New Girls’ Home Opened at Parnell

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 336, 23 April 1928, Page 14

New Girls’ Home Opened at Parnell

SALVATION ARMY’S WORK SOCIAL EVILS STRESSED a ' “To the glory of God and the help of souls,” is the dedication which Commissioner James Hay, 0.8. E., head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, gave to the girl’s new rescue and industrial home, at Churton Street, Parnell, which was opened on Saturday afternoon. The building, which replaces the old home that was destroyed by fire some time ago, will accommodate 40 girls. There was a big- assembly at the opening ceremony, and a thorough inspection of the building was made by the visitors. A brick and concrete structure, the new industrial home embodies all the useful features of the old building, with the addition of many up-to-date improvements. There are 21 rooms in all including bathrooms, laundry and drying rooms. Twelve rooms are on the upper floor. Five of the rooms are dormitories. one of which is to be set apart for the use of sick inmates. In performing the opening ceremony, the Commissioner stressed the good work which the Army was doing throughout the world, and added that not a month passed without an additional home being - erected somewhere. The work in this building, he assured his hearers, was inspired by the divine ideas of spiritual effort, and embraced all the fundamental teachings of this Church. If the world only Jc new bow. little use was human mercy without the love of God, much greater service would be given. A GREAT EVIL There was a tendency for those who performed spiritual work to believe that they were superior to others, but the Commissioner reminded the assembly of the great truth that those who were the most secure spiritually, morally and socially, were in constant danger. One of the great evils of to-day was contained in the fact that children were compelled to paddle their own canoes from the time they reached the age of 14 years. The result was that they controlled their mothers’ opinions, and bossed their fathers’ actions, until the position had become a national peril. Parental control was disappearing from many homes, and consideration of religion as well as the promotion of spiritual things, did not hold a place. A YEAR’S WORK Commissioner Hay mentioned incidentally that the Salvation Army spent £60,000 in new properties during last ! year. The site of this new home was worth £2,000. The building had cost £5,867, and the furniture £BOO. Three legacies, totalling in amount £4,325, were being used to pay it off, and the remainder was being lent from headquarters for repayment from public subscription as soon as possible. The Salvation Army band was in attendance, and the assembled people sang several hymns. The Commissioner also read a portion of Scripture from the 68th Psalm.

The large crowd of visitors was entertained to afternoon tea.