take the hearts of the soldiers with them, but had left, room therein for their successors. —(Applause.J " Words of welcome were also spoken by Mrs Young and Brigadier Bray on behalf of the men's social work. Commissioner Hay was warmly welcomed on rising to address the meeting, and referred to his extensive acquaintance with the Dunedin of the Old Land, and other parts of the United Kingdom. He was quite prepared to continue his labours in the surprising- City of Dunedin, where he now found himself, which looked as if it had been settled 500 years ago. The British Empire was a wonderful thing. He only knew one thing more wonderful, and thai was the kingdom of God in the world. He acknowledged the kindness of his reception from the time he landed at the Bluff. The chief object of his visit was to know the Salvation Army in New Zea : land, and he would like, therefore, if possible, to meet every member of the army. Referring to the poverty that was the common lot of so many in the Old Country, he could not but compare it with the prosperity that- was general in New Zealand. He hoped to find out during his stay amongst them the spiritual tone of the country, how they lived for God, how they stood up for Christ, and how they devoted themselves to His cause. He did not know what the future of New Zealand was to be, but to be abiding it must be built up of good material. As the Salvation Army had done good work in Dunedin, he suggested that permission should ba obtained from the City Council to place a flagstone in the street near the Fountain, pointing out that on that spot the work of tho army was first begun He believed that all the problems that might arise in the country could be dealt with by the grace of God, but their social work must be carried out on a spiritual basis. Mrs Hay was warmly applauded on rising. to address the meeting, and thanked thw auditi» a e for .its warm-hearted greeting. All those they had met in New Zealand had been kindness itself, and that, of course, was a great thing to new-comers. Referring to her past labours, Mrs Hay said she came to them as no stranger to the work the army was engaged in. Describing the wretchedness she had helped to alleviate in the slums of London; Mrs Hay said she longed to bring a shipload of those wretched people and plant them on the fertile spots in this beautiful land, and to bring the neglected children to breathe the fresh air of New Zealand. During the evening vocal numbers were contributed by members of the army and the choir, and the band played selections. THE COMMISSIONER INTERVIEWED. AUSTRALASIA'S NEvV LEADER. Commissioner Hay, the new territorial leader of the Salvation Army in Australasia, is apparently fully possessed of the same remarkable spirit of activity and progressiveness which is so characteristic of the leaders of the Salvation Army the world over, and which is so deeoly reflected in the great humanitarian work which is being carried on. in almost every civilised country. The new commissioner has been about four months in Australia, and has just reached New Zealand* but has already not only obtained a thorough grasp of what comes under his charge, but has actually started but on several new departures in connection with the social work of the army. Commissioner Hay has been an officer of the army for the past 27s years, his career commencing in Glasgow. Serving for some years as an officer in the Old Country, he reached the position of chief executive officer under Mr Bramwell Booth. For two years he was principal of the International Training Colleges, where there are always 500 or 600 joung people in training for the duties of officership throughout the world. The commissioner has travelled extensively, and his training and experience should have a lasting benefit when brought to bear upon the army's operations in Australia and New Zealand. A brief interview! was accorded to a Tunes reporter by the Commissioner yesterday. The question of ' separate control for Australia and New Zealand having been settled, both countries are as one, and under one command —that of Commissioner. Hay. " As to what the future may evolve," said the Commissioner, "it is as yet somewhat early to say: -with any degree of certainty. But the policy of the army will continue along the same progressive lines. Methods may alter with a change in command, but the spirit .of advancement remains. I cannot, of course, at this early 6tage pretend to thoroughly know my ground, and I must first have a good deal of conference with my officers, but one thing that is certain is that there will not be the slightest weakening of the army's attack on sin, nor will there be the slightest abatement in any of our social operations. This particular work may even be extended. For every difficulty evolved by conditions of modern life that drags the man down the Salvation Army reckons to be there with some plan to lift the man up again." "The country generally, as I see it, and the army and its efforts," continued the Commissioner, speaking particularly of Australia, " have impressed me very much. I came out here with a very good report of the two countries, having in London met Commissioner M'Kie, who has very strong feelings in favour of New Zealand, and what I have so far observed has quite borne out the opinions expressed by him to me. I to-day inspected the army's institu. tions here, and we shall probably have to extend our Rescue Home at Caversham. It is over-full now, but theie are certain details which have first to be gone into before any extension i 6 decided on." ''l have visited ail the States of Australia since my arrival -in September last, and was highly gratified at what I saw of tho effectiveness of the work being? carried on. 'The social •'■work''' of the army in Australia is. steadily being extended. I have just purchased a hew home eight miles from Melbourne, in - which we are going to undertake the cure of women inebriates on a larger scale than hitherto. This class of work has been carried on in the past

on a small scale, but now wo purpose extending this branch of our work. This new • institution is to be opened by the State Premier on February 19. This is the most hopeless line of work entered on, but the State promises ue every assistance. We have also decided to build a largo people's palace at Brisbane—a scheme costing £12,000. These palaces have proved to bo a great success all over Australia, and have been highly appreciated by the ordinary travelling public who have not a great deal of money, and who like to go where they know they will be safe. Without actually committing myself, I might say that I have been impressed with the fact that Dunedin would be the better for a people's palace. An anti-smoking and antigambling league among boys I have also started in Australia, and within a very short time I hope to have from 10,000 to 20,000 boys enrolled as members. This league will, of course, be extended to New Zealand. In Australia the proposal is being taken up heartily. I have also started classes for inculcating a spirit of physical purity among boys and girls of tender age. There is a great cry for some such teaching in Victoria, and the Salvation. Army has responded to that earnest appeal by instituting these social purity classes."