THE SALVATION ARMY SCANDAL.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIII, Issue 1889, 14 August 1884, Page 2

THE SALVATION ARMY SCANDAL.

[BY TELEGUAPH.-»OWN COUKESPONDKNr.I Auckland, Wednesday Night. Regarding the Salvation Aimy "Captain," Beddingfield, a Chrit-tchurch special telegram to the Star says :— The story of " C.vptain" Beddingfield is by uo means untinged with roaiuance. He firofc came to the colony seven years ago and went to Waik.xto, where he worked at his trade of compositor. Dining his residence theie he was laid up with rheumatic fever, and was laid up for a considerable time. Then he moved to Napier, whero he was unfortunate enough to be seized again with the fever. After working thiuugh the North Island, moving from one primng office to another, he determined about five yeais ago upon returning to England, and in order to do this he woiked his passage before the mast. The inducement for his trip was that, in consequence of the death of his father, he had become the possessor of a moderate sum of money, and, as a man of property, ho of course felt justified in taking unto himself a wife. The lady was his second cousin. He came to New Zealand again, and at first settled at Napier, where his mother and some of his relatives are now living. Having worked at his trade for a considerable time in Napier, he went for a short time into the Government printing office, and in June, 1883, came down to Christchurch. He seems to have been most respectably connected. He claimed very close relationship with Thackeray, and there is no question that Thackeray used to conespond with members of the family, and Beddingfield had one of these precious letters in his possession. He was a general favourite with those who knew him, and everybody regarded him as a man of singular blamelessness. Three weeks after the Salvation Army opened fire at Chnstchurch he announced his " real conversion" by their agency, and about two months afterwards joined their ranks. At that time he was one of the night staff of compositois of one of the morning journals, and was earning good wages, so that in throwing up his ordinary occupation he made a considerable pecuniary sacrifice. JTvom the inWent he joined the aviny his career was anxiously _ watched by some of his old companions, and his apparently thorough devotedness to his new calling won their esteem. His character seemed so blameless, and his zeal was so marked that he fairly jumped to the rank of captain, and to the " Little Wonder" he became a sort of guardian. This guardianship, however, had its bitterness. The Sydenham folk, it is said, used sometimes to wag their heads with an air of wisdom, and hint that Beddingfield and the " Little Wonder " -were very fond of one another. As events have proved, the gossips were right. Ererybody feels sorrow for Mrs Beddingfield, »o heartlessly left with her two children. " She was, says one who knew her very well, "a good, kind-hearted woman." Tne same informant adds, "I thought more of Beddingfield than of all the rest I have seen with the Salvation Army. I believed him to be a strictly conscientious man." It is understood t« be due to a certain little unpleasantness respecting the apparent "fondness," before ■poken of, that Beddingfield's scene of operations was changed from Christchurch to Ashburton, and ultimately to Dunedin.

We would direct the particular attention of the fanning 1 community to the advertisemrnt ot Messrs Reid and Gray, agricultural implement manufacturer!.. The ploughs and other farm ■ implements turned out by this firm have long enjoyed an, enviable name in all parts of the colony, and will favourably compare with the imported article both as to quality and price. , Yes !It 'is certainly true. Ask any of your fnends r who have purchased there. G^rlick and Cranwell have numerous unasked for and very -favourable commendations from country customers on their excellent packing of Furniture, Crockery,^' and Glass* Bee. Ladies and gentlemen about to furnish should 'remember t that,,Garlick and Cran well's jis th* (Cheap, Furnishing Warehouse of Auckland. Furniture to -'.suit 1 all class.es ; also--Carpets', Floor Cloths md alb* House Necessaries 1 . If \>6ur, new house is^ncarly, finished, or, you are £oinr ( to" get;, married, visit Jjrarlick and iPranweH^se^nrStV^fandliorne;-sfreeK"Anck-land. lutondinjr pHrchj^brs can h^T©si, J p)|jtftl<>e«©-