SALVATION ARMY.

Gisborne Times, Volume V, Issue 131, 13 June 1901, Page 2

SALVATION ARMY.

The officers of the Salvation Army were unfortunate in selecting last evening for their annual meeting, as the postponing of the departure of the Southern boat to nine o’clock and the desire to witness the departure of the local volunteers prevented many from attending. The meeting was held in the Theatre Royal, upwards of a hundred persons being present. His Worship the Mayor presided, and amongst others present on the platform were Rovs. Paterson, Canon Webb, Rothwell, Captain and Mrs Hill, Messrs DeLautour and Buckingham. After the opening chorus, “ We’re the Army,” Mrs Hill led the meeting in prayer, an address being afterwards given by the Rev. Canon Webb. “ Mother Still Prays For You, Jack,” was pleasingly rendered by Mr A. Mclnstry, and addresses were given by the Revs. Rothwell and Paterson. Mr Buckingham favored the audience with two songs, the first number being “ The Toilers” and the second “ The Better Land,” both pieces being much appreciated and loudly applauded. Captain Hill gave a brief account of the social work of the Army, and quoted a number of interesting statistics dealing with the social work. The number of cases put through the New Zealand Rescue Homes, amounted to 735. These cases were dealt with in the following manner : Sent to situations 260, to friends 122, other Homes and Hospitals 64, left to seek work | liß, unsatisfactory 42, nowin Homes 129. At the Wellington Workman’s Hotel 15,148 beds were supplied during the past year, and 21,140 meals were given. The total number of meals supplied at the dif-. ferent Homes was 183,610, and beds 48,359. Mr C. A. DeLautour, in tho course of his remarks, paid a iiigh tribute to tho Salvation Army, making pleasing reference to the good work they were performing in tho numerous Homes throughout the colony. He dealt at some length with the causes of evil, which in a measure. he admitted he was unable to explain. He expressed rogrct at seeing such a poor audience at tho meeting, and promised to do his best to secure a larger one upon a future occasion. Mrs Hill wqs the last of the speakers to address the meeting. She attributed the chief cause of sin to the lack of home training, If they had “ home rulo ” in the true sense there would not, she said, be half the sin that at present existed, If parents taught their children from infancy in the paths of righteousness, there would not be much fear of their departing fromi'it in after years. After going her daily rounds visiting, and viewing different homes, she did not wonder that there were so many boys going astray and drifting into the paths of sin. The speaker made lengthy' reference to the Rescue Homes of tho cities, and gave details of. a number of very sad cases which had come under 'her notice. Gisborne had derived great benefit from the Homes in \uckland -.and Wellington, cases from this town., being sent to those places. The proceedings were brought to a close Shortly before ten o’clock with the singing of tho Dosology.