THE SALVATION ARMY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2736, 3 April 1916, Page 6

THE SALVATION ARMY

ANNUAL CONGRESS

GATHERINGS AT TOWN HALL

MUSICAL FESTIVAL,

Great gatherings, of people assembled ut the Town Hall on Saturday night and last alight, to attend tho ceremonies connected with tho annual congress of tiie Salvation Army. Six bands had come to Wellington for the occasion; and they were given a special opportunity of showing tlicir quality at the musical festival on Saturday .night, when Commissioner liodder presided. The lands taking part were: Christchureh .'Bandmaster Taylor), Feilding .(Bandnuiiiter Johnson), Gisborne (Bandmaster Stain), Palmerston North (Bandmaster Pike), South Wellington (Bandmaster Walker), and Wellington City (Bandma.uer Goffin). The whole of the music played and sung during tho evening was arranged and published by iho Army's own musical department, and tho musicians were all present without expectation of fee or reward. The Kasscd bands' items included the mirMi "New Zealand," composed by Deputy-Band-master Scotney and brilliantly rendered under his baton. Tho other b ( g item "•as the "National Anthems or the Allies," the massed bands playing with most thrilling effect the stirring "Marseillaise," the stately Russian Axihr-m, and the heart-moving "Gode Save tho King." Next to the massed band selections was the Christchureh Bard's choice rendering 'of Band Inspector Hill's "Welsh Melodies," and the Gisborne Band's inarch "Yellow, Red, and Blue," but items by all the other bands ivero heartily appreciated. Among the local numbers was the song "King of the Earth," very pleasingly rendered by Captain Hawkins, a young tlhper with a fine baritone vcice. The Eltham Boys, a team of healthy representatives of an Army institution, gave an exhibition of physical drill and pyramid far ahead of tho ordinary gymnastic display. The boys were accorded an ovation. The programme, which had to bo curtailed for lack of. time, concluded with the Benediction. ' SUNDAY SERVICES, HOLINESS CONVENTION. Some 12UU people attended the Holiness Convention in the Tou'u Hall yesterday morning, when the* service wasof a purely spiritual character, the main address being by Commissioner Hodder. One of the siguts connected with the morning service was the inarch of tlio six bands down Cuba Street to the Town Hall. The bands looked really line as they swept along, led by their drum-majors, one of wnom is a stalwart Highlander and another an erstwhile member of the Black Watch.

As the weather was beautifully tine yesterday afternoon, the usual open-air gathering ••was held at the Basin Reserve, Commissioner H'odder and Lieut.Colonel Powley being on the platform erected in front of tho grandstand. All the bands were given an opportunity of rendering selections, and tho> massed hands gave \ a delightful rendering of "Commonwealth/', by the Ohristchurch composer, Mr. T. Young, and also another selection. In addition to the several hymns, taken up by. the majority of the threo thousand people present, the programme included a vocal solo "Op in the City J'avcd With Gold," by Bandsman Gallagher, .of Foilding. Appropriate addresses were delivered by Chaplain-Capt. Gray, of Trcntham; Chaplaiu-Capt. Bladin, of Featherston; Adjutant Clark, of Hoto Roa; and Brigadier Bray. Memorial to the Fallen in War!" A;. memorial service to New Zealand soldiers who have fallen in the war was held in the Town Hall in the evening, the building being packed in every quarter. Commissioner Hodder, who presided, was supported on the platform by the Hon. G. W. Russell, the Mayor (Mr. J. I>. Luke), the chief secretary (Lieut.-Colonel JtWley), tho Army staff, the delegates to -the congress, and several soldiers in khaki. The service was spectacular and most impressive. ■. '

The bands marched to the hallsome from Vivian Street and some from Courtenay Place—playing tho "Garland of Flowers" and the "Dead March," and punctually at 6.45 p.m. the Wellington City Songsters struck' up with "llock of Ages" to a new setting. During the singing of tho hymn, a procession entered by either side, the ilags of the Allies and' tho Salvation Army being carried through the aisles. The Nationah Anthem was then sung to tho accompaniment. of the massed bands, who later leudered the "Dead March in Saul." Hymns, prayer, and Scriptural reading, were followed hy. the reading oi' letters irom relatives of fallen' soldiers, and briefaddresses were given from, the platlorm.

Tho Mayor, who was the first speaKer, took tho opportunity of paying a tribute to the work cf the Salvation Army, and referred to tho number from the ranks of tho Army who had laid down their lives in the cause of the Allies. He concluded with an appeal for more men, in order that'the sacrifices made by tho soldiers who had fallen in battle, should not be in vain. Mrs. -Rodder, in the course of a touching address, remarked upon the fact that the battloiield and its realities had helped many a soldier to God. A great harvest had, indeed, been gathered in tho trenches. She urgeef'the relatives of those who had gone not to feel lonely, but to see to their own salvation in order that they might be sure of meeting their departed relatives in tho Kingdom of eternal glory. The Ron. G. W. Russell, as representative of the National Government, tes. tiiied to tho goad work which had been dono by the Salvation Army in tho military camps and tho soldiers' hospitals. Referring to tho present war, ho pointed out that the fact of Britain's unproparedness was proof -that sho had not commenced the light, and that sho was engaged in a struggle for freedom, justice, the rights of smaller nations, and everything righteous in this world. The war must therefore be fought,to a victorious issue, and there could be no peace until the German nation had been brought to the penitent form. While our grand old Fleet remains in command of tho seas, Great Britain was safe, hut thero -was a responsibility on us to help our friend!) in their hour of need. Of those who had donned tho khaki, he said: "God bless them." For Homo of them there would be no loving hand of mother, wife, sister, or streetheart to greet them on return, for they had passed away, and they were there that night to do honour to them. But more men were wanted to fight for the cause' of right. As Minister of Inteinal Affairs, he had received a month or two ago some 110.000 promises on tho National Register cards from men of military age—widowers and single men without dependents. If any of them were present, he asked them to come along ne\t day,, for they were wanted now to assist their fellow-countrymen and the Empire.

Conmiissiouer Hodder, in the course of his address, spoke of a religious revival as an outcome of the war, and recounted experiences of chaplains, who had conversed with him on their return from the front.