THE CHURCH ARMY

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 87, 7 January 1920, Page 8

THE CHURCH ARMY

Sir—When war broke out, many of tho "Old Contemptibles" and men of the Ttoyal Navy brought their children to the Church Army to be cared for while they were fighting. These were placed in small homes set apart for soldiers' and _ sailors' children only, each' home being in charge of two Church Army sisters. Many of the fathers never returned to embrace those left "in trust," and many of the children also were motherless. They will remain in our homes till edu. cate'd and fitted to lake their place .as citizens of the Empire, for which their fathers fought. . Trades of all sorts are taught in Church Army workshops, those fitted for colonial life are drafted to our training farm in Essex. Tho girls are taught domestic duties. Since, 1881, when Prebendary Carhlo founded the Church Army, many thousands of those brought iip in our homes have been assisted by us to emigrate to Canada. These now being educated will have tho opportunity of going either to Canada or Now Zealand. Tho Church Army, wo hope, will be working here soon. Tho sum of ,£20,000 is required annually for this branch of our work done. .£400,000 is subscribed annually in tho Mother Country to enable the Church Army to carry on its great' work among the poor and .distressed. This slum, prison, and rescue work 13 carried on -by the help of 1800 evangelists and mission sisters, whir were placed at the disposal of the Government during tho war for hospital work, etc. They have now returned to tho social work our chief has so much at heart. The distress is very great among those the Church Army endeavours to help, funds aro strained to the utmost. Most grateful for the help wo have given from New Zealand each Christmas since 1910. Those at home, with small, fixed incomes, feel the pinch, by reason of tho higher cost of living, morc < ti.an tho wage-earning class. Many of the recipients of 'these small incomes ■ aro widows and children. The Church Army's evangelists and mission sisters endeavour to find these out and relievo unostentatiously. Our New Zealand Christmas Dinner Fund this year has reached .£337 12s. 9d., arid wo are receiving money daily for tho maintenance of soldiers' children In Church Army homes—Yours, etc. F. W. WHIBLEY, Hon. Sec. Church Army in N.Z< The Vicarage, Ormondville.