SALVATION ARMY

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 59, Issue 4186, 15 September 1939, Page 7

SALVATION ARMY

NEW LEADER AN AUSTRALIAN. “I am very proud to be the first Australian to attain this honour,” said Commissioner George L. Carpenter, who was recently elected general of the Salvation Army, in succession Wto General Evangeline Booth. “It is a great responsibility, which I expect,” Commissioner Carpenter adhed. “I don’t even know who nominated me, and I came to England completely unaware of my nomination. “I am assuming office on November 1, after which my whole purpose will be to intensify the Army’s evangelistic work and to increase its efficiency and its relief work among the poor. “I owe an immense debt to Australia, where stimulating life breeds aggressiveness of action, which has helped me throughout my career.” STARTED IN SYDNEY. The General-elect, who was bom at Sydney 67 years ago, entered the “Salvation Army in Sydney in 1892. His early experience included social work, and he was vice-principal of the Training Garrison for some time. He served for 16 years in the editorial

and literary departments at International Headquarters, and later was secretary to General Bramwell Booth. He was appointed editor and later chief secretary for Eastern Australia. In 1933 he went to South America as Territorial Commander, and became Territorial Commander for Canada two years ago.

Mrs Carpenter was born at Sydney, and has published several books dealing with heroes and religious work.

It is expected that Commissioner Carpenter will develop the Army along, principally, spiritual lines.

Referring to his career, Commissioner Carpenter said his first wage, at 16, was 5s a week. His boss frequently went horse racing, and for weeks on end left him in complete charge of the printing works at Raymond Terrace, N.S.W. Next he worked on a newspaper at Katoomba, and later entered the Melbourne Training College.

The most thrilling period of his career, he added, was his stay in South America, where he directed the Army’s activities in three republics, and survived two revolutions.

Subsequently, during his Canadian service, he travelled 40,000 miles. His supervision included Bermuda, Newfoundland and Alaska.

The Commissioner told the Press representatives that their presence reminded him of his beginning as a “printer’s devil.”