THE SALVATION ARMY

Taranaki Daily News, 2 November 1926, Page 9

THE SALVATION ARMY

OFFICERS WELCOMED COMMISSIONER AND MRS. HAY. RECEPTION IN NEW PLYMOUTH. A public reception to Commissioner and Mrs. Hay, who have recently been appointed to take charge of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, was held in the Empire Theatre, New Plymouth, last night. Mr. C. E. Bellringer presided and others on the platform were Colonel Gunn, field secretary for New Zealand, Colonel Carmichael, divisional secretary for Taranaki and Hawke’s Bay, and Mrs. Carmichael, the Rev. J. Parry, and Mr. C. Carter. There was a large attendance. Mr. Bellringer apologised for the absence of the Mayor (Mr. F. E. Wilson), who was at a council meeting, and the Rev. T. R. Richards. He welcomed Commissioner and Mrs. Hay and wished them well in the work they had in hand. The Salvation Army was an organisation with widespread activities for the betterment of mankind and required, therefore, a man of outstanding ability to control it. They had such a man in Commissioner Hay. The work of co-ordinating and organising the different activities in New Zealand would be in the hands of Commissioner Hay, and on behalf of the town and district Mr. Bellringer wished him every success in his undertaking. On behalf of the Baptists of New Plymouth the Rev. J. Parry extended a welcome to the guests. Some people lauded the Army to the disadvantage of the churches, he said, but he thought the Commissioner would agree with him when he said that the work of the Army would be very much more difficult were it not for the churches. They willingly gave the Army all the support they could and hoped it would continue to advance in its good work, in co-operation with the churches. Captain Thorne, officer in charge of the New Plymouth Corps, said the Commissioner had expressed delight at the beauties of the town that he had seen that day. It had been said that many business men who never went to church heard the gospel on the streets. The speaker certainly believed that the Army, through its street meetings, sent its message to many who would never otherwise come under' religious influence. THE CONVERSION OF MEN. Commissioner Hay said the Salvation Army all the world over stood for the conversion of men’s souls. The Army’s programme was to seek the whole man and it therefore organised bands and other social activities to uplift its people. The Army in the 80 different countries in which it was established was a great power for the advancement of Christianity. If anyone was afraid Christianity had run its course let him not be discouraged. He had seen wonders performed in many lands by the Army and knew that there was great hope for Christianity. The Salvation Army had a great deal of work to do, and so had the churches, and he prayed that God would help them to do it well. It was the Army’s duty to care for the unlovely and the lowly. He believed the Army was going to get better and better workers and, though he had been only five or six weeks in New Zealand, he had seen some very fine officers, some of the band of 500 or 600 who worked for small remuneration. One of the virtues of this country was the number of friends the Army possessed—ministerial as well as laymen. Mrs. Hay said she was very--glad-40-.be in New Plymouth and to have had the opportunity of seeing the beautiful surroundings. The Salvation Army owed a great deal to its women; without them it could not do the great work it had in hand. In some of the slum districts of London no policemen or even male Army officers could show their faces, but the women officers detailed for the work could do so and were never molested. It was a great work, rescuing and saving the unfortunate and making them into men and women who would be a credit to their country and an honour to God. Colonel Carmichael and Colonel Gunn also extended a welcome to the guests. Musical items were contributed during the evening by the band, Captain and Mrs. Prouse, Captain Thorne, Bandmaster Smith and Brothers Maxwell, Thompson, Stevenson and Rock. The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Mr. Bellringer for presiding.