THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

Te Awamutu Courier, Volume 72, Issue 6198, 25 February 1946, Page 5

THE CHRISTIAN SOLDIER

GENERAL SIR WILLIAM DOBBIE ADDRESS AT HAMILTON An audience estimated at over 1000 listened to the thrilling story of the defence of Malta unfolded by Lieuten-ant-General Sir William Dobbie, G.C.M.G., K.C.8., D. 5.0., in the Hamilton Technical High School Assembly Hall on Friday night. Several Te Awamutu residents were among the audience. The gathering was convened by the Hamilton Ministers’ Assotion. Sir William, tall and soldierly like in build, wore a double-breasted grey suit with a black bow tie. He spoke in the cultured tones of a well-educat-ed Englishman (he stated that he was educated at Charterhouse) and for the greater part of his address he had his hands in the pockets of his coat. A statement by the chairman in introducing Str William said that despite his distinguished career he was a simple follower of Jesus Christ and .loud applause followed. The address interesting for the deeply religious note struck by the speaker, and the dominant feature was the fact i pressed time and again that during 1 dark days of Malta’s ordeal God helping the people, and that they c<iuld hot have done what they did without God’s help. At the close of his address Sir William made a public confession of his faith. He said that at the age of 14 years while at Charterhouse he was converted and since then he had never doubted the reality of that conversion. He expressed his faith and dependence on God, and he commended the Saviour who was so much to him to his hearers. General Dobbie also referred to his friendship with Lord Ironside, who, at the beginning of the former’s leadership at Malta, sent him a cable bearing the words, Deuteromony chapter 3, verse 22, and Sir William said that he picked up his Bible, never far away from him, and found the words of the text to read: “Ye shall not fear them, for the Lord your God, He shall fight for you.” Sir William’s address was freely punctuated with applause and no more so than when he made his public confession of his faith.