SALVATION ARMY.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1466, 14 June 1912, Page 2

SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER RICHARDS, A. BIOGRAPHICAL ,SiOETCII; ■Cflm!:nission<jr W. T. RicJiards, tlip now; national cOiiiin'ahdei' for ilio .Salvatioi) Army in New Zealand, who arrived yesi.'e."iiiiy. str'.i;kes- an; o'bs'erv.er at; oilco a.s ii ■m.a:n fif incx'mv.stible nerve Icrce and tin- j IpsS piiysiea.'l epii'iiranc'e-. A siiare .man of . liieitiiiiit iieigiit, ins 'wticrlc- i'.o'iiih. aiiii inahnor b.ctr.ayi' .energy that h'as bietimo' a .haijit, OimnW-.-ioner j,!:iciiai:ds's eaiiy youth : wis ui'.i!iari;:'i| by any in.-.uncUve •.•veats. or ; e.haiM.K'tgriatics, lie w'iis . Jjurn of gtmil H'lUral pa.ven.U, and. ..mado 'Ms .religioiis i .jnoiessjqh at a meeting oi' ilio Clii'.jiian If ■ aIIs-hu'. lit Jietlliyr T;.nvil (he is a. \\elsii- ! ■ niait) in JuiH', bi'.iii!; tnen 21 years ot age. A year later lie.. imu;ried, anu t'iiti' marriage has pri veil a most iiappv ot;e for ■33 yearti, 3'J <if w.iucii have Ix-en Spent aa: 'army oitic.-pr. . ':l?h« toll'j'ii'i'iig -skpt'e'li of C'oiiimi.ssi'o'nsr Richards'.- taiver, ,gi-v'eii by aa ctiicer wiio ■ | has. known hini: for : 3.0 yeiirs, wi.il natur- [ ally. prove 01. some intereti:— I '"'JLTm yo'ii.ilg Co.iiple 'spent .a year <is soldiers, and then ca.mo i;tie call to ollice;-c-liij). So.iie five H-.-ek.; were .-.pent in tins Ti-aiiiin'g Jjo.ifia;, nsui llien,; to, qliot.e tiitt. . cp:tn!iri'ss:ibhpi\'s bsv-ii i|voi;ds, 'we lo;.'k iip.o:ui" tir-t a;i]]Oinunent wiVii very little 'natural ability, but strong eon'idem-o in Clod. ; I'c&.ec.iit.io.ii was rampant; opponents :o.i*'| ihu A.riiiy pa.'i'a'i'j.ed' tlie- streets m'i't.h a flag, hon; wl'.iel) aiii;eareil a. skull and .Qro's'sf .bones. They designated: iheni.-elves the | :Skeiets!(; Ariiiy s \v<ji:o. i>r iiss. lie Lin iilij-, aiiii:' laade deliberate attack-: up-pn as at certain Stro.f euriVei-s.. Scarcely a jiiglit pii'ssed:| : lmt blo'oi.isi'i'eil was the experience,. p{ ji'ro.b-; ablv both sides. On or.e oeeo:;km. t.jie niotj . was. so great, ami the ru-ii into our .hall' l ; ifet'eriiiiufli!.,. that tho. captain, of .ih.is fo-1 i called Atniy -Wdj carped toiiiiifliiigly ji)i>6 "in- meeting.' -llis retreat 'y.-.as imj;C.-sibl!.', because oi the; criisli, and ha was.c6ii.suque.ntly'.coii! iiulloji to -siii'nd tho. iire. oi' our ■ Army artillery. Eventually lie succumbed,' lei! iit the ji.eiti.len.!; torm, and er'ied to Ueii for '.Miei-cy. He altcrwifrdkbecanie':h. spleii-, did soldier. This bronght about; the breaking up oi tiie eombimi'ion, as several t,i his lieutenants also got n-hverted iii a few days. "The .'Qo.m.hi'ni'id o'f on.o corps: after ano'.hor followed,..-five oi' ihem being in tho i'dughesj; ;p!Vi'ts' of L:pn'dq.h;, w.iiidiiig iip;ii\if.i.i ■ ilie well-known No. 1 corps all Wliifeoluipei. At aii.qt;.iie;r corps, iii the old Kent :Road, i''cclf.huni., a :prop'£i:!y-t'o'rmed aiidi xlriiled Army ■existed; v,:i.tli. Id'ack' flag , and oross-bones, On our arrival thero : a post-card w.as 'se;ht. iih, siipiiosed to nayO' 'beeii iyri.ften ■ iii blpo'd (but Ilio Cpmniis?-: sioiiei iiaiveiy sugge.st.ed to tho- writer that it was probably red ink). On (lie i«ist■eai'd; was. drawn a po'ilin \vith the C.pinmissioner's liaiiio inscribed' theienn, as ''being- sla'iii"by i'li? "Sk.'elyt'oii A.niiy" pit it eertaiii (iaie, wi,th ; a : uhli;s.3 illie'y immeiliateiy 'left tho lieighlsoiirhood that was to bi- the date of their death. Qf.. course, ; ii6 notice was taken o£ this, and ..oi't t.i.io- morning "gf the .supposed -.dato; an--o.tjisi" .liost-coii-d iviis.. received, giving tha-: ' Umilistmie, lvi'tli a mempria) and. drawing of the lciiiio with which the deed was to ■'be :P.O!iii'ii'iti'ml;;. !but; -pit tlip; 'U.i'ght 'which, should have seen the death of the captain-, a great, revival . broke oai, wine!! swsi/t- s'cpre.s .into: .the' Foiiiitajii, ■iud.iuiin'g tjiaiiy of fh.e nip'i.u.ber's oi' the' "Siieietb'ii. (. ii as fha eiiil. of ihat .pi'gai'i- - isation. Each oi' thq corps" -Cnnlllii>siolier lind Jlrs, Jiiehiirds epniliVahded' jv.ciitS left fit a gieatiy improved condition, whether cousii-eced spiritualiy, namerically, or and; m ncariy; ■ cv.e-rj,;, iiistancd ; fi s.iißstantial debt cicaiecl off. At : tho coiicl.iisibii of his term " at Wliiiechaiipl;.. thq; .Cb.tiiiii.issi.'6.heiv...qf'' tbrday ; ivas' promo'ed 1 o tiie rank oi' Ittiiil-captaiii; and . ai'pointed' as A.iJ.t;, to- -\t;ijor.: jiow Cpjivhiisiionov, Olipliaut, (lieii in charge: of : | tiie Ivas'ern Counties' Division, 110 thcii '.bseame, tlifi- piqiiper. for .the" '.CJi'vclo. 'V.il-.-lags Corps; in the. Bristol Uivisio;!, whcie, a .ihi;ec-i\;?i'eb2<?.d';'eolid-'tjfVd'' : b covered thousands of iniiea' of- .«mnlry ; iip less than., twelvri. 'c'prps being opened, in three, .months. Thq comiaand of tho Shropshire Division followed, and in. two year's and teii months: tlip liahdful .pf ■ corps, .tit which the division consisted, ; 'were hd.d'c.d: ; to; by many new. openings, ■ ar.d htrndmls of.f-ouls were saved. Tho ■next- ehango was to the' Preston Division, «'he.re twelve montlis' tiK-ful work was ■ put -in.. .. Next followed, an -appointment, as Secretary for Eield AfTairs tp Commis- ; si^ner ,,, HoTOrd,'' i Svlib' was then ia. citargo 01 " tho Traihiiig College, and tho London. province. Three, years of- red-hot Salvation woric in the MetrpiKi.li's:closed, 1 ;nipst ■ haiipy. .Ijfirip;!' .bf.iclqso'.-assbciatioji. >vitli: C.oinmissioner l.lo«'aril, follo.win" .'jvliiclsi;. ■ Coin.in'issi'brier' Ri'cliartls- .was 1 ' placedi" cliafge- oi tlio .. half cf .(.ii-eat Britain, .but at ilio end of two. month.-;;, great.-icliaiißes took ■ place throiighbiit- the counfry, aiul (!u< general ireap'ppin'teil' Uie oammissidr.er tii tiie Loji'.doii proyiiicc:. ivitli. .'ihcfeaseil. ijiowers -as:, secpiitl; in ,'llie IritpriialioiiJ-iL 1 Training Hoiiici ;undcr-' ■CpiiiiiiisSioner- E.va.. Bvot'n, now.in command of the. American fbrccs.. It- :is..prolinblp .that enthusiasm; had never in the Jiistpiiy/of tho"Xriiiv in l<ondon risen to .such a 'height as it' did I .'dun'iig- .'this.. .'ner'ib.d,. .Sud : I'denjbiisfratibiis; were lic.ld. such ii'; had- perha])s jiever befbro b:ntt oiporipivcw}.; ' : '' the clinrgp of the .Manchester province. • During three years of (.'oin.niissiwier Biehnnk's ml.miiiisli-atio'n ,herp a tk bt of .£I2OO was y;\i'p'e<l oft" tho- Manehesteiv '.diy'isioii; | ■and thr.diighb.iit. tho- : .iyjißlp; ■prpyineei.-ad'-l vances Micro made in every dircctem. Tl;e |. ITj.ahcasiii.rsj-- poop 1c 'lopkl: fire; and the fire blazed, throughout tlio. !yholp. :of -;tiia ; t .lin-: pqrt'ant' i-hire. . '■^PTkHlii'i:-pi : !iwpvin'ofe ; .fqll<v>v>' ed mid a jolly tiino was experienced with 1 i.her-a crivhusiastlip' -people,; Theii came a ■ eon:plete change from fieul work, and tho commissionr;'. was tranfleiTed lo (lip seei'aj :sidp of tliiiigs, arid 'liecame; deputy.-." governor .of the eily colon\ soei.nl .work,; . whore .during his tjiree years' slay thoiisands of men "were fed, worked, and-, sheltered .nightly. . : ... '"Commissioner and Mrs. Rieherds's fir-t. foreign appointment now look place, and Deniuark was tlio field ..of operations. ; Tlsbfo.' -tli.ey ireiiiained'for' six years, : ;aiid.. at the end of that pprict!—during iiioh : t hey. .did;, spieii did' ■ sery ice—they, so i I ed for South Africa, where, tleir.coiamai'.d lasi- , ed for six years and eleven months. OF. ■ this period the commissioner':; own wertis.- . are ; 'Wo had lieavy figh'fir.g (ill tho 'il'.ic, ■fiiiiihci.al striiggles, cq'n.fimi'a'lly';. ;i but xr.e; also hat! a brave backins .bv a "lot of , .hfibje' ~iiiei!: (i.lid, womeii—staff .aii'd .fielr'-.-of.-; fleers, W.e levelled in this tough battle, a.iiti. dciigTiled iii. the'-epinpanionsliip '. of stich .a will'iiig ami ea]iabl« sta"'. Soldiers inn! . rccruits near'.v doubled—oao diuivdred pnlcffs. were- /iilded,. tyitlv. ..nip.st. ; .Rnijsfactory iiicreases, iii .cpngregafioiis,'! ■ ot -..' . ■ "Questioned about his expectations in rcgafil, to .tlie. war in New: Zealand, tho, commis'-iflner sijiiled' iyetij' ,clien:ily;'' and qunlod flip ivoi'ds '.i.M-d in a;iot'her. place: -.'shall -see..what we. shall 'sCel; J:. aiiv j , qniie' siifc* a .ifeartv. ivielponip: aMifs' jij: ■liprp, and am eqiu'lly surv that wo shail love bo'h (he. neorile. and: lan'd. 'the 4.rst' «c l;ave ;''bf-iny.'Qf tho' 'finest working, fighting toldievs,". A CORDIAL WELCOME. e-ROWDED' MEETING AT THE ' CITADEL. X -packed tiiroiig .of. people filled Ilie Salvation Army Citadel llasHiighf to. \vel■ednio, the new Commander for ...New /..ca--I.nnd,. 'Cbm.mi'ssioiior AV:, T. I'i.cliards 'and. Mrs. Kiehards. Aral i!ie welcome was eot.ijiat iii (he ex'tri-me., AV'|trH .tlie;Coiiiiii!sand li is iyi.fo ;iscimhloi!-.,jt HQ - * fori)] .1 ho pie-i.diiig . o ft; eer (1 .ie u t en a n i.Colonel ilMshef), frille'il 'live a yoley, v .nd Ilio volley was a deafening -cheer,., ; foiloAvei! by several, 'others. .... Apologies, for absenco ■ wera reeciyea frain I he Prime Minister and ir.etnbers pf tii'e' Cabinet, and; (itlier. Ayell-kapwn sen.-, and .ersetings ; weve recelvc;! irotu uiVicers at stations practically all over | tlie Dominion. ■;., . | Colonel l-'ishar. i-n his. own bel.alf, an>!-| o:t behalf of the. 'Wellington invwon -of ; flip Arniv. welcomed -..tlip l most hc-a'rlilv, Etnl refe'i red m fhiwin? (ernss 1,, the record ' oi" . (-ommissionef Rieliahly Its a Salyaliomst'. lie welfomed .Ifnil 'li'e( i i'iii i -'e he was ..elipseii for- the otlico : !,V ib neial Hpolh,. ai',.l, ii"»v thai lie had i'l'iel. the ■< ,'bnisii i's~ij>ii6;'\..:hp ;(.v olpn.cl, I' lslior.). was glad' tiie Genera!:, nfa# tiic:; choice/ He hened the. work of tlie Ai'my would .l)'o irruiriod' 01V to' iijcnH' . :nVeompii?]smon )\w : .1 pnflif.rV 'prnivl • • '.Vo-iiuden ' t'orpf. ;i;e|e<,iiie.l; ' oe ney "("■bn'iniisM'oiier :b.n. ..belinjf pi toe. ■ fiAi<v..Oj-y Or.*rr- 41 t-.h'p Doiaiaior, He ho«<l and praysiL -u all. tc?d Ptosb itt ta-6: Armrl.,

hoped and pray<\'U fiiril (lie now. loader would help to extend God's Kingdom i:i New Ze'nianu. , . Jl'i.'S-. Bripri'dio.i' dJtwjerj. or, Vii'a.lf of' t.Sio- - women. Workers. ."lso oxteiiue'd. ,a wcl- ; come. The .i.ic'iv ©aw'son was ii>vi<./•;! to.; ■speak ns rc]j,i:pst''n.l\iU.vo of oOiei: 'Icnoni-': iiiiifioiis. ...riiifl of 'the 'Xytnperftico ! ill AVcliiifjjioii. He alio spoke warm words ot' welcom.e ai'id, Rood wislie«: ' . : Brigadier .Busy welcomed. the . Comroissioner 011. behalf of' the MCil. Social. Wori-:<r.'.s of the Arm> in .Neiv Zealand. ■Mrs. Coinnn--uincii Richards \v'a<- tr'rcote;! with spontaneous .cheers wlie-ii i-he ins? to- speak.' Pile ■nek'n'ow'l.ecfged tho welcome ieelingly, jiiid spoke of it as sjiriitpiiifj--front -il'ie spiril-. of unity that perv-ified oil l.lio Army. She fiaci thrown in her. -lot wit-li. 11j o workers; hi >>««' Zealand, and. oire.'idy silo felt- as .-'if. she wereof tjn-.n. Sho and her husband hud It'll l:-ohir.d till that was dear to t"ii<'"m to coillja .Qtit -to ?> en' Zealand to hoip 111 th Pwori; of sa.lvii'io'n. Thev had done. this lipcii.i'i.sc ti'i.py believed -tliat flip cail from; Ko'iv Z.'nlni/il was tiu» r!;rht call, and "she/ hojipd and prayed 'that tlw-ir' work might in'wt with- lio'tn'o. iiut'as.iivc: of isuecfes..' ' ■t' : o.i.ri.hi.is'S!onpi: .Kich'a.rds', af.te tlio clioers; .liu-.i subsided, f.'tid first of all thai '.ha Gem-riil had sent his !qvo--ig the Salvationists of New Zealand,, and had eaidv tliat h'o hoped to see thpiii (ill- uga'iiV. /.JJn-'i fortunately (lie General could., never .'liope : to see them again, .but lie w.oiild probably.. ..pe;ik to Iheiii a,Tain, and he still had pluck eiiouj-rh, if. lip hml vitality enough, to icgiiio 'ov.p'ii here. On liis own.behalf, the ro-.iimk ioivi' thanked the -pcoplo';, qfitllu Army and (lie others assembledVjm-:;.tha; ■niiig'nific-oiit. welcome accordedto him..' Ho. liopi.i he- would not. bo found unworthy, ■iiii Hie jests. went' by, but that :lnr wile and lie 1 - slipiild do sonfetlii.sigi t iosei'.y ji. It seemed lit him already that"it-.fo;in- : cjiifion of solidity; had been laid-..by. the; t'oit .mid' -lin'ril 'jfQrk-of-^'cn > ilie edifice iq 1m built upon it. Inter, lie ,iiaii- ; had ..'ample' e'viVienco oi" il® .sincerity; ai'.d enthusiasm of (lib Army workers herei aiid he whs certain that they -were vail ..iuixiouij and ready to foliow.bis. lead, tor !)<• believed a comnii!!-K"ior ..plwttld.. be a leAder, 11 fi was Miro they' ivero ii. capable, and cfiieient. -staff' that he had round him;, and wheii 'lie had- wn the. fine body, of f.oldif:i'.--, and lie .knew that i)!c : Army. v.-n.i -{joiiia to : do. lift went on lo tej.l of his conceptkiii oi; re-lii;ion-:i!is roliu'io:!—aiid he.did it in.fcreefii 1 'fihhfrati.vo liinßuage, '..keepiugfAiSjiiiitKiM e'nee: 'interested"oi : . aiii.used.-by '(urnsfawordri in.fr to his mood. IJo wns p.-itisfiod ihiK rer ivpiil.d- -fit-- Jsew .satisfied that it: would fit all tl'.e world. ' , 'L-his concludeir itjle rreyi6u;)y duiciiig. tho day ,the;' coininis-. sisj'iieir hfld-.-bpeii- entp.rtai.iieiV' , .,!lti liilK-lieoii in the I'eople's I'clacc by the BtaiV.ollicsrii, : arid iii ilio in the Citiulel. at. ■ii' fcrgrrited public tea. .l-rverytyhern "his welcome was spontaneous. and' .cordial,