General Booth in Wellington.

Manawatu Herald, Volume III, Issue III, 27 October 1891, Page 2

General Booth in Wellington.

Meetings of the Salvation Aimy were held on the morning and afternoon of Saturday, but the most im» portant meeting was in the evening at the Opera House. Previous to this, however, the Army, about 700 strong, assembled in front of the Government Buildings for the purpose of marching in procession ilAfehe scene of the meeting. Included in the procession, which was lighted by torohes, was a lifeboat on a car, painted with the Salvation Army colours, and containing several" lasses "—illustrative of the Army's Eesoue Work. Thousands of interested onlookers thronged the line of route, the balconies of hotels and windows of houses being also filled with spectators ; several lighted gas stars added to the illumination of the torches and red fire in the procession, the general effect being very remarkable. Last of all, in a private carriage, came General Booth himself, who responded to the frequent and hearty cheering by bowing and raising his hat to the right and left.

The Opera House was not so full as might be expected. Round the fronts of the dress and family circles respectively were mottoes in large letters, " Welcome to Maoriland," and •' Loyal to the Flag ; Faithful unto Death," while on the front of the reading desk was the inscription, " The World.for God."

On the stage was the Army band, at the rear, and in the front rows the Mayor of Wellington (Mr A. W. Brown), who presided, the General himself, Dr Newman, the Rsv. Mr Allan (Congregational Minister), and the leading male and female officers of the Army, including Maoris in full native dress. The proceedings having been opened with hearty singing and a fervent prayer by Colonel Nicol from England. The Eev Mr Allan proposed and Dr. Newman seconded an address of welcome. General Booth, who was received with a perfect storm of " Allelulias " and applause, then addressed the meeting. He announced that he appeared before them as a Salvationist from begginning to end. He turned his attention towards the suffering, lapsed masses, and determined to do his best. But he could not rest in the confinement of th« religious world of that time, his spirit was hungering for the crowd outside. At last he left the charmed circle of Church organization, and had been led, he believed by the spirit of God to organise and bring forward the the movement known as the Salvation Army. He gave an indignant denial to the statement so frequently made that no balance-sheet as to the money expended by him was ever submitted to the public. Such a balance-sheet had beeif^ polished ever since the Army earned into existence, besides which he was only trustee of the funds, and had no power whatever to divert them from their original purpose. The Army, he explained, was designed originally to get at the hearts and fix the attention of those who could not otherwise be got to listen to the word of God ; ho believed in keeping their attention fixed on the subject, and to make them keep on thinking ftbout 16. itiid with that ohjwt the

Were designed. The growth of tHe Army could be gathered from the feet that their flag wa3 flying in- 85 different countries and colfcHies, and if they had only sufficient money could occupy every land under the sun, In the countries they did occupy they had 6000 separate 'i. societies, 11,000 officers, and tens of thousands of looal officers. The Salvation Army was a development, ft growth, and had gone on without regard to the favour of men or their blame, their smiles or their frowns, straight forward to the goal at which they aimed. In conclusion, the General said, " Let us go forward ; first, get right yourselves, get your own relations right with God, and then go to work and preach the .salvation you have found, tbe happiness God has given you, and go about doing good, which will bring you to joy, and gladness, and. salva-* tion in the morning, 1 ' The meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to the chairman and the singing of a hymn. Three large meetings were held in — the Opera House on Sunday.— N.Z. 2'imet,