THE SALVATION ARMY IN DUNEDIN.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 3157, 16 May 1883, Page 3

THE SALVATION ARMY IN DUNEDIN.

The Holiness Council of the Salvation Army met in the Temperance Hall last evening. The building was crowded to excess, and the proceedings were of a most emotional description. When “ testimonies” were called for, converts rose without delay or hesitation and spoke with great fervour. One declared that he had never been so happy in his life as be had been since he had attended the meetings. Another felt so folly the assurance of God’s love, that he was prepared to meet death without fear ; and-a third confessed that though until recently he bad not known that he bad been born again; he now experienced the highest happiness, and full assurance of life in Christ. ; A. B. Matthews, a resident here, and a Methodist local preacher, has joined the Army, and has given up £4 a week to work in the Army at a salary of £2. Ho spoke,ilast night and said that some blamed him for joining the Army, but he asked what was be to do ? His five children bad leaped the fence before him, and surely the old ones should follow. His home was now full of blessedness, for the work was going on there all day, and nearly All night as well. When his family went home from the services on Sunday night, they were not then too tired to join hands, and have a thanksgiving meeting among themselves. At the close of the meeting 20 persons knelt at the “Penitence form.”

Captain Ted Wright, who opens the Gaiety Theatre at Christchurch on Sunday,is one of the most eccentric and nnedocated leaders of the army ; and he last night expressed his intention to be no longer bound by the opinions of onlookers, for, he felt that ,to regard them was to quench the spirit. Captain Pollard, in announcing that the theatre at Christchurch had been taken, said the-- pwner of the. theatre kept an hotel- next to the theatre and' did not seem to nnderstand. the work of the Army; for when the speaker applied to the proprietor, he told him he might have the theatre if he could get permission to “ show” on Sundays. , He (Captain Pollard) hoped they would soon be able to “ snow” the hotel keeper some of. his customers reformed; for the Salvation Army members made a .very good show on the boards. He bad taken still another rash step, for be bad engaged the Princess Theatre at Wellington for twelve months, so that that place also would be closed to the regular profession. If they wept on as they bad been going, he was afraid that when, Opera Companies came to the Colonies they would have to miss New Zealand altogether, because there would be no theatres open for them to play in here.