CORRESPONDENCE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LX, Issue 17075, 31 August 1917, Page 7

CORRESPONDENCE.

CHURCH ARMY WAR WORK

(To the Editor.) Sir, —Correspondence is reaching mc from many quarters regretting that the great work the Church Army has been doing for the Empire since the outbreak of war was not more fully known. Churchmen who have supported other organisations most liberally, would doubtless then have given their own Church Army a share of their patriotic gifts. Now that our work is becoming known, contributions are coming in. The King, the Admiralty, the War Office, the Prime Minister in England, and Mr. Massey have each written their appreciation. Mr Lloyd George especially referred to that which he named "a "happy combination of refreshment bar and games, and the quiet corner shut off for devotion," in the Church Army Huts, therefore those New Zealand friends who are giving support to the Church Army may bo well assured of its efficiency, more especially tho spiritual side oi tb c work, each hut, as far as possible, being in charge of a trained Church Army evangelist.

_ As the hundreds "of thousands of our fighting men come from the Dominions and colonies, and the millions from Britain, "it is only fitting that the work of tho Kntioiifil Church should be more amougsfc the latter, but as the Colonial tioops arrived the Church Army extended its work amongst them."" Wa,ipukurau was the first New Zealand town to have the honour of ministering to our boys by name. £400 has been given for the Hut named after that well-known place. Others, no doubt, will follow the lead, so that our Church will be there by name, as it has been in the past under the mantle of the V.M.C.A. and S.A. Immediately it was known that war was declared, our Chief placed the personnel of the Church Army at the feeb of the country, and a hospital of a hundred beds was accepted to work in France until the French Red Cross was ready, and then Huts and tents were asked for. We are helping others also who cannot help themselves, namely,. British prisoners of war in Germany, After the retreat from Mons, thousands of parcels were sent weekly from the Church Army "Gifts for Prisoners Department" to Germany. Many more are now required. To-day I received a letter from the relatives of Private Dawes, in Napier. Ho has been a prisoner of war in Germany for 12 months. He writes to 3iis sister for food. 1 am sending his address : '' Private Dawes, Prisoner of War, Sprothen Schelsion, Germany," by mail to the secretary of the 'Gifts to* Prisoners Department, C.A. Headquarters, Marble Arch, London, W., asking that parcels especially addressed to him may be.sent regularly amongst those now being delivered in Germany weekly. Private Dawes does not appear to have received parcels sent to him by others. The Church Army, with its large staff, and having the confidence of the military authorities, has a good chance of knowing the surest way of getting the parcels delivered. New Zealand sympathisers with our unfortunate soldiers cooped up in Gerraanj' are invited to assist the Church Army in sending anore and more parcels to them, and an extra twenty thousand for Christmas week. Each parcel contains a warm article of clothing and some little comforts in the way of food and tobacco, a Testament and a cheery card, and each parcel costs os. —Yours sincerely, : ' F. W. WHIBLEY, Hon. Sec, Church Army, New Zealand. Th 0 Vicarage, Ormondville, Hawke's Bay.