SALVATION ARMY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 1, Issue 178, 21 March 1932, Page 7

SALVATION ARMY

WELCOME TO NEW ZEALAND OF GENERAL AND MRS. HIGGINS ARRIVE AUCKLAND TO-DAY After a successful campaign in Honolulu, General E. J. Higgins and Mrs. Higgins are due to arrive in Auckland by the Niagara to-day. Preparations have been made for a big welcome. The general has agreed to broadcast an address to the people of New Zealand from 1YA to-day. General Higgins has just completed his third year of service as supreme head of the Salvation Army. In addition to the heavy demands which have been made upon him in the administrqtion of the world-wide affairs of the Army, his list of fulfilled public engagements is an exceptionally lengthy one. A notable event was the reopening of the famous Congress Hall, Calpton, in connection with which three public meetings were conducted by the general. This historic building, which has been partially reconstructed and entirely reconditioned, now contains one of the finest Salation Army halls in Great Britain. Perhaps the most important of the general's activities during the past year was his visit to the United States of America. Heartily weleomed by the Commander-in-Chief for the U.S.A., Mrs. Evangeline Booth, the general, accompanied by Mrs. Higgins, commenced the campaign with an inspiring Congress in the Eastern Territory. During his visit to the Southern Territory the generai was officially greeted by President Hoover at the White House, Washington. In a brief discussion of the economic crisis through which the U.S.A., in' common with most other parts of the world,' has been passing, the President said: "We have looked to the

Salvation Army, and I am happy to say that we have not looked in vain. We could not do without the Salvation Army." Mrs. Higgins was received by Mrs. Hoover. The Congress gatherings conducted by the general in the Central U.S.A. territory at Chicago, were marked by exceptional crowds and tremendous enthusiasm. At San Francisco they received a royal welcome.. Two miles of' flags decorated the prineipal thoroughfare. On behalf of the city, the Mayor, Mr. Rossi, publicly weleomed the general at the railway stationj and later, at the City' Hall, in the presence of a gathering of a'thousand persons, preseiited him with a golden key to the city.