Salvation Army.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 5271, 30 May 1895, Page 1

Salvation Army.

BESCUB WOBK MEETING.

A meeting was held in the Christchurca Salvation Army Barracks last night with the object of bringing the social and female rescue work of the Army pro-i minently before the public. There wbb a large attendance, the floor of the building being crowded. Mr G. J. Smith, M.H.E., V presided, and on the platform were his Worship the Mayor of Christchurch and other gentlemen. v

The Chairman Bftid that apologies for absence had been received from the Beys* W. S. Bean, B. Erwin, H. ft. Dewsbury t Mr B. Meredith, M.H.8., and several others. He was sorry that, though the extent' of the evil which the Army wascombating waa fully recognised, many of the ohurch.es 1 did not lift a little finger to fight it. He thought that there ought to be legislation to Bhow that we valued the chastity of our daughters as much aa the rights ol propbtty. (Applause.) The age of consent should be raised to twenty-one; (Applause.) He was not convinced of the wisdom of the repeal of a certain Act. He could not speak of the special working of that Act ; he was not a medical man, but he considered it most unjust in that it applied to one Bex only. Why should it not be made to apply to men as well as women? (Applause.) -

Brigadier Hoßkia Baid that the rescue work was based on the belief that no one could fall so low as to be beyond hope of rescue. (Applause.) There was a Prison Gate Mission Home, for released prisoners at Auckland, and others would shortly be opened in other parts of the colony. This year 55 men had been received therein from different prisons during the year, in addition to 10 who were there at the beginning. Forty-five of these had been found good situations. One of the number had been sent to his friends, and 10 had left of their own accord to seek situations. Only 2 had had to be dismissed for disobedience, and 7 were still in the home. They hoped to be able during the coming year to help 100 men instead of 65. With regard to Female Rescue Homes, they gave every oredit to the churches which were doing work in this direction. (Applause.) The Army had four such homes in New Zealand— at Cbristcburcb, Auckland, Wellington and Dunedia. Into these four and the Maternity Home at Christchurch 259 girls and women had been received during the year, and there were 50 in them at its beginning. In the Chriatchurch Home there were 16 inmates. There were 27 infantß in the Maternity Home. Situations had been found for 190 girls, 18 had been " restored 'to ' their friends, ten had been sent to the hospitals, 38 had /.lcft of /their own accord to seek situations, and here he might say that some of these were not looked upon as, satisfactory.; Only one out of ..the 309 girls had been dismissed for disobedience. They had* a Samaritan Brigade, which had helped many who were in need, such as wiveß and families, who had been left by their husbands and fathers. Good work had been done by the inquiry branch, in finding lest friends and restoring them to their homes and families. They had a registry branch, which found situations for young girls coming from the country. Quito a number of girls bad fallen through' -having, is reply to advertisements, taken situations in -what proved to be houses of ill-fame, and the registry office was intended to prevent this. They had a Police Court Brigade for taking oharge of poor girls instead of allowing them to go to gaok ; , A collection was made for the benefit of the social work of the army. Mr G. W. Buseell, M.H.K., eaid that the Army commanded the practical sympathy of the people of New Zealand, because it reached a class which other churches to a great extent passed by. It had, he thonght, a claim on the Government for financial assistance; and he and his colleague, Mr Smith, would stand by any Government in bringing down a propoaal to inorease the grant made to the Army and to other churches for rescue work. (Applause.) The Eev P. W. Isitt, who was very warmly received, said that the Salvation Army waß, he believed, more respected than any other church, because it showed a practical Christianity, a religion in earnest which reached other people. The only thing more" sacred than rescue work waß prevention.

Staff-Captain Paul gave details of rescue work. Their home in Christchurch was, she said, crowded, and more help was urgently needed. Very few of the girls received into it were over twenty-one. She; knew that many girls came to that home through situations which they had taken. The factories, too, were responsible for a great deal of this evil. She earnestly urged mothers to keep their girls at home and not to allow them to roam the streets. She thought that the laws of New Zealand were very weak in that they did not deal with the men who were the cause of the misery she described.

The Rev A. Dawson«xpresEed the strong sympathy of the ministers and churches 'with the Army's rescue work. The churches did more in that work than the Chairman supposed, and if the Army would give an opportuity for representatives of the churches to confer with the officers much more might be done.

Brigadier Hoekin thanked the Chair* man, the Mayor for his presence and sympathy and the friends who had spoken and had otherwise helped. (Loud applause.) .

During the evening several hymns were sung and some pieces played by. the band.