INSPIRING MEETING

Hokitika Guardian, 14 April 1932, Page 8

INSPIRING MEETING

GATHERING IN TOWN HALL

GENERAL HIGGiN’S VISIT

WELLINGTON, April 12

Sunday, April 10, 1932, must mark on of tlie biggest event**- in the history of the Salvation Army in Wellington, It was the occasion of the principal meeting held in connection with the visit of the Army chief General E. J. Higgins, and his wife, to this city. A vast assemblage filled the big Town Hall Jong before the advertised turn- of commencement, and the moetimg with lip. messages of iresh hope, was truly

au inspiring one. As a happy coincidence, the day was the 103rd anniversary of the birth in Nottingham, England, of William Booth, the great founder of the now world-wide or-

ganisation. The meeting was presided over by the Cliief Justice (lit. Hon. Sir Michael Myers), and was attended by their Excellencies, Lord and Lady Bledisloe. General and Mrs Higgins were accompanied by Commissioner and Mrs Cunningham, and Colonel Pugmire, and there was a representative gathering of citizens present. Not the leant inspiring part of the meeting was the singing of Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus” at the conclusion of proceedings. It was accompanied by the city band and the grand organ. A prayer was offered'by the Rev. R. J. Howie, and the lesson was read by :Uafl-Captain Davies. The hymn ‘Jesus Shall Reign” was sung, and the band rendered “Gladstone Melody.”

Sir Michael Myers said that the present was the first time in the triumphal tour of the General that the chair had been taken by a member of the judiciary, and he though that it might be well to tell the audience something of the activities of the Army as far as it wa.- related to the administration of justice. In the Supreme Court he personally did not come into contact with the Army’s activities in this direction, but in what were known popularly as the “people’s” courts*—Police Court and the Magistrate’s Court— the Army was of the greatest assistance. Consequently be bad asked Mr E. Page, S.M.,' to give n. summary of the Army’s work as lie paw it. Sir Michael then read a statement by Mr Page, in which high tribute was paid to the work of Salvation Army officers, and it many institutions, in helping the lesp fortunately placed persons in the community.

CREATING ASSETS. Sir Michael, continuing said that an organisation such as the Salvation Army must have been founded upon a religions and spiritual basis. But he thought that he was saying the very truth when he said that it was the social and sociological activities of the Army that, not unnaturally, appealed to and struck the public imagination. They all know that a had citizen was a liability upon the State, and a good citizen was an asset, and one of the main activities of the Salvation Army was to help to convert these liabilities into assets. The Army was an army established not for warlike purposes, not for the destruction of bodies, but for the salvation of souls, and its only war wn- a war waged against vice and sin. After referring to the fact lius. lie Army had only had throe heads. General William Booth, the founder; General Br,unwell Booth, his son ; and, finally, General E. J. Higgins, Sir Michael Myers said that the growth ami development showed what could be done in the space of a single lifetime. GENERAL’S SPEECH.

After expressing his gratitude fo. the words that had been said that' afternoon, General Higgins said that although lie had been in New Zealand tnroe weeks, he had not yet heard any criticism of the Army’s work, and he did not think he had ever been in ‘any country in the world where there appeared to be a unanimity of opinion regarding the value of its work. "1 shall take back the happiest memories,” he said. ‘‘l shall remember the singing, I shall remember all the kindnesses that have been shown niy wife and myself and I shall tell them in the Homeland that the people of New Zeijand love the Salvation Army, and that they are going on the best they can to further its work.” The General referred to the fait | that the day was tin* 103rd anniverj ’-ary o|' the birth of William Booth in the city of Nottingham. He felt that he ought to give his own testimony to the life, character and work if th<‘ fir.-t General. “He took me by the hand,” he said, "lie walked with me in the streets before I was out of my teens, eneouri aged me when moments oi discouragement seemed to threaten me and all •'through tin* years was a friend, a father, one to whom I owe more, probably, than anyone ohc in the world. But that is, trivial, when we consider what lie did for the world. Wlrnn we think of the result of this life in the blessing of God, then, surely, it must be an encouragement to every man and woman in this building, that they 'too. should give of the Ixvt that they have and help to serve their (lay and I generation, and help to develoo all | that is noble and pure, and do their ! utmost to turn away from the path that, can only lead to disaster and sorrow. I than God for William Booth j to-day, and all over the world. Inin- t deeds and thousands are remembering < him to-day and thanking God lor him 1 too.” I