THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: ARMY BAND IN TIMARU

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19523, 24 June 1933, Page 11

THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO: ARMY BAND IN TIMARU

BACK ROW—From left: Drummer J. Keay, Brigadier ./. Marshall, Sergeant-Major C. Matthews. Bandsman C. Bird. Bandsman E. Emerson. MIDDLE ROW—Miss K. Hunt. Adjutant W. Home, Miss L. Matthews. Bandsman W. Marshall. FRONT ROW—Bandsman G. Brace field. Bandsman J. Croon. Envoy Matthews

An epochal event in Army history was the appearance of the first Brass Band at Dunedin in August. 1833. “Everybody was waiting very anxiously." says the War Cry. 'to hear our Hallelujah Bandsmen play the first Salvation Army tune. Great excitement seemed to prevail for a short time. At last the old favourite tune was played, 'You Must be a Lover of the Lord.' To-day there are 900 Salvation Army Bandsmen in the Dominion. Timaru was the fifth Corps to be opened. The first Lassies Band in New Zealand made its appearance in Dunedin in 1888

ed by Dunedin South, Sydenham, Oamaru, Invercargill and Port Chalmers. In all, ten Corps were opened by the end of 1883. During the following year, the work spread to nineteen other centres, and social operations originated in a Home for ex-pri-soners in Auckland. Early in this year, Christchurch was made the headquarters Centre, and from there the work was directed. A great Christmas Congress was conducted in Christchurch in this year, Major Howard, (late Commissioner) being in charge. At this Congress it was announced that 30 stations had been opened, and that 65 different Officers were carrying on activities. A feature of this Congress was a great procession headed by Majors Howard and Pollard on horseback, with a bodyguard of four six footers in red jackets. Those taking part were designated as the Christchurch Conquerors, the Timaru Tearaways, the Dunedin Dragoons, and the Invercargill Invincibles. Major Barritt took charge of the work shortly after, one of the outstanding features of his term of command being the opening of a new barracks at Christchurch in September, 1886. Later came a new development this being designated a “Flying Brigade.” It consisted of two Officers and two cadets, who travelled into remote country districts in a horse-drawn van, carrying the Gospel to isolated settlers. Social work was also developing rapidly, and Rescue Homes were opened in Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington. During the command of Colonel Josiah Taylor, training work for officers was commenced, a training garrison for men being opened at Christchurch, and another, for women, at Sydenham. After a profitable stay of three years, Colonel Taylor made way for Colonel Bailey, who did fine work in acquiring properties nearly one hundred buildings being secured during his term, among them being Dunedin and Timaru Citadels, and National Headquarters at Christchurch. Last year there was a memorable visit by General and Mrs. Higgins, their tour of the Dominion being in the nature of a triumphant march. Visit of Founder. There was great jubilation in Army circles when it became known that the Founder himself was to visit the Colony. He paid his first visit in 1891, and four years later made a second visit. The welcome he everywhere received was even more hearty and enthusiastic than on the occasion of his first visit. It was estimated that at least two-thirds of the population of Wellington took part in welcoming him to the city. His glowing reports of the remarkable and rapid progress of the Army throughout the world proved a great stimulus to the work in New Zealand, and his addresses on the world’s social miseries and their remedy created much interest and sympathy for the Army’s plans to help the poor and wretched. He contended that from the standpoint of selfinterest alone society should grapple with these social miseries and seek

their remedy because, if by any means the superstructure of society were to come down, they would find the submerged classes rolling in. If they were to help these poor people, they must grapple with the difficulty in a scientific way. Three-fourths of the charity administered indiscriminately did more harm than good. They must help the people without pauperising them. It is along these lines that the social work of the Army has grown and developed to its present proportions. Later visits were made by the Founder in 1899 and 1905.

Present Position. A few outstanding facts regarding the present work of the Army must necessarily be given to complete the record. Corps and spiritual activities are being carried on in 400 centres of work. Homes for infants, girls and boys, and training farms for boys and youths are providing for 500 orphaned and semi-orphaned children. Industrial Homes, hostels and shelters, for men and women, are a haven of refuge for numbers of poor folk who need a hand In their time of need. Eventide Homes for aged women are meeting a great need. Sanatorium* for inebriates (women and men) are also helping many to become better citizens. By means of prison visitation and police court work many men and women are helped to better things. Samaritan work and hospital visitation, men’s shelters and labour yards, enquiry and missing friends departments, are also avenues for reaching and helping many. The Army’s work among the Young People is a most important feature of its operations. The first organised effort on behalf of the children was made in 1891, when a Young People's Secretary was appointed. The first Young People's paper, “The Young Soldier,” was published in 1892, and proved to be of great service to the Corps with a circulation of 6,000. This little paper was very acceptable for many years until lat er it was linked up with the “War Cry,” the official organ of the Army, which was first published in June, 1883. Changes of Administration. A complete change in Administration was brought about in 1894, New Zealand becoming merged in the great Australian territory. It was not until 1912 that New Zealand became a separate territory, the late Commissioner W. J. Richards being the first Territorial Commander, The late Commissioner Henry Hodder was the second commander and during his term the work went forward in a most encouraging manner. In 1920, General Bramwell Booth visited the Dominion and made a profound impression. He came again in I 1925, conducting a memorable Conj gress in Wellington. The third territorial Commander was Commissioner R. Hoggard, who was succeeded by Commissioner James Hay, 0.8. E. During the past three years, Commissioner John Cunningham has had charge of the Army’s work, and he is worthily maintaining the traditions of the Organisation.