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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1963-12-05, Page 13CAPT. FRED J. RICHES is seen here holding his son at the Harvest Festival in 1910. The women are not identified but one of them is probably his wife. Col. Riches is now retired and living in Toronto. Memory Flash Back BY LEON C. CANTELON Congratulations to the Wing - ham Salvation Army Corps, its officers, Captain and Mrs. Stan- ley Newman, the members of the corps and its supporters in Wingham and district, on the completion of such a fine new Citadel on Edward Street! This modern building will enable the Salvation Army to continue and expand the wonderful Christian service which it has so faith- fully and cheerfully given this town and surrounding district over a period of 75 years. When I was a little lad, just after the start of the century. one day I was in the "parlor" looking at some family photo- graphs. There were several pic- tures of my father, the late Ro- bert John Cantelon, wearing a Salvation Army uniform, which attracted my boyish interest pro- bably because of the uniform. However, the picture that I ad- mired most and which I never forgot, was a group photo of the 'innipeg Salvation Army Cita- el Band, of which my father • was a member and leader in 1890-95. Some years ago the "War Cry" published this picture and stated that several members of ,that band had become high- ranking Salvation Army offic- ers. In reply to my boyish ques- tions my father told me of many of his experiences as a Salvation Army soldier in Win- nipeg, Manitoba. Perhaps one will bear re- peating here. On a certain holiday the Salvation Army Cit- adel Band and other members of the Winnipeg Corps were hold- ing an open-air service on one corner of the City Hall Square. Shortly thereafter the Winnipeg Civic Brass Band put in an ap- pearance on a diagonally -oppo- site corner of the "Square", and started to play popular band music. Apparently each band tried to out -play the other and finally the City band left and the Salvation Army Band con- tinued its service. My father came East and operated a farm between Blue - vale and Wroxeter from late in 1895 to 1904, and he was a member and choir leader in Bluevale Methodist Church. However, he never lost his "love" for the Salvation Army, and on many occasions during those years, he took his silver cornet and went to Wingham or Listowel to help those S.A. Corps with special services. I recollect that on at least two Christmases he put on his fur coat, cap and mitts, took along a long string of harness bells and drove to Wingham in the cutter. There, he became San- ta Claus as he burst through the door into the S. A. Citadel on Edward Street. With his hearty Laugh and jovial manner he made an ideal Santa Claus at the Christmas Tree party. Those are some of my ear- liest memories of the Salvation Army and of the Wingham Corps. My father spent most aikeach year from 1904 to 1909 our farm in Southern Alber- ta, and the rest of our family moved to Wingham in 1906. 1 first remember worshipping in the S.A. Citadel in 1907. In 1906-1916 we lived on the south side of Victoria Street 4 halfway between Minnie and Leopold streets, and fourth house from the river. A block and a half to the east, at the northwest corner of Victoria and Edwards streets, lived the family of Archie Simmons Sr. This Archie Simmons family was synonymous with the Sal- vation Army in Wingham. To mention or think of one also meant the other for at least a few years around and after 1906. Some of the adult members in- cluded Ernie, Harper, Bill, Archie Jr., and Alice. Alice was a great friend of my late sister Mae and she was frequent- ly requently in our home. Our families were quite good friends and we often worshipped in the S.A. Citadel. The Wingham Salvation Army Corps always had a fine band in those years as all the Simmons boys played band in- struments and Archie Sr., beat a vigorous drum. Winter and summer the Wingham Corps held open-air meetings in all kinds of weather and in winter I often marvelled at the devo- tion, fortitude and courage that enabled them to carry on in the most stormy and coldest weath- er. One of their meeting - places was at the Queen's Ho- tel corner. Later, in 1920-21, I attend- ed many similar open-airmeet- ings held by the Winnipeg S.A. Corps on the City Hall Square under even worse weather con- ditions in winter. At such times I always thought of my father's five years' service with the Win- nipeg Citadel Band. What a wonderful Christian service the Salvation Army is rendering to mankind! God bless them! All Not Serene In Early Days The Salvation Army was or- ganized in several nearby cen- tres before locating in Wing - ham, including Brussels and Seaforth. The corps dates its begin- ning here as Friday, November 6, 1886, the first meeting be- ing a great Army Jubilee, held in the town hall. The Jubilee was led by Major Glover and Adjutant Sweetman, head of- ficers in Palmerston. Capt. Narian Das, converted Hindu lawyer from Hindustan and Capt. Cushing from Switzerland took part. The Jubilee was organiz- ed by Capt. Amy Spackman, the first officer of the Wingham Corps. HAD TRIBULATIONS Comments in the Wingham newspapers of early days dis- close that the Salvationists did not have an easy time to get established in town. Such it- ems as, "The Salvation Army Barracks has been the scene of quite a number of rackets late- ly" in a spring, 1887 edition of the Times is an example. Col. Fletcher Agnew, now retired, wrote a letter at the time the corps celebrated its 61st anniversary recalling the early days. The following is taken from that letter: "On June 18, 1874, I was born on a farm in Wawanosh Township on the road running from Belgrave to Marnoch Post Office. My father, James Ag- new died when I was between 5 and 6. My mother moved into Wing - ham where she had a brother, Robert Orr, a storekeeper. My 3 brothers and I all worked in that store while we went to the Wingham School. Jack Gal- braith, a storekeeper in Wing - ham later, was a boy in school with us. Miss Bernice Reynolds was my school teacher and Sun- day School teacher in the Meth - Men's Fellowship Meets Weekly An organization in which several men of The Salvation Army take a lively interest, though strictly non -denomina- tional, is the Men's Fellowship. This group meets every Thurs- day in the various homes and has an average attendance of about twelve. Formed over a year ago, the purpose of the organization is to help fellow citizens with their problems, through com- panionship and understanding. Art Furness, president, and other members of the Fellow- ship are pleased to welcome new members to meetings or visit with them in their homes. At each meeting the Lord's prayer is followed by a Bible reading, which is then discuss- ed. The meetings vary in con- tent.One night each month is devoted to a religious topic, one to music which is supplied by members and from record- ings, one to pictures and an- other to current news discus- sion. The longshoremen's strike in St. Lawrence ports was the topic of a recent meeting when the men discussed the affect it would have on the longshore- men, boat owners, the govern- ments of Canada and Russia and the over-all economic re- sult. The executive hopes in the near future to be able to bring in guest speakers and is trying to organize bowling and other activities. odist Church. My mother was a grand Christian, loved the S.A. and attended knee drills, and was kind to the officers. As a boy I have seen Salvation- ists on the march in Wingham come bleeding into my uncle's store from glass balls thrown at them by the roughs. We left Wingham in 1891 to go to Evanston, Illinois, a sub- urb of Chicago, to attend North western University. At Evans- ton I got converted at a Salva- tion Army camp meeting in July 1896 and became a Salva- tion soldier, 3 years later en- tered Officer's Training Col- lege, and here I am a retired officer, having served... most- ly in Chicago and New York." YAK, YAK, YAK The yak (native name for the ox of Tibet) is an all- purpose animal. Its milk is richer than that of all but the best pure-bred cows, and yields excellent butter. The meat is equal to blue ribbon beef. The yak's hair is spun into ropes or made into tent coverings and the soft fur of the beast's hump is spun into fine strong cloth. Winghatxm Advance -Times, Thursday, Dec. 5, 1963 -- Page 5 LIVING QUARTERS IN THE new Citadel are very modern. This is a view of the kitchen • in the apartment which is at the rear of the main building.—Advance-Times photo. 4. a LIVING ROOM in the officers' quarters at the new Salvation Army Citadel on Edward Street, which will be opened in ceremonies at the week-end.—Advance-Times photo. Salvation Army founded In 1865 by Gen. W. Booth The Salvation Army was founded by General William Booth in 1865. He began his revivals in stuffy halls in the slums of London, England. William Booth was a Metho- dist minister preaching near London. His church disapprov- ed of the evangelical methods he wanted to use to take the gospel to the men on the streets, so young Booth gave up his pul- pit and went to London's East End to take the benefits of re- ligion to those without a church. He preached on street cor- ners, and when he could find one, in a tent. He was repeat- edly molested and rocks and mud were thrown at him and his tents cut down. However, 1959 ANNIVERSARY GUESTS—Brig. A. W. Martin and Mrs. Martin on the right and Bandmaster Harold Stuck, of Owen Sound, were pictured with Capt. and Mrs. G. S. Newman, left, when they visit- ed the Corps for anniversary services. his high spiritual resolve and his courage soon won him friends and followers and finan- cial support came from royalty and nobility. Greatest support of the Salvation Army was giv- en from the start, by those whose plight it was determined to relieve — the people. Coupled with General Booths interest in spiritual needs was his concem for the physical well-being of mankind. He established food kitchens for the hungry and provided shelter for those sleeping on the brid- ges and in the streets of London. William Booth's wife, Cather- ine, was perhaps the first social worker as modern society under- stands it. She visited the poor and administered to them. After 14 years the Salvation Army began to expand to other countries. In 1882 Salvation- ists associated with the move- ment in England emigrated to Canada and led the first Sal- vation Army meetings in this country at London and Toronto. It is reported that two lady officers were in Wingham in 1885 for the purpose of starting a corps, but the Salvation Army here was not organized until November 6, 1886. Courage is, on all hands, considered as an essential of high character. — James An- thony Froude Married Here in 1906 WEEDING PICTURE of Elizabeth Ann Clark, sister of Corps Sgt. -Major Joe Clark, and Ernie Simmons was taken in 1906. Mrs. Simmons wore the traditional white sash with her official uniform.