TWENTY-FIRST MASTERTON MUSKETEERS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1816, 17 October 1884, Page 2

TWENTY-FIRST MASTERTON MUSKETEERS.

Major Pollakd and Staff-Captaii ■ Matthews arrived in Masterton by tin mid-day train yesterday from Christ ' church, the Head-quarters of the Salva 1 tiori Army of New Zealand. Thoi 1 object ia visiting Masterton was ti fc present the colours to the Corps, whicl 3 lias been in existence for about si: ! months, The evening was chosen as b the fittest time to carry out the design ' and a tea on a large scale was pro 1 vided, the tables being laid lor 40( 3 people in the barracks, Punctually at six o'clock the Majoi and his aide-de-camp entered the hall and they received quite an ovation , Grace was sung and the good thing provided quickly disappeared. A: soon after tea as possible the table were cleared and the seats arranged fo i the accommodation of some six or sevei hundred people. By seven o'clock th seats were all occupied, and shortly afterwards the Major and his aide-de , camp entered, "Hallelujah" -wa: shouted as by one voice from the plat , form) which was occupied by over on ' hundred soldiers and converts. Thi , cry was taken up by the whole body o t people, who we're almost irrepressible f Order was soon restored, and a byrai was sung during which the peopl settled down considerably, and during - the prayer which followed silence wa: , observed, except for the hearty responsi of the soldiers. A portion of th< Psalms was read by StaffcCaptair, , Captain Matthews, and each verse com raonted on with energetic earnestness ! An address by Major! Pollard introduc tory of the business, followed the nex \ hymn, .in whiob. he related his ezperi ence'aa a " Way Cry" seller intheaas end of London, where he put in'Bi time as a cadet. He recommended a , those who felt proud of wearing a ne« Salvation soldier's uniform totrythf • effect of it at the same plaoe, and thej would get all the pride pelted out o them with London street mud. Hi 'next showed what faith had done foi them.in New Zealand, where they hat started with a liability of a ruonth'i rent of £25, and from this point the worthy Major led them on powerfully and interestingly until the intra duction of the local " Noah's arks.' The faces of the givers fairly beamec with joy at the opportunity accorded them of depositing their share in tht boxes. Several of the soldiers on the platform, in response to the Major, briefly related their experience which were listened to rather impatiently, the audience evidently being restless to see the colors presented. Staff-Captain Matthews afterward: gave a very powerful address, inviting his hearers to leave the ranks of sin and light for the Lord. His voice wa! powerful enough for a building tei times the size, and his declamatior appeared more to astonish than to impress his hearers,- Those furthest removed from the "penitent form' quite gloried in the way he'banged the covers of the Bible he held in his hand, Fortunately the covers were of the new pliable kind and offered less resistance than the "sinners on the back seats." The Major, taking the. flag in his hand, and unfurling the same amidst ! the attention of the audience, then addressed the officers and soldiers, He told them that the flag he was to present was not to be the property of the officers or any individual, but would belong to the Corps so long as it existed, and he trusted they would fight manfully under tbe "Blood-stained Banner" which it represented. The red centre was emble'matioal of the " blood that was shed for them," The blue border was an emblem of purity. God expected them to be " pure in heart." The yellow in the centre of'the red represented the' " Holy Spirit," which would sustain them through all trials and temptations. Their motto, " Blood and Fire," meant the atonement aud the Holy Spirit, He . appealed to them to fight manfully under the banner which he presented in the name of their heavenly leader Jesus Christ, and the earthly leader of the Army, General Wm. Booth, charging them to carry it to every city and place where sin abounded.

Captain Francis responded feelingly. He stood there with a clean heart and •''as determined to fight and carry the flag of salvation to every sinner, whether rich or poor, hlaok or white. He appealed to every soldier to assist him in the glorious work. Lieutenant Johnny Newbold addresing the Major and audience said he felt it was a very great privilege to be allowed to fight under, the Blood Stained Banner of Jesus. His desire was to fight bravely and truly, and he prayed God would make him faithful, and speak through him to those who so muoh needed. It was not the Salvation Army that would save thorn, but the Salvation Army's God, The Major then addressing the soldiers said there were too many of them for each to reply, but.he would call upon them to "fire a volley" which they did by shouting "Amen." The cornet struck up, and the whole audience joined in singing " There is a fountain filled with blood," the choruu

being:— (l We'll lift up the banner on high, The Blood staiued Banner of Love, W'll fight beneath our oolouib till wo die,' And go .to our home above." The whok of the Soldiers on the platform and the majority of the audi.

ence waved their handkerchiefs during Hie singing of Hie chorus which was repealed after each verse two 9c three, times, all being very enthusiastic. The conclusion of the proceedings' consisted of lively choruses in which all heartily joined. A prayer and a bene* diction brought the meeting to a close.