SALVATION ARMY.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 48, 31 May 1916, Page 7

SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER HODDER’S VISIT

The very wet and stormy weather of (he past week bade lair to damper the

ardour and enthusiasm of me local Salvationists in fneir arrangements in connection wit!) the visit to Stratford of their Commandcr-in-Chief, Commissioner Hodder, hut they kept up their zeal in the preparations and they were rewarded, as about about ton o'clock in the morning the s nn began to shine and the conditions rapidly improved. At G. 30 p.m. in the Army Hull there wore four tables, heavily laden with good tilings, and a bevy of ladies in attendance. A large number of people. turned up and did ample justice to the good things provided.

The tables were attended by die following ladies: Airs 'l', Voting presided at a table personally provided ' and arranged on the platform at which sat the Commissioner and Airs Hodder and staff, the .Mayor (Air .1. W. Boon), Rev. R. B. Tinsley (Methodist), .Mr P. Thomson (Presbyterian) and others. The Presbyterian table,: The Misses Stanton (2), Robinson, Lawrence, Cameron and Milner. • The Methodist table: Mesdames J. W. Boon, R. H. White, .1. H. Hopkins, and Good rick. Salvation Army; Mesdames Adjutant Cook, Rtiding, Long, -J. H, Thompson, Aliases Witt (2), Hart and Simons.

Tho meeting at tho Church at 8 p.m. was thoroughly well attended and after the first hymn and prayer conducted by Major Toomer, Mr J. W. Boon, (Mayor), oil'behalf of the citizens of Stratford, extended a hearty welcome to the,' iCormnissibpeT and Airs Hodder, 'ami! <ilso spokd: of the, high opinion he pwisonally Hold of the good work of the Salvation Army. The .Mayor then called ion Mrs/ Hodderj j who read a portion of Scrip- ire, and also gave a short address.

Ifnsign Suter wils tljßn called upon for a solo, and, saijg,, ( Heighten *> tho Corner Where Ton Are,” which appeared to be enjoyed by jail. The Commissioner gave a splendid address on the beginning of the Salvation Army Social Work, and gave a number of reminiscences of a humorous character before stating facts >nd figures of the .work hejng done by the present up-to-date organisation for social uplifting: ? Before tho war .started, the Army had sevonty-rour homos throughout the world fiyr Army and Xayv men, hut now there were no less than 1000 places used entirely for helping the Boys who are doing their hit for the Empire. Mention , was, also made of the Homes for the CJiildren of Fallen Soldiers. The whole address was listened to with rapt attention, and was brought to a . close with a pathetic story ol the Army work at tho front.

Mii.jor Toomer proposed a comprehensive vote of thanks: (1) To the Mayor for presiding; (2) The officebearers of the Presbyterian Chureii for the use of the Church ; (3) The ladies of the Presbyterian, Methodist and Salvation Army for all they had done towards providing for the tea, ole etc. Ibis was heartily carried by the audience and responded to by the Mayor and the Commissioner. Ihe meeting then closed with the Doxology and Benediction.

'1 he Commissioner and Mrs Hoclder were the guests of the Mayor and Mayoress of Stratford, who also motored them to Eltham this morning.