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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-12-05, Page 12Page 4 -- Wingham Advance -Times, Thursday, Dec. 5, 1963 NEW CITADEL TO OPEN—This is the front of the new Salvation Army Citadel on Ed- ward Street, which will be officially opened at the week -end. The tasteful brick struc- ture is enhanced by panels of colored glass at centre and above entrance.—A-T photo. Salvation Army Has Gained Several Officers from Corps Many of the men and women who served here as corps offic- ers later held positions of high rank and some became mission- aries. It is impossible to ac- count for all of the well over 100 who have been in charge in Wingham, but we do know about a few. Capt. Nelson Rock, who was here in 1905 and 1906 was re- sponsible for bringing many peo- ple to Wingham from England. He was followed by Capt. Mag- gie Andrews who left here in 1908 for India, where she spent many years as a missionary. Capt. John Gillingham was the corps officer in 1911. He later became a brigadier and served as divisional command- er in Alaska before retirement. Brig. Gillingham, now over 80, lives in Vancouver and every Sunday evening leads the par- ade downtown for the regular open-air service. Capt. Herbert Pugmire serv- ed here in 1912-13. He be- CAPT. KATIE CHAMPKEN and Lieut. M. Roberts were offi- cers in charge of the local Corps from March 1914 to March 1915. Captain Champ - ken now lives at 89 Bleeker Street, Toronto. S.A. Membership Nears Hundred The Salvation Army has a membership of 53 soldiers, 20 recruits and 22 adherents. Adherents are the people who have made no commit- ments but regard the Army as their spiritual home. Recruits are those taking instruction pre- paratory to being accepted, and soldiers are the members who have been fully accepted. The uniforms are purchased by individuals themselves. Uniforms may be worn by sol- diers or recruits in good stand- ing. Sunday school is held each Sunday afternoon and attend- ance averages between 75 and 100. Nine young people are enrolled in ttte Singing Com- pany or junior choir, with Mrs. W. J. Henderson as the music director. There are 11 com- missioned Y.P. band members, who are at present a part of the regular senior band. The Home League, the or- ganization for women of the congregation, meets weekly. came national commander for the United States with the rank of commissioner. He is now re- tired. Many people remember Lieut. D. V. Goodridge and his wife, the former Elsie Ottaway, who left here in 1957 for a term as missionaries in Chile. They were forced to return to Canada because of ill health and with their six children are living in Sault Ste. Marie, where they are in charge of the Spring St. Citadel. They have since been promoted to the rank of captain. Wingham, too, has supplied the Army with several officers. Major Margaret Wheeler retired to her hometown after 37 years of full time service, many of them as an officer. Commandant Sarah Taylor, who left a legacy to the Wing - ham Corps when she died in 1939, also returned here after many years as a SalvationAr- my officer. Most of her offi- cership was spent in Montreal where she was involved in social work. Major Harry Ashby, retired but bac.< in service as superin- tendent at the Eventide Home in Guelph, is another product of the Wingham Corps. He and his brother, Arthur, worked at the Lloyd Door Factory about 1906. They both attended the S.A. Training College and af- ter they graduated went to Afri- ca as missionaries. Also retired is Mrs. Briga- dier Wm. Martin of Toronto, the former Florence Jarvis. Her parents carne to Wingham with others brought from England by Capt. Rock in 1906, and her father was bandmaster at the time when the corps had such a large and active band. Her husband was corps officer here in 1917 and 1918, and they were married in Chatham the following year. Brig. and Mrs. Martin retired about five years ago. Wingham was the home corps of Major Archie McTav- ish of Amberley, who spent - man) years as a missionary in India. He is now retired but is still active in social work in London. Major Cliff Hetherington, who died about ten years ago, went into Training College in 1926. His last appointment was in one of the centres in Northern Ontario. Col. Fletcher Agnew and Col. Milton S. Agnew, nativ- es of this district, were not con- verted until after they moved to Chicago as young men. They are both retired and are still living in the United States.Col. Milton Agnew has continued to write material for Salvation Army periodicals. Most recent cadets from the Wingham Corps were Alan and Mrs. Neelon who now hold the rank of lieutenant and are serv- ing at Sussex, N.13. The training college course includes theology and social and welfare studies. In special cases the Army will send a per- son to university for a course in social work. Most of the ad- ministrators and supervisors have studied at university. The cadets also visit institutions during training and people in- volved with this type of work lecture at the college CAPT. AND MRS. David E. Al- len served here May 1929 to June 1930. New Citadel Is Fourth Meeting Place For the Salvation Army in Wingham The first meetings of the Sal- vation Army were held in the town hall but the corps later purchased the building that had been erected as a Primitive Methodist Church. This build- ing stands on the northeast cor- ner of Victoria and Minnie Streets and now serves as a double dwelling, occupied by Murray Gerrie and Provincial Constable O. Whitfield. The citadel recently de- molished to make room for the new ediface was built in 1891. The building was 30x80 feet with sixteen feet at the back to be used as a residence for the officers in charge. It has been stated by Major A. G. Ashby, who became a Salvationist here in 1907, later living in the States and commanding officer of the Tennessee Citadel Corps, that Albert Lloyd donated most of the timber for the building. He also mentioned that in 1906 and 1907 all the businessmen attended the free and easy Sun- day afternoon services at the Army. A complete renovation of the citadel was made possible in 1939 through a bequest left by Commandant Sarah Taylor. The officers in charge remark- ed that after the renovation they were able to put away the buckets and umbrellas that had been used because of the leaky roof. The living quarters were enlarged, the hall was painted inside and out and two ante- rooms were added, one on ei- ther side of the platform. In 1945 hardwood floors went into the residence and a new ceiling was put in the hall. The hall was redecorated in 1952. NEW CITADEL The new citadel, which has been erected at a cost of ap- proximately $45, 000 including furnishings, is 35' 6" wide and 94' 10" long. For the first time in the history of the corps pews will be used rather than chairs and the seating capacity Captain and Mrs. G. S. Newman Capt. and Mrs. G. S. Newman received their commissions as Auxiliary Captains in October, 1960, and were the first in Canada with that rank, Capt. Newman, a native of York, England, emigrated to Canada in 1925. He settled at Salis- bury, N.B., where he taught school. He had also been em- ployed as a salesman and bookkeeper. He entered S.A. Training College and graduated in 1928 with the highest marks in his class. He joined the Canadian Army in 1940 and during his 17 years in the army served with the Medical Corps, Public Relations and Pay Corps. He was in the pro- cess of being discharged when he was appointed to the Salvation Army here in 1957. Mrs. Newman is a native of Pilley's Island, Newfound- land. She was educated at Bell Island and St. Thomas, Ontario, coming to Canada in 1919. Mrs. Newman was an operator for the Bell Telephone Co. before entering Officers' Training College. She graduated from the college in 1927. Capt. and Mrs. Newman were married in 1928. They have two children, Mrs. J. S. (Dorothy) Drinkwater, busi- ness manager at People's Church in Toronto, and Donald G. Newman, co-ordinator of Teen Ranch in Sydney, Aus- tralia. His wife is the former Doris Evangeline Watt, daughter of Rev. Robert Watt, of Livingstone Press, and People's Church. Capt. and Mrs. Newman have three grand- children, Dawn Elizabeth 8, Darryl 3, and Dallyne, 6 months. They are the children of Mr. and Mrs, Donald Newman. of the main hall is 150. Seat- ing for the band is on the plat- form. An innovation is the "cry room" or nursery, where mothers may take fussy or cry- ing babies but will still be able to see the service through a large window, and hear by means of a sound system. The latter convenience, which is installed in both the nursery and basement, for overflow ser- vices, was a gift from Rev. and Mrs. Cox of Bluevale. The junior hall or Sunday school has individual class - 'rooms and separate from the Sunday school itself is the pri- mary department. There is also a corps kitchen downstairs and accommodation for band instruments. Basic colors in the decoration are beige and pink. The lower part of the walls in the basement have been sprayed with a glass -like, indestructible finish. The nursery will be used for counselling during the week, which will offer complete pri- vacy. Administration will be done from a room in the of - Major M. Wheeler Almost 50 Years in Social Work Major Margaret Wheeler, now retired but still an active member of the local corps, has been a Salvationist for 50 years. She and her father, Henry Wheeler, joined in Wingham in 1913. Her mother joined the Salvation Army three or four . years later. In September, 1915, Mar- garet Wheeler went into full time service and entered the Salvation Army Training Col- lege in Toronto, graduating in May, 1916. Attending college at the same time was FlorieJar- vis, daughter,of Bandmaster and Mrs. R. W. Jarvis, who is now Mrs. Brigadier William Martin. She retired when her husband did five years ago and they live in Toronto. Major Wheeler was in social work during her entire officer - ship and found her career inter- esting and rewarding. She serv- ed in Toronto and Ottawa child- ren's homes, Bethesda Hospital in London, the girls' home and hospital in Hamilton and re- ceiving homes in Toronto and Montreal. When she left college she was placed in the children's home in Toronto, where the Army aids unwed mothers. Gov- ernment welfare programs were not organized as they are today and deserted mothers who were trying to make a living were also assisted. Many of the children lived at the home and attended school from there. Ba- bies of unwed mothers were adopted from the home. Major Wheeler says, "We are always learning and methods improve. The.newer system of a Children's Village, where the children are placed in smaller numbers in cottages with a man and his wife to give a family atmosphere, is working out well." It has been found that children living under these cir- cumstances are better adjusted and have more confidence. Her duties in the girls' homes and hospitals were var- ied. Major Wheeler worked wherever she was needed, on the floors helping the nursing staff, in the nursery where there were from 25 to 30 babies to be cared for, helping to plan and prepare food in the kitchen. Sometimes she was sent out to bring in abandoned or homeless babies. The Major was always fond of children and enjoyed her assignments in the nursery. Most of the maternity cases were unwed mothers, but other 'women also use the facilities of Bethesda. The receiving homes handl- ed many sad cases including 'police court, missing persons, alcoholics and the unemployed. Girls in police court were often those who had gone to the city hoping to find work. Many were disappointed, es- pecially in depression years and for various reasons quite a few ended up in the courts. Each case had to be studied. Some of the girls were returned to their homes and others, after finding their capabilities, were placed in jobs. The courts often put girls in the custody of the Salvation Army, sometimes with the pro- vision that they be sent to their homes. Major Wheeler remem- hers many tithes, especially while she was in charge of the Montreal receiving home, wher she did not know where she would get the girl's fare as she took her from the court room. It was not uncommon to have people give her money as she left the court and to find that by the time she was on the street she had the railway fare. The Major also says that the railway companies were very generous in giving reduced rates to the Army. The officers were also in- volved with trying to help al- coholics, some of whom lived in the home and others out. They operated an employment bureau of their own, finding work for the alcoholics and try- ing to see that they remained steady in their jobs and handl- ed their money wisely. The missing persons depart- ment was challenging and Ma- jor Wheeler can recall many happy experiences when rela- tives and families were found. They were able to accomplish a lot in this field after the war, when many European families had been separated. Most of Major Wheeler's officership was spent in Mont- real where she was assistant for ficers' quarters. It is hoped that in the future a welfare room will be added to the pre- sent structure. The living quarters at the rear of the building are behind the main auditorium with a connecting door. Entry into the quarters is from a side en- trance. There are two bed- rooms, the room to be used for administration, a living room and dining room combined, a kitchen and bath. COMMUNITY GENEROUS This beautiful building has been made possible through the generous support of people in this area. Credited with pro- viding untold assistance and enthusiasm is the Advisory Board, which was formed and has functioned since 1957. Members of this board are W. T. Cruickshank DeWitt Miller and Frank Howson of Wingham, F. Mitchell of Brussels, Chas. E. Webster of Lucknow and W. E. Smyth of Teeswater. The board's purpose is to head up Red Shield campaigns and other activities, and members work in their own communities in the interests of the Salvation Army. They also are the com- manding officer's contacts in the various centres served by the Army. The Advisory Board does not, however, dictate policy. Assisting the C.O. with corps policy and spiritual interests is the Senior Census Board. Mem- bers of this board are Corps Sgt. Major Joe Clark, Bandmaster W. J. Henderson, Home League Secretary Mrs. Joe Clark and Recruiting Sgt. Mrs. Stewart Henry. one year and in full charge for nine years of her 14 years' ser- vice there. The Major's final assignme, to was at Charlottetown, P.E.I. , where she was sent in 1946 to open a home for elderly ladies. Sunset Lodge at that time ac- commodated 16 women. In 1953 an addition was built, made possible mostly through a legacy from an elderly lady who died in hospital while hoping for admittance to the home. Margaret Wheeler received her commission as a major in 1937. Her rank as a senior ma- jor is next to a brigadier. She retired June 1, 1953 and return- ed to her home town. Major Wheeler and her sister, Mrs. Mary Hogg, live on Edward Street. After being fully engaged in social work for almost 50 years it is no wonder then that the Major finds it hard to let up. Her cheerful visits to patients in the hospital are eagerly awaited, where she makes her rounds regularly. FOUNDER'S SON — Herbert H. Booth and his wife, Cornelie, were pictured with their son in 1900. The armband on Mrs. Booth's uniform was the official band of mourning. Herbert Booth was a noted musician and poet. They later moved to the United States.