THE CHURCH ARMY.

Waiapu Church Gazette, Volume 26, Issue 12, 1 December 1936, Page 3

THE CHURCH ARMY.

FIRST YEAR OF WORK.

The Church Army gives thanks . to A,lmighty God for all the blessings and help received m the first year of its work m New Zealand. On November 4th, 1935, the N.Z. Church Army came into being as an autonomous society. It had very little money, but it had. the goodwill and wishes of the Church— a great asset. The way had been prepared by the work of the Column, the Church papers and the newspapers. Capt. Banyard was retained as the Field Secretary, Sister Sudsbury for the Christchurch Van, and Capt. Grace for parochial work. Officers (on loan for five years) were sent from England as asked for. Early m 1936 Sister North took the place of Sister Sudsbury on ,the Christchurch Van, Capt. Kee arrived for special work amongst young people, Capt. Pearce for work at Headquarters, and Capt. Sutcliffe for the Waiapu Van. New Zealanders have been accepted for training as funds allowed. Sister F. Childs was commissioned m May, and is now doing a useful work on the West Coast of the South Island. Capt. Caswell, after doing good work m a Soldiers' Camp, was commissioned, and is doing the work of the Discharged Prisoners' Aid Society m Auckland. Capt. Day, who offered his printing press and himself as printer, was accepted and installed at Headquarters. Four other New Zealanders are m preliminary training. During the year the Church Army has been given a splendid backing by Bishops and Clergy, without whose co-operation; the Society could not exist. . The work has extended according to income, for it is a principle of the Church Army to "owe ho man anything." The books closed on October 3lst, and when the accounts are audited and published, they will show that about £2200 has. been given during the year. This has' been given mainly m small amounts, from hundreds of friends all over the Dominion, with the exception of a fairly large amount as the result of a special effort kindly allowed by the Christchurch Diocese.

To sum up, the position at the end of the first year is that there are thirteen full-time workers, there are many young people awaiting a call to the work, and there are many bits of work ready for them. The' Church Army thanks all those people who make their work possible, and asks the prayers of the people on their behalf.