A GIANT ENTERPRISE.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LIV, Issue 242, 12 April 1912, Page 4

A GIANT ENTERPRISE.

The 'Salvation Array more than anyexisting religious or social institution is successful because it is organised on the soundest possible business lines, and the #ews therefore that New Zealand will no longer be a couple, of provinces attached to Australia and, for the purposes of the "Army," managed in Melbourne is of interest. If any excuse were needed * for regarding the Salvation Army as an institution more than any other necessary to the people, it is to be found in . the public support given to it in New Zealand. New Zealand gives to the Salvation Army a larger sum per head than any country on earth. This is the ' people's recognition of the value of the world work done by the Army, for the money so collected is not used solely for New Zealand work. Indeed, when New ! Zealand helps the organisation it may be aiding people thousands of miles away. General Booth is before everyi thing a business man, and has used his - great commercial acumen for the benefit of those wfao need help most. The great results are obtained by the unselfishness of those who belong to the organisation. They belong to a religious organisation that sinks self absolutely, who work for a bare subsistence ; and give their whole lives, talents and earnings to the people. Early in the career of the Army the mass of people regarded the methods adopted as grotesque, or, at least, amusing. To-day the people regard the show part of the organisation as one of the means to an end. The end is the better physical well-being and happiness of many folk who could neither be physically well nor happy without its aid. The chief value of the organisation lies in its absolute disregard of convention. It is the duty of the Salvationist to find distress and to relieve it, to become intimate with suffering, to do as well as talk, and to hold out the helping hand everywhere and under any conditions, no fnatter how low the object of help may have sunk, no matter what his color, race or creed. The success of the Army is due to its intimacy with human nature. It is not a little Bethel hived off from the rest of the world and hating outsiders. It is not tied to small Sabbath observances or little shibboleths. It gets to the root of the 'trouble, because it is not afraid of trouble. Throughout many countries the money begged from the people is used to create institutions for the benefit of humanity. There are cases of sin and suffering that ultra-re-spectable religious bodies are too squeamish to h'andle. The Army handles them. Small mutual admiration societies do philanthropic work in spasms, and while the limelight lasts. The Salvation Army keeps plugging away. It never rests. It is at work, night, day and holiday, and the fine old man who has created it has trained helpers who will carry on the work he must leave shortly. The trained men and women who undertake the work in New Zealand are educated in Melbourne. It is to be supposed that now New Zealand is no longer ' dependent for Army purposes on Mel- ' bourne, these people will be trained in ! this Dominion. As countries grow the i influence and utility of the big organisa- 1

grows too, and it is increasingly necessary for the people who control its administration to be more competent. It it only while the Salvation Army maintains its rugged democratic character that it can do its work effectively. If in its increased respectability it admits castes and draws lines it will fail in its middle age. Because it attracts people who are not attracted by any other methods, and because it helps people whom every other .organisation fails to