WELCOME TO NEW SALVATION ARMY HEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 30 December 1946, Page 8

WELCOME TO NEW SALVATION ARMY HEAD

■Press Association

By Telegravh—

WELLIALTU-N, i;ec. A warm wek-ome was affordcd the ! new leader of the Salvation Army in ! Xew Zealand, Coinmissioner Ranulpii Aslbury, aiul -M rs. Astbury, at the Citadel, Vivian Street, tliis afternoon. The Minisler of Finance, LJon. W. Nasli, represented the Government. The Salvatiouists ' welcome was voiced by the Chief Secretarv, Cotonel V. Walls, and the Wellington Bivisional ( 'ommander, JMajor N. Bit'knell. Folonel Walls rend lelters of greeting from the l'rime Alinister who is alisent in the South Jshvnil, and irom Ihe Alayor of Wellington, Mr. Apple ton, who is taking a sliort vacalion. Mr. Nash, in extending Ihe tlovern rnent 's welcome, said lie hoped tio Salvation Avinv woukl never become an

organisat ion wliich was working t( save itself ralher than to pass on ils message. Tliere was always a dangei to an organisation wliich did that. lt.l massage was not only to the Englisli people and not only lo white people luit also to all peoplos. Fhristianity was uni versally true and tliere was no ! hope if it was not present in private Ii |V. public lil'e and world life. yinjor Bicknell, expressing the wel come of Salvatiouists, said their new leader might not be impressed l>y the size oi' tlie Army in the Dominion but he was bound to be impressed b.v the strenglh and spirit ot its members. Folonel Astbury said he bore greetings frdni General Orsborne wlio might eventually- feturn here on a visit. As i 1 nternatiohal Btk-rebuw of tjie OJganisatio'n in Lo'ndlb,;T(?himiss|0;ner >Astlmrv said he lmd :been ifesociat'ed with . the* efforts inade' by the people -of New Zealand. Tliey had been an outstanding tlrrill and eni-ouragemont. The -ifts of food and clothing had been j woiulerful. Here tbev liad beautx , ! security aiul leisure but the leisuie j should "not be only for the garden but I also leisure for God. That nii£ht l)e attained, he felt, by better religious instruction in tlie schools and lo_ss rec rea t ion in tlie ]iarks.