EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17740, 29 March 1932, Page 9

EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN

SALVATION ARMY’S PART

Butline by Mrs. higgins

“Wo believe that when the world's history copies to be written it will give tlie . Army a definite place as hkying opened the door to women s usefulness: in the world,” said Mrs. Higwife of the world leader of the Salvation Army, in an interview with the Christchurch Press. “Before The arnfy was formed Mrs. Booth had started put on her evangelical work, and she became the pioneer in work of this kihd. The army, I believe, showed great wisdom in deciding to.enlist women for its work. Even in the early days, when all kinds of ridicule and abuse were thrown at them, women contributed largely to the army’s evangelism and now that there are so many social branches, their work has been tremendously enhanced.” Work in the slums ’Women wearing the army’s uniform were respected in the Lowest slums, she said, and children would run up to them as their friends. It was interesting to observe that many of the centres of the .evangelical work had been opened in former public-houses. .The slumworkers were given a special course of training in cookery and medical work, and wearing their uniforms they could go into dens of. vice where the police themselves would not go. ' Mrs. Higgins recently had word of one of these workers sitting up for five nights out of 14, and in the same period attending nine funerals, of which - she conducted four herself. Mrs. .Higgins was the first secretary of the Home League, which has now a membership of 100,000 in England alone. This league deals with all kinds of subjects, particularly the responsibilities of women as wives, mothers, and homemakers. This branch of the army’s work, she said, had spread through the Western world to China and Japan, where it

was making marked progress. PILGRIMAGES TO WAR. GRAVES

Another important work undertaken by the army had been tho pilgrimages remembrance to tlio war graves in Belgium and France. Since the war 35,000 people from all parts of the world, including New Zealand; bad been assisted to visit the graves of their relatives. As the majority 6f these people were untravelled, the army’s* services had, been immensely appreciated. “Women have played a splendid part in many great, movements of the past,” said Mrs. Higgins. “Consider the Great War, where she labored in spheres hitherto unthought of. Consider the religious revivals of the past, in which she has. taken such a prominent part. With these things in mind, there Is surely every reason to believe that the women of to-day will be among the first to realise the part they can play in Religious life, that instead of having a good time some at least will give their services for the advancement of mankind.”