THE SALVATION ARMY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 12, 17 April 1916, Page 3

THE SALVATION ARMY.

LOCAL RALLIES. Highly successful gatherings took place yesterday at the Salvation Aran Hall on the occasion of the visit oi ■Major Toomer, the Divisional Commander. At 3 p.m. the Mayor (Mr .J. W. Boon), presided over a gathering that nearly Riled the building. Adjutant Cook conducted the brief preliminaries and then introduced the chairman, who, in rising, was warmly greeted by the audience. In his remark's he eulogised the efforts of the Salvation Army, and told of his visit to bhe Army Institute at Trentham and the warm appreciation of the men in camp for the, efforts of the Army on their behalf. Introduced by the Mayor, Major Toomer said lie desired to say that the Salvation Army wished to make it clear that they did not forget that other kindred organisations such as the T.M.C.A., Methodist and other bodies were doing a splendid work, but that he had been requested to speak on what the Salvation Army were doing, find he in no wise desired to belittle the efforts of others, but felt there was room for all. Easing his remarks on the words of the Pslamist, "He Health the Broken in Heart and Bindeth Up their Wounds." He traversed the Work of the Salvation Army chaplains among the men at Trentham, Fentherston, Awapuni" and other camps, then taking bis audience to Potrograd, ' tie , told of the work among the refugees in •Eufjka, of the ambulances presented by 'Canadian Salvationists, and personally acknowledged by the Czar, and of the work now being done in Russia by the slum officers in helping the poor, the sick and dying, notwithstanding the fact that.legally the Salvation Army is not in Russia. Then work among the troops in France, relief work in Serbia, and again in Egypt and Salonika was referred to. The Major finished by relating a conversation with a returned trooper from-Gallipoli. He said that before leaving Egypt, Captain-Chap-lain Green bad a final meeting with the men, and in going to the meeting some of the boys said to the Captain,!

half jokingly: "Now, Captain, don't giv<? it us too hot." He replied: "No lads, I won't give it you too hot; it'll i be hot enough soon where you are goj ing; but I'd lil«i*t;0 say word. i If* the worst oqmps to -the then "Look up and,God will ■understand/' , The" narrator, continuing"", said: "My l mate was shot down soon after lundj ing, arid I stooped to help him, but lie ■ said 'lt's no vise Jack, I'm done for,' but the Captain told us to 'Look up,' j and I'm doing it." Told in unvarnished language by a man just returned from- the trenehes, it was a powerful conclusion to. a most interesting address. The Mayor proposed, a vote of thanks 'to tlie speaker, and tin's was seccmd"d by Lieut. Gray, who also spoke highly of the Army work. Major Toomer .briefly replied, and expressed thank?, -both on bis own behalf and of the local .Corps for the presence of His* Worship the Mayor,* Lieut. Gray as repre isenting the Defence Department, and Mr C. D. Sole and others of the Patriotic and Recruiting Committees. The audience then sang the National •Anthem, and the Benediction was pvo■hounced. A full building at night greeted the | Major at 7 o'clock, and an earnest address was given. j Major Toomer left by the express j this 1 morning fovPalamerston North, j Lovers of band music are looking 1 j

j forward to Friday next, when the I Wanganui Silver Band will render a 1 first-class programme in the Town Hall at 8 p.m., the proceeds going towards building new Homes for children of fallen soldiers. “A Bushman's Hevenge” forms a star item on the programme.