Service of Song at the Army Barracks

Feilding Star, Volume XV, Issue 53, 31 August 1893, Page 2

Service of Song at the Army Barracks

A very large audience assembled in the Salvation Army Barracks last night, when the service of song, entitled " Alice, Daughter of a King," was rendered. After singing and prayer, Captain Harlow referred to the true character of this service of song, as it took place in a well-known Salvation Army corps. The band then played " Home, sweet Home," after which Captain Harlow read a full account of Alice's life, whioh was exceedingly interesting, as it portrayed her life from her high social position to the standard of an Army officer. The reading was interspersed with a number of aolos, trios, and quartettes, sung by Lieut. King, Messrs Lucas and Harford, and Mrs Douglas. Captain Harlow brought up the sentence recently passed on Captain Kerr, of Milton, for playing a cornet in the street. He referred at great length to the freedom which different organisations had in New Zealand towns, and he felt sure the public of Feilding would agree with him that the Army should have the same privileges as other bodies, and that they should be placed on an equal footing. The speaker then moved the following resolution:-" That this meeting of leildmg citizens learns with regret and expresses its great indignation at the extreme sentence of a fine of £3, or a month's imprisonment, with hard labour, pas B ed upon Captain Kerr, at Milton, and desires that the Minister of Justice be requested to cancel such an unjust and severe conviction " ; and further, « That the action of playing a cornet is perfectly legal, and in •harmony with the rights of citizenship, and that the Salvation Army should be allowed to play its music without hindrance, and that the Member for this District be requested to convey this resolution to the Minister of Justice." Mr Towler seconded the motion, to which Mr Wilson also spoke, and the resolution was carried unanimously amidst great enthusiasm. Captain S. Crosby and Harford, of Murton, alao addressed the meeting. Before breaking up, Captain Harlow desired to thank the public of Feilding for the support shown to the Army during his stay in this town, whence he goes to Petone. Captain and Mrs Tremain, of Nelson, will arrive on Saturday to take charge of the Feilding corps.