CHURCH ARMY WORKS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 December 1926, Page 5

CHURCH ARMY WORKS.

(To the Editor.) Sir—New Zealand gave (5000 dinners last year to poor children of the Motherland; we hope to do as much this year. A little boy from .Southwark, London, wrote this letter of thanks: “ To New Zealand children and friends wo had plenty of beef and vegcta .des, stewed fruit, custard, buns, oranges., and crackers. After dinner, singing, Punch and .Judy, and games.” The proceeds of black wool so generously given by farmers to help in educating the children of soldiers and sailors who fell fighting fur the Empire, provides a part of the £SOOO which the Church Army raises annually for this work over and above the Government subsidy. The Prime Minister of England, at the last annual meeting of the Church Army, said, “Their activities were innumerable.” Here are a few: 817,000 beds to men or women in our labor homes; 200,000 free dinners; 100,000 visits to prisons; 711 destitute women and giris rescued; 1021 weeks’ ■holiday for 2100 poor women and children. These figures are for One year only of the 15 years of tlif l social work of the Army. The Church Army is working in Australia, Canada, Jamacia, America, and now in New Zealand. On September % 1020, the commencement, was made in New Zealand, when Captain B. P. Ball, C.A., was authorised to act as an evangelist here bv the Bishop of Waiapu. The Anglican Church docs its duty quietly, and docs not go round to members of other churches asking for assistance (although gratefully received when given), knowing that each has its own Christian work to finance. Therefore it is not generally, known that Anglicans are doing more social work than all the non-Roman demoninations put together. If Anglicans realised this!" and the, cost of it all, J feel sure that, some of the generous gifts they make to other societies to enable them to do the very work their own church is doing, and desires to do more extensively, would be given to her for her homes and other social work. We also desire ho evangelistic work now commenced by Capt. BaW. Donations marked “.Social Work” or other purpose will be gladly received by Mrs C. C. Jackson, Kopuaranga, or by the Church Army secretary, Box 20, Ormondville. P.S.: Donations for Christinas dinners can be sent to Ormondville until December 20, ]92(i. The first £IOO was sent home on November !>. F. W. Will BLEY, The Vicarage, Ormondville.