STRUGGLE OF EARLY SALVATIONISTS

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 159, 23 July 1937, Page 13

STRUGGLE OF EARLY SALVATIONISTS

Movement Was Much Opposed at First THE HASTINGS JUBILEE The Salvation Army in Hastings is celebrating its golden jubilee this week Fift.v years ago, on Julv 21, 1887, the Salvation Army began its work in Hastings. The early daya were d fiieult and the pioneers of the movement had • to face much opposition. Two women offieers, Captain Annie White and Lioutenant Davis, a daughter of the late Dr. Davis, of Wanganui, began the movement in Hastings. Stropg opposition was at once shown towaVds thcm, and membors of the Army were forbidden to stand in openair meetings. Tlioso who attempted to do so were arrested and put into prison. No-one would let the oilieers a house, but the late Mr 'J. Garnett and Mrs Garnett took the offieers into their home and gave eupport to the movement. Mrs Garnett will be present at the first of the jubilee celebrations, which will take the form of a reunion gathering on Saturday afternoon in the Young People 's Hall, at the corner of Lyndon road and Warren streets. Mrs Garnett will cut the birthday cake at this function, this honour being aceorded her by Salvationists of the present day in recognition of her help in the early days of the movement. The reunion will be attended by many former Salvationists and their friends as well as by the present soldiers and offieers. An int6resting programme of events haB been arranged to mark the jubilee. There will be a public welcome to Lieutenapt-Oolonel and Mrs Grattan in the Warren street hall on Saturday night at eight o'cloek, at which the Mayor Mr G. A. Maddison, will preside. At 10 a.m. ou Sunday there will be a gathering of all Salvationists at the clock tower, the spot where the first meeting was held fifty years ago. All interested are invited to attend this gathering. Following this meeting there wdll be a holiness meeting in the hall at 11 a.m., another at 3 p.m. and oue at 7 p-m. On Monday afternoon there will be a women 's meeting under the auspicee of the Home League, and in the evening a final jubilee programme in which tho^ Napier silver band and Singing Company, the Hastings bajxd and songsters and several friends wall take part. Lieutenant-Colonel Grattan, Chief Secretary for the Salvation Army in the Dominion, and Mrs Grattan are coming from Wellington for the jubilee celebratious and will Conduet all these meetings, excepting that on Saturday afternoon, which will be led by Majpr C. Neeve, of Napier. No charge for admission will be made, but collections to defray expenses will be taken up each meeting.