THE SALVATION ARMY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 311, 10 February 1910, Page 4

THE SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER AND }fRS. HAY'S

VISIT

STI R111X(! ADDRESSES,

Commissioner and Mrs. Hay and party arrived in X'*w Plymouth yesterday afternoon and were met and welcomed by ollicers and friends of (ft| local corps. In the evening u public nception was held at the Armv Barracks His Worship the Mayor (Mr. G. Tisch) presided, and there were also Qa tM» platform Mr. 11. Okey, M.P., Cr. Dockrill. Colonels Knight' and Birkenshaw. and other Army ollicers. The Garriso* Band assembled outside the barrack* and played several stirring piece*. His Worship expressed his ple*mi» at being present to heartily weleomf on behalf of the citizens of Xew Plymouth, their distinguished visitors. Hh sympathies were entirely with the Saltation Army is their work. He haj had rare opportunities, while chnmnaa of the Xew Plymouth Hospital Charitable Aid Board, of seeing V} splendid work of the officers of local corps. Mr. 11. Okey also extendi a heartv welcome.

Col. Knight briefly outlined the wort of the Commissioner and called upm him to address the meeting. Commissioner Hay was reoeired wife great applause as he came forward. H* regretted that tlieir stay in Xew Plymouth was so short. He would have to mako his remarks somewhat bri«f as lie and his party had to catch tke Auckland boat that night. He however, very pleased to eail at Plymouth. ITe had been at old PIT •month, too, wflere the Salvation also flourished. The Commiisioim(who is a forceful speaker) stated th*t he had been long enough in Xew Jfe mouth to see it was a very pretty ■aad that the people were sympathetic towards the work of the Army. Jl» had travelled from the Bluff rifftt through the principal towni of the Dominion and had been delighted the crowded meetings and enthu*iafl£ welcomes that had greeted hig parfl*. He had met all classes of people ft the Dominion, from the Prime Minister down, and in all quarters it was reenjjpised that it was for the well-'Heing of the 'State that the Salvation Army should prosper. Despite the great worit the Army was doing in t"his and otf>*r countries there was still much to done, "fhe speaker paid a tribute t® the splendid work of Envoy •who had erected the serviceable mi lovely Some for boys at Eltham. Tk was a grand thing to know that St» little chaps in the institution were trying well clothed and fed. and edueatsi to become useful and honorable members of society. All the world over the Army was doing similar work. Or* of the greatest works in the Army impelled in was tfie rescue of unfortunate women. He was sorry to learn tliat im this lovely land the men were lwt ft*sessed of good morals and he heari some distressing tales. "If the Awny has not dimini*hefT crime and degrarlation," stated the Commissioner, "it hM at least done something if only stem the increase of sin."

Continuing, the speaker statad ftiai ♦some of the greatest revivals the revisions world had known had bee« brought about by the Salvation Army. Touching on the drink question, th» Commissioner expressed his keen application of the Attitude of the ptople <4 the Dominion in fighting this great problem fn so thorough a manner. Wrw the speaker made reference to tW "Grand 013 "Man" of the Army tine audience became very enthusiastic and •cheered the General to the echo. When the Commissioner left Home CenewH Booth commissioned him to convey t message of love to all workers in th# Antipodes. Speaking of the General'* health, the speaker stated he was watfc•derfuTly hale for a man of 8! yeailf. ■lt was doubtful whether there had 1 flee* so great a social reformer during tl* -past two centuries as General BocHb."

j Mrs. Hay then addressed the me*{tnf (•and tier eloquent speech made a deep I impression. She conveyed, in a wriis j of vivid word pictures, some idea of tfp i awful lives lived I>v people in the sljiM of London. .People in lovely New lanu could nol recognise that humai beings could live in such- surroundings. Thousands were homeless wanderers, without fond ..,v shelter. It was beaffcbreaking in thp cold, rigorous winteaf to see those starving people huddlnd m doorways and alleyways. The cases of -women and children were extremely pathetic and the work of tho Army i* such snrronnilinsx was difficult indeed—not difficult to find cases of neefl but to succour the most deserving cases. !Mwiv of those who did live under roofs haji no furniture and no utensils. Just 9 bundle of rags Jn a corner where several families in (urn would sleep for a •few hours. Those hovels were nTi,v< with vermin and the people in many instances eaten up witti fevers and even worse diseases. Could anyone pass by and not render aid to human beings in such circumstances? Thousands of ( tno unfortunates we»e respectable folk j who had been reduced through advert circumstances and forced into rtf 1 slums. The mothers of families had fearful experiences. Widows were left "with perhaps four or five young children to provide or. They could earn perhaps seven shillings per week, and out of this pittance they had to support the family and pnv rent. When ."he saw the freedom of life and plentiitude of good things in the Dsminic* she felt covetous, and wanted a share for the sufferers. New Zealaifdens should thank Cod every day for their lot, being cast away from all this misery and untold sin, and their hearts would doubtless go out to their lea® fortunate fellow beings in the slu»s ol -the great cities of the Old Land. Tffr Army was doing a great work, as were the other great institutions. But there was still unbounded room for further workers. Mrs. TTav went on to describe the great brought about by the drink in slumdom. In these places the taste for liquor had not to be acquired: children were born to drink. There were women who spent all their lives at the bar of a public house. Almost the first words uttered by ths children of such women were: "Me want beer," "Me want gin." Such mouthers as these could only reproduce* themselves, and their offspring had the desire for liquor born in them. The Army had striven and were striving <o bring about a better condition of ''hinss. arvd happily with good results. Mrs. Bay gave a graphic and very pathetic sfory intermixed jvith humorous Incidents thnt showed that the children in tffe slums were intellectual nnd bright. Could these unfortunate little beings be rescued and train?d thoy would grow up into desirable members of the community. _ .