Unique Gathering.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XL, Issue 7928, 8 October 1904, Page 5

Unique Gathering.

At Napier on Wednesday night' Major Albiston, the divisional oflicer of, tho Salvation Army for the Melbourne division, who has just arrived back from London, whither, he went as one of tho New Zealand delegates to the .Army Congress, gave an account of the great meetings. In the.course of his remarks, he said that: there; were 1700 foreign delegates^(9oo of whom could not speak English) from 45 countries. At tha' Clapton Congress Hall 1000 alone were billeted, and Major Albiston' obtained permission to stay a night there. ..He was in a dormitory which contained 430 beds, in which were soldiers of black and brown, yellow and; copper, and othetf colored skins, and the talk was a veritable Salvation Babel.

In a good word, picture the speaker described the great receptiori meeting ia •■■ :the Royal Albert Hall, containing 10,-; 300' chairs." • Never,, declared the daily* . .Press, has such' a, sight as:this: been: wit- -. riess'ed in. London- before; The grand ■ :■' 'old-Ge_aer'B2'_at'6n'4'd_Js^__ad.'.'p^t'bimV-e.':' to the accompaniment of descriptive music played by their respective bands, marched the contingents of the various countries.headed by the Japanese, Chinese, and South Africans. • When the turn came for the Australian and New Zealand contingent to march: past at'the ? salute a. great outburst of enthusiasm second to none greeted their appearance. The'; Headquarters Staff,* ißarid1 struck up " There's a Land that is faires than Day," and the General remarked": that round * the world there was' not a .more loyal and-devoted body, of Salvationists than in/Australia and Ne*\v Zealand.' '■' Xx.y *•'''.-';:■'-...:..' .. .-,

The Crystal Palace, demonstration was another, 'imposing gathering, some 100.000: persons* witnessingVit. ; The procession of Salvationists,' accompanied by 300 brass bands, besides timbrel and drum' and'fife baijds, took If hours to pass the General. ': Inside:the palace 3300 bandsmep, with 300 bass" drums, occupied the [•'.platform and under ..the baton of Commissioner Carleton. played pieces in almost perfect unison.. : ''AA.

: From a spectacular point of view the.. farewell 'of..;the delegates was the: rhosfc A] .magnificent "of the deruonstratioriV ;^v.. took 4 place iri -the Royal/: Albert /Hall:/ ■' Representatives of the different countries X. marched past the General^ the officers_ in. A command steppingout arid'saiuting, arid at the same .'time; by - ari * ingenious, piece . of mechanism,- .the flag of the';, country. was run tip a wire into the dome_ .Who n the Japimesecontingentmajchedupj-foi:. some '"reason their flag stuck half-way. A .Instantly one of 11ie;little,fellows;:cleare3/-\ the forms and springingto the;*wire raa. i the flag to the'top, calling diit 'tHat "the .: Ja,ps' had never stuck up/ andirievcr would.", A' X':/;AyX ; -"-:;■"-■;-■-;■ ■'•?'•'.-■: ■ '*'•■-•

: /The- farewell of the delegates in the Royal Albert' Hall was witnessed by the ■Right Hon; Joseph 'Chamberlain; Earl Rosebery ; arid [a number of others of the. nobility, who occupied* seats in the dress circle. The/General turned to them and fora few. minutes gave them some good home truths, reminding them of the; * need of,/ fegenefati. ri A if [ they [desired to occupy, sea/ts in the upper and* better terriple.;/'[//>'.',[';/' ''.;'-[ :y *-•:: j".*' *. ■ _[/;'-' ■■■'-.*.

[/[ln bringinghis, interesting lecture to a ..[ close £[the/;:.Majoi. ? stated; that * General-;/ 'Booth/would arrive iri'New Zealand next, / April and that" the Chief'of the Staff- (Mr v/ .Bramwell Bobth)/and his -' wife Aw[buia:[:; visit the colonies at" a -later dat'e[during/f[ [theyear: The biggestohangeinrespect X [ to the leading officers that the [A^y-ihiis./ seen for -many years will', shortly"take.:/ place, [the officers concerned;bemg. Coin--. missioriers iHowMi^^elde/Secreta^)^ 'Combes (Co'minander,[of British forces),// Eva/:Booth'/(Caii'adayi/Bootb-TucVor'*: (U.SiA.),-; Kfibey' : ;:(Sout__:/Afric^,^'a^: Nicol;: (Editor-m-ClueQ^Napier/Teloi**; .graph.:* XA.XXXX XAA ■/-"■;- ■■■■• - A//A/A'"