CHURCH ARMY.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume XXI, Issue 15, 1 November 1931, Page 8

CHURCH ARMY.

The report on the work of the Church Army presented to Synod by Dean Brocklehurst was enthusiastically received. The report pointed out that owing to the closing down of the East Coast Railway, and the earthquake in Hawke's Bay, the Bishop had recalled Capt. Squires to Napief. Here he had done excellent work in conjunction with the Y.M.C.A., amongst those camped in Nelson Park. After the camps had broken up he had started a Mission House in Shakespeare Road. This had been taken over by Capt. Kirby when it had been deemed advisable to send Capt. Squires to England in order to interview the C.A. authorities with regard to the future development of the work. The expenses of the trip had been arranged by Mrs. H. R. Clark, to whom the Diocese owed a debt of gratitude. Through Lady Marjorie Dalrymple, Mrs. Clark had also paved the way for Captain Squires in England. As a result of this visit C.A. Headquarters had sent out Captain Wright for a year; and the sum of £600 had also been provided for the purpose of starting a Social Centre in Napier. The Report suggested the development of the work of the Church Army under three different departments. 1. A Social Centre furnished with a billiard table and other games, a reading room and a canteen, where men and women could enjoy a social evening, free from the temptations which follow those who have nowhere to go. Since the closing down of the Y.M.C.A. an opportunity presented itself in Napier for the Church to take this work in hand. 2. A Mission House for the accommodation of the many homeless and workless. During the past five months the approximate number of beds supplied had been 3500, and of meals

served 7000. The C.A. officer in charge of the Home was also working in co-operation with the Police, Labour Department, Probation Officer, Hospital Board, War Relief and other Public Bodies. The Home had more than justified its existence, and should be continued until such time when the unemployed were less numerous than to-day. 3. There was a distinct need for Missions to be conducted in scattered country parishes. One such had already been held in the Patutahi Pariah. In connection with this department would be the responsibility for visiting and conducting services in P.W.D. camps. On the suggestion of the Bishop, Synod was addressed on these various aspects of the work by the three C.A. officers. The Rev. C. G. G. Salt, Vicar of Patutahi, spoke at some length on the Mission held in his parish. Before long the Church had been found too small to hold all those who had attended. The Mission had been singularly successful among the children ; and he felt that the whole parish had benefltted by the visit of Capt. Squires.