The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1902. THE " ARMY."

Star (Christchurch), Issue 7415, 29 May 1902, Page 2

The Star. THURSDAY, MAY 29, 1902. THE " ARMY."

Although the Salvation Army is less prominently before the public at the present time than it used to be when it was a novelty, it still continues the good work which it began in its infancy. Its methods, .which are still peculiar to itself, appear to be just as successful now as they were in /the days when General Booth first hoisted ' his banner and proclaimed to the English-speaking world that his newlyformed organisation had embarked on a crusade against sin and want. During the interval, the "Army" has not always been entirely successful in carrying out its leader's proclamation. But, considering the ambitious nature of its progi-anin^ it had wonderfully few. failures. It has battled against sin, and, if it has not always emerged a winner from the contest, it has invariably fought a good fight, while its onslaughts i ;on want have been followed by victory in an enormous number of cases. We have by us no trustworthy statistics of the "Army's" work, but we know enough from our own experience of its labours in New Zealand to, -feel justified in affirming that no organisation having a similar object in view has done move towards winning wrongdoers from the paths of evil and helping the poor and needy. It is in this branch of its work that the "Army" has done such a conspicuous amount of good. It is work, however, .which entails a considerable outlay. The annual cost of the food depots, the homes for old , men and children, the rescue homeSi the maternity homes, the industrial colonies, the shelters and slum posts, the prison-gate brigade homes, the labour yards, the leagues of mercy and the various other institutions by means of which the " Army " distributes its philanthropy must necessarily be huge indeed. In New Zealand alone it probably amounts to a very large sun^ andin the whole of Australia it must run into many thousands of pounds. Such an expenditure is too large to be met from ordinary revenue, and the "Army" is therefore obliged to appeal periodically to the public for funds'. One of these applications is to bo i-cutd* 8 next month, and, for the credit of humanity as well as for the benefit of the suffering, .we hope that its appeal will meet with a ready, and liberal response.