SALVATION ARMY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XVIII, Issue 1480, 14 June 1905, Page 3

SALVATION ARMY.

ANNUAL SOCIAL MEETING,

Tho annual social mooting in connection with tho Salvation Army was hold in tho Barracks last ovonmg. Tho building proved muob too small for tho largo congregation, and many wero unablo to • obtain seats. His Worship tho Mayor occupied tho ! ohair! Amongst others prosont on tho i, platform wore Mosdamos Ohattorton and . 'l , , Hods, Oaptain aod Mrs Slattory, Captain I Konnody, Rovs. Hounsoll, Paterson, and j ? Choiterton, Hon. 0»s. Carroll, Cr Lysnar. ■?,. Messrs J. R, Rcdstono, J. Bast, J. Peokover, O. Rosie, and Goldsmith. Tho mooting was opened with a quartette by Mrs East, Miss Wilkinson, and Messrs East and Goldsmith, which was Well rendered. Tho Rev. G. Honnsoll then led tho meeting in prayer. Mr Townloy was greeted with applause on rising. Ho read letters of apology from Messrs W. A. Barton, W. Sievwright

T. Adair, and other gentlemen, containing cheques towards the social fuuds of tho . Army. The Army had, he said, an imS meose work upon thoir hands. They started from the beginning of life with the children, and assisted the weak and fallon in every phase of existence. . Ho referred i to the good work done by the Prison s and also to the splendid work < accomplished by the Army in reclaiming | the drunkard and uplifting tho fallen. Mr J. Chrisp gave a cornet solo. Kev. J. Paterson said he was deligtftscl to see suoh a large and enthusiastic meeting. It was the largest ho had ever attended in connection with the social Work of the Army, and he congratulated Captain Slattery upon his efforts. He V said that by looking after the body the '1 Army hoped to gain the soul. This, in military language, would be called their objective. Ho referred to some men who had been raised from the flotsam and jetsam of life by the Army, and who were holding important positions to day. He spoke of the things which made a nation strong—anything which helped to strengthen and ennoble the character 4 strengthened the nation—and he described the Army as patriots, for by their work they ware building up tho character every day, reclaiming and rescuing. He trusted that God wonld bless the Army and prosper it. (Applause.) Mrs O. East contributed a solo very sweetly. Captain Slattery gave an impressive address on their social work. One cif the Asscrets of their, success was that their

officers sprung from,the people. He briefly traced the origin of the army, and accounted fo'h the unprecedented sucooss Which had attended their efforts. Its I essential work was the reclamation of the I Wreckage of human lives. He dealt with the Prison Gate Home work,and recounted i instances wherein man, who bad been met at the prison gate had risen to I important positions with bright futures before them. This was splendid testimony to the utility of the Prison Brigade Home work. In referring to the Maternity I -Somes throughout Australasia, he stated I these were unfortunately a necessity I through the depravity of the youth of both I “ paxes. These Homes had an unqestionable Maim upon the whole community, and the I "Children who had to live and bacomo I •tizens had a claim upon the commisera- I , 'n of all. He gave a graphic account of Jlnm officer’s work in ths larger cities, I ky«d showed that the spiritnal work of I jjftho Army was not sacrificed to the social ] work. The two works were identical, and { hand in hand, Christianity beiDg the I , igoal. Mrs Slattery recited “ Even unto These” with splendid effect, being loudly ap- : plauded, I The Hon. S. Carroll was received with .. loud applause. He said it was the first he had had the pleasure of attending a meeting in that building. Ho realised that they did not understand each I other,enough. Many of them had failed .]., in the true work towards one another, and r they did not know each other as well as they . should. Perhaps the age was to | blame, or . their positions and environments. They were hard upon each other, | and made their own lives either happy or ■ miserable. They should remember they were all human beings, and belonged to the one brotherhood —the brotherhood of Christ. They were not there to denounce | eaoh other, but to bear each other’s burdens, which was the essence of Christianity. ] The Army was become a factor in the new civilisation of the day. They were | recognised as doing a great good in the social uplifting of thu people. He concluded by reciting the i3te Thomas ] Bracken’s fine poem ’* Hot Understood. j Cr W. Donglas Lysnar said the Army | was able to reach a class that could not be reached in any other way. The secret of its success was thß good rules and laws laid down by General Booth. He said that they should contribute more liberally towards the Army than they had done in | the past. There was no way, he con- | sidored, that one could get better value for bis money than in giving to the Army. Mr J. Hast contributed a solo in fine voice. , I The Kov. Mr Chatterton said he was I sure he voiced the sentiments of his fellow ] ministers present in stating that they were very glad to have an opportunity of showP their appreciation of the work done by Aruiy. He referred to the grave social Is which necessitated the existence of social and maternity homes. There werß two ways of dealing with these evils — preventive and ourative. The Army were using both. There were 61 homos in Aus tralasia in connection with the Army’s ' social reformation work. The whole system of the Army was based upon a healthy optimism. They ware full of hope. He felt sure that all woald join in wishing the Army God-speed and greater success in the future. A vote of thanks to Mr Townioy for preBiding were carried by aoelamation. In reply His Worship said it was their endeavour to briog all units of the church together, aud that had been done that evening. y The Bev. G. Hormsell pronounced the ■ benediction.