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Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1530, 28 August 1912, Page 7

AT ARMY CITADEL. Many tributes, by varied denominations and social ranks, liavo been paid to the memory of tlio lato General William Booth, founder of tho Salvation Army, and an additional and striking one was l>aid by liis Excellency Lord Islington at the Army Citadel in Vivian Street last evening. The occasion was tlio opening of the Britannia l-'air, in connection with the Army's annual self-denial movement. Commissioner Richards presided, and (ho Mayor of Wellington was also present. "The Irreparable Loss." His Excellency, who was received wit!, very hearty applause, thanked the gathering for their welcome. There was no organisation with whose work he would regard it as a greater privilege to bo associated than with that of the Salvavation Army, and it was with the greatest pleasure that lie had accepted the invitation to be present. Ho could not proceed without allusion to the sad event, which must be in the minds of all—the irreparable loss which the Army had sustained by the death of their great genoral General Booth. To attempt, on an occasion liko this, to adequately express appreciation of the life, work, cxamplo, and personality of General Uooth' would bo an impossible task. To do so would fill a very largo and comprehensive volume, because General Booth's work had stretched far and wide over all the civilised world, and had also penetrated deeply into the hearts of the people. A Name that will Rank in History. He ventured to say that few men in this generation could claim to have done more for the uplifting of mankind. The General's name would rank in history as the founder and author of '* the -Solvation Army. By a rare combination of humane compassion with- a genius of insight for what would appeal to and catch the attention and interest of all those within its ranks, General Booth some fifty years ago invented—and then proceeded to model and develop—the organisation which stands out to-day among the very first of missionary organisations. The scheme had been Tegarded in its early days—especially among the more orthodox members of the community— with a scepticism amounting (in some'instances) to cynical indifference, and in others to almost active hostility. It was open knowledge how that hostility had been overcome, and how to-day all nations and creeds were paying a tribute to the General's life work. His had gono to his rest having completed a long and full life, and having died (as was his ambition) in full harness. 110 had established throughout the world centres of compassiouato assistance for those who, by act or oroissim, had forfeited other right to help. How many wero blessing his name to-day for having been afforded a fresh start in a regenerated life, whicli lias guided them to better channels of character and conduct? A Conversation With the General. It had been his Excellency's privilege some years ago to. bo brought into personal contact with the late General, and be woijld never forget the two hours' conrersation which they had together. Not only was he the great founder of compassionate institutions, but he was also in a vivid sense a true Imperialist. It seemed to him (his Excellency) that in NewZealand the Salvation Army had been adequately inspired by the teachings and examples of theii lato leader, for tlicro was no place within the British Dominions where tlio Army had a greater number of institutions than here. From his Excellency's own observations, he could ppeak of the conduct and efficiency of those institutions. Tho Army was also to be congratulated on having been granted a separate comreissionership for New Zenland, and on the selection of Commissioner Richards. His Excellency concluded with an appeal on. behnlf of tho compassionate institutions of the Army. His Worship the Mayor also spoke, and the fair was then form ally declared open.