“SALVATION TEA.”

Western Star, Issue 835, 16 April 1884, Page 2

“SALVATION TEA.”

The tea meeting which has been announced for some time past, and which was looked forward to with much interest by the soldiers and their friends in Riverton and the Western District, came off very successfully on Monday evening, in the Oddfellows’ Hall; tiie only hitch in the affair being the nonanival of the brass ban I and a number of soldiers belonging to the Invercargill “ Invincibles,” as had been arranged for, which caused a good deal of disappointment. As it was, however, upwards of 400 sat down to tea, the catering for which was entrusted to Mr B. Boivin, and that ho performed his work faithfully and with satisfaction to all concerned could be evidenced by the eneoniuras bestowed upon him on all sides for the good fare he had set before the meeting. Lieut. Lewis pres-ded, and seated on the platform with him were Mr T. Daniel, M.H.R., Mr B. Bailey, Mr John Allison (Gladfield), and a number of other soldiers, male and female. Above the proscenium were the >ords, “God is Love. Hallelujah! while other parts of the building were tastefully decorated with flowers and evergreens. A number of the sisters of the Army presided at the tables, and every attention was given by them to the dispensing of the inviting cheer displayed thereon. The tables having been divested of the “ oceans” of edibles that still remained on them after the appetites of all had been appeased, and the room cleared, the next part of the programme was commenced by the singing of a hymn and by prayer being offered uo.

Lieut Lewis then explained how he believed the misunderstanding with the Invercargill corps in reference to their promised visit hud arisen. When Major Pollard was in Southland a few weeks ago, arrangements had been made for a pic-nic and tea meeting in River'on at Easier, and for the attendance of the “ Invincibles’ ” band and a number of soldiers from Invercargill. The affair was left in his (Lieut. Lewis’) hands to carry out; but a day or two afterwards he got a telegram from the staff-captain at head quarters, ordering him to prepare himself to leave for the north immediately, Captain Stevens, of Dunedin, having been appointed to take, bis place at Riverton. He then asked Capt. Wedge, of Invercargill, to take charge of the Easter festival, as lie (Lieut. Lewis) was leaving. He understood Capt. Wedge had done so, and had endeavored to make arrangements with the railway authorities for a special train to Riverton on Easter Mondav, but the department would not run one for less than £2 rr . In the meantime, however, he got a telegram countermanding the order given him to leave —that as Capt. Stevens had been taken ill he (Lieut. Lewis) was to remain in Riverton until the Capt. recovered and was able to take charge. Since then, he (Lieut. Lewis) had taken up the matter of the tea meeting again, and from communications he had had with Capt. Wedge and StaffCaptain Spratt was under the impression that everythin' had been arranged satisfactorily for a visit of the “ Invincibles’’ ; but as he supposed his brothers, in the short notice at their disposal, failed to get a sufficient number to go to make up the guarantee, the negotiations had fallen through, as he was informed they had gone to the Bluff instead This disappointment, however, afforded one. more instance of the mutability of human affairs ; they had expected the brass band and a number of soldiers, and their hopes were a little dashed at the failure of their expectations. But there was One who would not fail them. He had asked God’s blessing on their meeting, and be felt sure He would give it, and that He was present amongst them. Mr Daniel said it was only three months since the Salvation Army had come to Riverton, and when he looked around him he was rery much surprised and gratified at the largo number of soldiers now around him, who had been converted s : nce the first meeiing at the beginning of the year. He rejoiced that he had been the humble means of bringing the Salvation Army to Rivenon. When in Wellington, his son, who had joined the army, had asked him t) attend one of their meetings there, and he was so favorably impressed with the amount of good the organisation bad done in the Empire City, that be would not rest until be got Captain Burfoot to visit Riverton with a contingent of the army. Riverton, which had always been to the fore in temporal affairs, would, he felt sure, come forward in large numbers fur (he Saviour ; and he hoped to see the day when everyone in Riverton joined the Salvation Army, and took up arms for their Master, Jesus Christ.

Brother Domigan was one of the first detachment of the Invercargill soldiers who had visited Eivorton, and it gave him much gratification to testify to the large amount of progress made for Salvation here since then. Ho was rejoiced to see such a large number of smilling faces around, which did not look as if the day’s disappointment had at all damped their spirits. Regarding their entertainment, he might say for himself, that he got the best cup of tea that evening ha had ever gob at a “tea fight” before; and lie thought the catering reflected a great amount of credit on Brother Boivin. Mr Allison said that although he had been a little chilled by the coll water thrown on their proceedings that day, and although the “ hope deferred” ha 1 made his “ heart sick,’ yer. he rejoiced his dependence had not been placed entirely on man, and that Grod, who never failed them, had prospered anil blesse I the meeting, and it had been successful. Alter relating some of his early experiences as a professing Christian, Mr Allison said that, although he had been connected with the Church for forty years, he had never in the whole of his life felt himself so thoroughly going about his Father's business, as when standing on that platform as a member of the Salvation Array. He trusted that many there that evening, who had hitherto despised the work the Army was doing, would now be brought to estimate it at its true worth. They were told that some of their actions were very eccentric—such asjwaving of handkerchiefs, marching through the streets playing drums, tambourines, Ac. They might be a little eccentric from an orthodox point of view ; but if people waved bankerchiefs when bidd’ng addieu to friends going a far journey, why should they not carry out the sentiments of that grand hymn, “Hold the Fort," ann “ Wave the answer back to Heaven,” accepting the invitation of their Saviour to come to Him ? Lieut. Lewis would like to tell them of the answer given by Captain Wedge, to a person who asked him how long the Salvation Army were going to stay in Riverton. The brother replied, “ Till the Day of Judgment! and 1 hope by that time there will be none in Riverton, bub who belong to the Army, and who are on the Lord’s side.” Mr Bailey, after expressing the great pleasure it gave him to be present at the mealing, testified to the amount of good he and his family had exoerienced through (he instrumentality ef the Salva l ion Army. Ho had taken a deep interest in the work of the Army ever since it came to Riverton, nn I was rejoiced to see I lie progress it had made. It had accomplished more in three months, than the three churches at present in Kivenon, (ns they were going on just now) would have accomplished in twenty yours. He concluded by earnestly exhorting'those who had hitherto held aloof to come an I join the band of soldiers, and aid in t he work of bringing souls to Christ. ° s Lieut Lewis then announced that a col-

lection would be made that evening for the general expenses of the Armv, including the erection of a barracks in Riverton, and a special collection for the purpose of establishing a brass band in connection with the Army. There were several musicians amongst them, who had held positions in other bands, but they wanted money to buy musie and instruments for them. A band was a great assistance to the officers, as it relieved them of a considerable amount of singing and talking, especially when they were on the march, which w’as very trying to their lungs at times. Some people twitted the officers with only sticking to the army for the amount of pay they got out of it. He might tell ihom that a lieutenant like himself, only got 25s a week, and that amount only conditionally on all other expenses being paid. The Army, however, did not depend upon man ; it depended upon God. He cited an instance when things looked very black for the Army in England, a week was devoted to prayer, and at the conclusion of which a demonstration was held in Exeter Hall, when upwards of £IO,OOO was subscribed to the funds in one day. Let (he Army in Riverton only rest in God ; He was a rock that never failed. * 1 o expected Major Pollard to visit. Riverton shortly to present a banner to the Army here, and place the new officer— Oapt. Stevens —in charge of the district. Captain Stevens would arrive in Riverton on Wednesday (this) evening. They had been credited with having curious ways of working, but the question was, had any other organisation been more successful than the Salvation Army in saving souls P If they were not, they should not complain of the means used by the Army. A number of hymns intervened between the addresses, the solos of some of which were sung by the Misses Badev, Cassels, Daniel and Goodwillie, and Messrs Beveridge and For.l.

The usual votes of thanks to those who assist ed at the meeting wre dispensed -vith, Lieut. Lewis saying that everything that was done, was done for the glory of God, and those who performed any services did not look for thanks for working for the Master. The proceedings were brought t > a close by the pronouncing of the Benedicton. w-