BOOTH MEMORIAL.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1772, 10 June 1913, Page 5

BOOTH MEMORIAL.

FOUNDATION STONE LAYING. PRIME MINISTER'S TRIBUTIS "A GOOD & GREAT MAN." Tlio foundation stone was laid yostoii" iky afternoon of the William Booth Memorial Training Collcrc, which is bcini? erected in Wordsworth Street to perixstuato the memory of the founder, ami first General of tho Salvation Army. Tho weather was bleak and cold, witli rain threatening, but nevertheless sonio WD peoplo attended tho cpreinony. Tho Primo Minister (the Hon. W. F. Massey) laid a stone on behalf of tho peoplo of tho Dominion, whilo Commissioner Kiohardg plaoedi a stono on behalf of tho Salvation Army. In addition to thoso taking part in tnp proceedings the gathering included the Mayor and Mayoress (Mr. and 1 ■Mrs. J. 11.I 1 . Luko), tho Chineso Consul, Mc>ssrs. Hunt and M'Donald, oontractors for tho building, and Messrs. Foam and Quick, Iho architects, Apologies for abseiico were received from the Hons. W. H. Herri®, A. L. Ilcrdmau, B. Hcaton Khodos, W. Frosor, C, li. Mills, G«o. Fowlds, Mr. Justice Chapman, Mr. Justice Sim, Major-Goneral Godley, the Bishop of Wellington (Dr. Sprott), Sir Edwardi and Lady Gibbes, and others. Addressing tho gathering Commissioner Biclmrds said that tho stones that wero to bo laid that day evidenced tho good--11033 of God to the Salvation Army., For tho Inst 30 years thoy had boen working in New Zealand, but thoy never had a training homo of their own. Furthermore, tho stones wero an evidence of tho goodwill of tho peoplo of tho Dominion. (Applause.) They had asked for ,£ 10,000 for tho home, and lip to tho present timos had reoeived .£0703, Before they comploted tho building they would require another J31500. They also meant by tho stones the spreading of tho Gospel of tho Lord Jesus Christ. It meant an enlargement also, of their missionary efforts. Otfioers would be trained to do their work more efficiently, and they expected hundreds would go out from tho ccllcpo to ameliorate the sufferings of humanity. Further, they meant to do gieater things for the children. The officers coining to tho collego were to bo taught that tho hope of tho Dominion was in tho children. (Applause.) Tho walls of the collego wore going to show whicli sido they wero on in the temperanoo movement. The Army wa9 the greatest spiritual temperance organisation in this universe. Tho officers would al9o bo taught to go amongst tho prisoners of tho gaols. They were going to give the prisonere a helping hand! when they carno out, and win them as trophies to God. Nurses would also bo trained to go out and help poor humanity—poor whether it was in tho money of tho world, or in spiritual salvation.

Concluding, Commissioner Richards said they felt highly honoured that tho Prime Minister was there to lay a stone on lny half of the people of the Dominion. Prime Minister's Address. Tho Hon. Mr. Mossey was loudly applauded on rising to speak. Ho said fie wanted to thank tho authorities of the Salvation Anny for tho lionour they hod; done him in asking him to do whatever wa9 necessary in laying tho foundation' of a building erected to tho memory of a good and groat man. (Applauso.) He was very glad as a Now ZeaJandor that the New Zealanders had not been slow in practical recognition of General Booth's work. He (the speakor) had referred to tho late General as a good and great man. Ho wanted to go further, and say ha was ono .of the best and greatest men of his.century, and, from a humanitarian point of view, ono of the bost and greatest mon tho world evor knew. (Applause.) Commencing life ' with very , few adv&u- ---: logos, 'ho was obsessed with n great desire to do good. .With his grand organi ising faculty and great force of character, ho set. to work to act tho part of tho Good Samaritan; to assist those who had' fallen by the waysido; and gono down in tho battle of life through insufficiency of character to withstand tho temptations which seemed inseparable from tlio centres of tho world. Who would say that Gonoral Booth had not been successful? Commencing his organisation in a comparatively small way, ho had seen it grow until It was represented in every country in tho world, doing what the Army's , representatives wero doing in New Zealand to-day—preaching tho.,gospel of Christianity, and practising it. (Applause.) .' He was glad to testify that instead of the Salvation Army bcuig on the wane, as far as this oountry went, and many others, its influences wero increasing. At a time liko tho present they should not forgot to recognise tho good work done by tho General's partner in lifo. Mrs. Catherine Booth nevor neglected hor duties to hor husband and her ohildroii. but in spite of hor duties as a wife and mother, took a leading part in the organJsing of tlie Salvation cuid particularly at the time when General Booth and those working with him were assailv ed by abuse and misrepresentation, ana sometimes by personal violence. If General Booth had been eminently successful. then a good deal was duo to Mrs. Cathorino Booth. (Applause.) Mr. Mnssey thought/that what had been: done by • General Booth was an instance of what, , might 1)0 dono by intense application. Ho had tho fuculty of doing things, and getting thorn done, and tho oonsequonce was tho composition of the Army as it was to«lny. ' Mr. Massey proceeded to say that ho was very glad indeed that tho momorinl to Gonoral Booth was taking the, form of a training oollege, and ho hoped.thoso trainod in tho collego would' follow in tho steps of their loader. They know that tlio Irito General had dono what they should' all try to do. in however small <S way. namely, loft, the world batter than he had found it. (Applause.) Tho Foundation Stones, Tho Premier then declared tho foundfl* tion stone of tlio Booth Momorial Training Collego well and truly laid, to tlio glory of God, and for tho purposes of training officers for tho Salvation Army. As a memento of tho occasion, Commissioner Richards presented the Premior with a silver trowel, on behalf of tho confoundation stone had tho folloiyiiiff inscription: "Memorial 'training College. This stone was laid to tho Slorj o£ ail by the Hon. W. F. Mkisecy, nmj Minister, to preotuato tlio uiwnoi-y ol William Booth, founder and first General of tho Salvation Anny." A similar ceremony was then performed bv Commissioner Richards, on bolialf of tho Salvation Army, tho Commissioner boinff pr.oecn.fcod with a pilvor-mouiitca mallet made of Now Mand wood. Tho non. F. M. B. Fisher, Minister for Customs, said ho desired to congratulate thd Army upon having laid the foundation st-ono for such an important work. J. ho Army wero doing a great work, nI1< ) lriQ day was sot far distant when it would ba a good policy to entrust tlioin with the administration of dm bonovolent affairs of tho country, lno namo of General Booth would never Iw forgotten. (ApplauaO ... Twjntf tlio proceedings eclcotions voifl rivon by tho Chrislchnrch Band, and a statement was read showing tho -position of tlio collego fund. This shovrcd the cite had been purchased for XBOOO, loss a portion sold for .€7OO, estimated cast of [he building X 9700, furmshiii# £1000, 'ifJOSSfiSST«« <■» pingiiiff of tho Doxology.