TRAINING SALVATIONISTS.

Sun (Christchurch), Volume I, Issue 49, 3 April 1914, Page 8

TRAINING SALVATIONISTS.

COLLEGE OPENED IN WELLINGTON. . s Press A-tsodaUoil. WELLINGTON, April 2. This afternoon the Hon. F. M. B. Fisher, Ministers of Marine,' formally opened the General Booth Memorial Training College for Salvation Army officers. Other speakers included the Prime Minister, the Hon. W. F. Massey, and the Hon. F. H. D. Bell. The building occupies a commanding position, with 101 ft frontage to Wordsworth Street by adepth of 330 ft, and is a handsome brick structure designed to accommodate fifty students, half of them men and half women. Very fine class-rooms are provided, as well as living quarters for the teaching staff and students. The whole cost of the land and building is about £13,000. The Hon. F. M. B. Fisher referred to the late General Booth as the founder of the great Army of Salvation. It was "always the policy "of the General that every penny controlled by his Army should be spent in the interests of humanity. With that in mind his followers and friends in New Zealand dedicated to its citizens this monument to his genius. The late General Booth was one of the world's citizens, and was honoured and revered as the world's greatest international soldier. The Miiftster also paid a tribute to Mrs Catherine Booth, the General's wife, "The Mother of the Army." He concluded;—"To General Booth the devoted soldiers of his Army have dedicated this Memorial College. The very atmosphere of the building is hallowed by his spirit. His life is an inspiration to all men. He has blazed a pathway for you, his officers ( and soldiers, to follow. May each and every one of you profit by the noble example of unflagging self-sacrifice which he has set." Commissioner Richards, head of the Army in New Zealand, thanked Mr Fisher for his address. He said he had noted the Minister's build, and had been struck by the thought of how well he would look in a red jersey. (Laughter.) During the past eighteen months the Salvation Army had spent £40,000 in property in New Zealand, and towards that sum the New Zealanders themselves had given £20,000. They had erected two buildings within the year in Wellington, this institution and a-large maternity home. Sir John Findlay paid a hearty tribute to the General's memory, and praised the wort that had been done, and was being continued here and in other parts of the world. The Prime Minister congratulated the , Army upon this, its latest success. In his opinion proof of the success of the work was given by the present state of affairs. Although the General had passed over to the Great Majority the work still went on as smoothly as ever. The Salvation Army had always appealed to him. Perhaps it was because of its militant methods, or perhaps it was because it wen,t out into the open and made war upon every form of evil. It had always played the part of the Good Samaritan. Its members . not only preached the principles of Christianity, but they lived Christian lives, and were an example to tlieir fellows. It was worthy of all possible support and encouragement from every right-thinking man and woman in this or any other country. The final meetings took place at night in connection with the Army Congress ■which had been in progress for the past week, attended by about 300 officers. A great deal of business relating to administration and organisation has been transacted, all in committee. To-mor-row several leading officers who will be delegates to the International Congress in London will leave by the Sydney steamer, and Commissioner Richards will catch the Niagara at Auckland on April 11.