SALVATION ARMY

Dominion, Volume 37, Issue 198, 19 May 1944, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY

Territorial Congress Opens

WELCOME TO DELEGATES

The 62nd Territorial Congress of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, the first after a war-time lapse of several years, was opened in the Town Hall, Wellington, last night. The congress will continue for three days, concluding on Monday night, with a musical festival.

The territorial commander for New Zealand, Commissioner J. Evan Smith, presided over last night’s gathering, which was held to welcome congress delegates. He apologized for the absence of the territorial commander for Southern Australia, Cotnmisisoner W. R. JJalziel, who will be the principal speaker at the congress. He explained that Commissioner Dalziel’s plane had had to turn back to Australia on account of storm, but said that he was expected to arrive in Wellington on Saturday morning. Expressing the hope that the day of victory for the Allies Was not far distant, Commissioner Evan Smith said: “We are all satisfied that it is necessary for us to rally our forces, reset our arms, review our policy and get a new vision of our ideals and faiths, so that, with spirits revived, we may wage that other war against all that is destructive to character and life with greater energy and enthusiasm than ever before.” That, he added, was the purpose of the congress. . The commissioner surveyed briefly the work of the Salvation Army in New Zealand. During this year, he said, a youth campaign was being conducted to draw the minds of young people to the eternal verities. Few had any idea of the army’s remarkable plan for developing young ■people socially, educationally, recreationally and, above all, spiritually. He also mentioned the army’s social welfare work fit its 35 institutions throughout the Dominion and its activities in the interests of servicemen. In conclusion, be welcomed Major G. Thompson, who has been a padre in the Pacific since 1042. Introduced by Commissioner Evan Smith, the mayor, Mr. Hislop, welcomed congress delegates to the city and expressed the hope that he would have an opportunity of meeting Commissioner Dalziel personally. Remarking that his term of office as mayor was nearly completed after 13 years, Mr. Hislop expressed appreciation of the assistance he had had from the Salvation Army during the depression, in peace-time and in wartime. A message of welcome on behalf of youth was given by Corps Cadet B. Harrison. “We young people,” he said, “realize the problems that face us in planning in the future a safe and peaceful heritage for the generations after us. We are awake to the opportunity of correcting the unintended yet devastating mistakes of the past. We are over- s whelmed by a sense of our personal insufficiency, and we turn tor help and strength to the inspired Word of God and the humility of our daily devotions. ...” ■ , ■ ' Major Thompson paid a tribute to N ew Zealand troops in the Pacific. “Some people say that every soldier has his own war aim—to get hack home,” he said. “The New Zealand soldiers want to get back home all right—but when the job is done. . .'. If . the threat of enemy invasion has moved away from our shores, we can thank God for our fighting men in the Pacific.” They had not had the Opportunities for the great exploits of the Second Division, but they had carried on under the most difficult conditions. He had been with them on jungle marches and manoeuvres, in times of difficulty and danger, and had found them pure gold. . , . At 9 o’clock the gathering stood m silence for one minute. Prayers, hymns, choruses and band music by the Wellington Citadel, Wellington South and Petone bands completed the programme.