TEMUKA

Timaru Herald, Volume CXXXVII, Issue 19835, 26 June 1934, Page 3

TEMUKA

SALVATION ARMY JUBILEE CELEBRATIONS Continuing the jubilee celebrations of the Temuka Salvation Army Corps, a social afternoon, in which Commissioner and Mrs J. Cunningham, Mr T. D. Burnett, M.P., the Mayor of Temuka (Mr A. W. Buzan) and Mrs Buzan took part, was held in the Corps Hall yesterday afternoon. In opening the meeting Commissioner Cunningham said he was very pleased to have the Mayor and Mr Burnett present. During the celebrations he had missed the presence of Mr T. E. Gunnion, whom he was sure would have rejoiced very much with them. There were many others, too, not to be forgotten, but he hoped that those present would join in spending a happy social afternoon. The Mayor said that the jubilee was an achievement of which the Corps might well be proud. He was glad to be present, and he congratulated the corps on its record. He was also proud to welcome Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham and staff - as well as the other visitors, to the town. It was many years since the Salvation Army started its great work, and although there had been much hardship and many setbacks in its earlier history, the Army through tenacity of purpose, self-sacri-fice and faith in God had won through. In Temuka the corps had made great progress. He could remember " when the meetings were held in the open-air and in an old building, but now the corps had a block of buildings that were a credit to them and an asset to the town. The founder of the Army was a man of the very highest character, and his name would go down in history as one of the outstanding figures of his time. Mr Buzan concluded by expressing good wishes for the future of the organisation, and the Temuka Corps in particular. A Force for Good. “I am under a debt of gratitude to the officers of the corps who have invited me here to-day," said Mr Burnett; When one looks around and sees the tangible results of the work of the corps throughout the years one realises what the work was worth.” If there were any optimists in the country to-day they were the officers of the Army. He had never met an officer who would take "no” for an answer, especially when making an appeal for funds to carry on the great work. He did not think that there was an organisation in the country to-day that had suffered less violation of its principles or continued so steadfastly of purpose as the Army, and that was one of the greatest tributes to it. Right along its front it was waging a war in the cause of mankind, and the State realised this and lent encouragement and help to the organisation, so that it was still one of the greatest forces for uplift in the world. If a man were down so low that he were in the gutter, it was not too low for the Salvation Army. He remembered the hardships that attended the opening of the Army’s work in Timaru, and when it was realised that the organisation was a leading force for good all over the world to-day, it would also be recognised that the Army might well puff out its chest in pride. He hoped that the next 50 years of work would be as fruitful, and he was sure that they would be if the principles of the founder were always observed to the full. He had met several Commissioners since entering public life but the present one was the best of the lot. He felt that he was expressing the feelings of the people generally in wishing Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham Godspeed and many years of happiness and success in South Africa. Before taking leave of the gathering, in order to travel to Christchurch, the Commissioner said he had taken a particular interest and pride in the welfare work for boys while in New Zealand, and he had been very proud recently to make two old boys of institutions captains in the Salvation Army. Toether with Mrs Cunninham he then retired, the couple waving farewell to those present as they left the hall. For the celebrations on Sunday two bands, under Bandmasters Hawkey and Shepherd, paraded in different parts of the town. The Holiness Convention was conducted by Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham, who were supported by Lieutenant-Colonel Scotney, Major and Mrs A. Suter, Major Simpson and Envoy Buckingham. In the afternoon a commemoration service for soldiers buried there was held at the cemetery, after which a meeting was conducted by Majors Suter and Simpson. Several of the older soldiers spoke, also two ex-soldiers, Messrs V. B. Mclnnes and C. B. Cartwright. The Timaru Band played several pieces and the Band’s glee party gave an item. Following an open-air gathering, the evening meeting in the hall was very well attended. Selections and accompaniments were played by the Timaru Band and songs by a quartette comprising Mrs S. Shepherd, Miss P. Robinson and Bandsmen Shepherd and Simpson, were enjoyed. The speakers were Envoy Buckingham, Colonel Scotney, Sergeant-Major Butler and Mrs Commissioner Cunninham, while the Commissioner gave the Bible reading. Thanks were expressed to the Timaru Band for its help and to those who had assisted with billeting.