The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-02-12
DARLINGTON BOOTH.
The Commander or the salvation Army Of tn
United States IA Town.

Yesterday was a great event in Salvation
Army circles. Mr.. Ballington Booth, the
commander of the army IN the Snlteo
States, arrived on the Rock Island train
LAST night and was met at the depot by st
least 100 of his followers, who rendered
him welcome becoming his exalted posi-
ton in the army to the organization aud
upbuilding of which his father has given a
lifetime Soon after his arrival both he
and his private secretary were driven TO
the residence OF r. p. Murdoch, whose
guests they will be while in the city.
There reporter for the EAGLE met Mr.
Booth last night, and although the gentle
man was tired after his journey he court
eously granted the EAGLE representative
an audience. Mr.. Booth Is gentleman OF
imposing personal appearance He IS fully
81 feet tall and as straight as an arrow.
He has an intellectual face, and as con
versatioualist Is very literally equipped.
He speaks rapidly, but distinctly, and at
times grows quits enthusiastic. he mas
ACQUIRED a wide range of information, not
oulv on religious subjects. but in fact on
all subjects relating TO the condition or
society the world over. He says the SalVa-
ton Army is now spread over thirty-seven
different nations, and so well arranged
is il that General Booth can success
fully arrange a universal prayer meeting
on a weeks notice. For instance, II be
should desire to have n prayer meeting
held for say next Sunday night he could
under his system have every corps IN
Christendom praying next Sunday night
by telegraphing to the commanders who,
"A 11-ca n n
ers. and so on down to the lieutenants
who have charge of the most remote out
| posts He says that there Is no country
| where the Salvation Army system OF re-
generation has taken greater hold than In
/ Sweden, where it is, in a measure, recog-
nized by the reigning sovereign He says
| the German government looks upon 1t
| also with favor and that the king has said
some very complimentary things about IT,.
| In France it is not hourishing for the
reason as he says that the French
people are divided into three classes, viz:
| Atheists, Agnostics and Communists. In
| France he says, the name OF Christ Is
pronounced in derision every hour in the
day and every day in the year. There is
only one branch in South America; that Is
| in Buenos Ayers In the United States,
he says, there are go. 900 members of the
Army. What he means by member is that
there are that many who are working IN
the ranks, or what might be termed active
members This vast army is governed by
ID, 900 officers of which he is The chief. The
army is showing a much larger increase
in the east than ia the west although
there is less prejudice against it in the
west This he attributes to social con
ditions which are obvious. liz
tells some very interesting storie
about stbe lower strata of society il
New York City. "At this hour, GIG
oclock)" said he there are G0.o00 home
less men looking for shelter in the street!
of New York, and 5000 women seeking
place to lay their heads, =" ie also state
that there are A, 900 homeless people in
Chicago.
How about London" was asked him.
In reply, be said that London was th
most religious city ia the world while D
was also the most vicious. Mr.. Bootl
wakes eloquent when talking about life II
London, and pictures the misery prevail
ing there in the most picturesque manner.
Mr.. Booths secretary il quite youns
Englishman Of a retiring disposition, bu
il is easy TO see that he is = walking ency-
clopedia Of Information with references Z
religious matters and particularly matter
pertaining 20 the order
Mr.. Booth will speak at the opera houe'
this afternoon at O'Clock sndat the sam
place at night Admission will be free II
the afternoon while small lee will L
charged at night.