The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1896-03-20
coNlMANpER BooTH-TUcKER.


bers the trip, for the ships officers amused
themselves by getting him drunk on port
wine. He attended public school, and
took degree at Cheltenham college.
During his school days he became a con-
vert and joined the church, but college
life was too much for his Christianity, and
he tells an amusing incident of how he
first fell from grace. 1t happened during
an exciting football game. He received a
particularly vigorous kick on the shins
from an opponent, and In an unguarded
moment let slip torrent Of oaths. After
that he swore frequently and fuently, and
it was years before he was able to throw
of the habit.
Soon after leaving college he received
an appointment In the Indian service and
In few years WAS promoted to be COM
missioner, with the powers of a judge
For a time he led the reckless life OF most
young Englishmen In India, maintaining
an expensive hunting establishment and
having good time generally. Finally his
interest in religious matters was revived,
and he became occupied in the work of
Outstanding the natives. At one time
he thought of Offering himself as a mis-
sionery. One day a copy of the Christmas
number Of The War Cry fell into his hands,
containing an article by General Booth
ppealing for candidates for officerships in
l6 Od1NabIOA army anu ObuCH AuoSbCI OCAA-
" of the work of the Army. He was
.eatly impressed with the articles and
It'll the thought of what a splendid op-
Etunity there was for such work in In
d
Obtaining a six months leave of abb
soc, no went to England, and sought
orthe general. The Salvation Army at
tn; time was fighting for mere exist
en-. Its soldiers were being mobbed and
pebcuted In spite OF all this Tucker re-
sigsd his position, threw away his bril-
HaI prospects for promotion and dOnned
the inform of the Army as a salvation ca
det. After serving for some months in
LonOn he set out for India in the fall of
1890 raise the blood red banner In the
landf the Hindoos and the Brahmins.
1t as the hardest kind Of work at first.
Short after his arrival in Bombay he
and SINE Of his officers were arrested for
marolng in the streets with music. He
was setenced to q month 8 imprisonment
He sefed out his time and began work
again. He became dissatisfied, however,
with te semimissionary lines of work
which 3 had been using and decided on
q bold ad original plan. He cast of his
civilized European dress and not only
adopted the costume but the customs Of
the naeses He assumed the dull yellow
color knwn as the fakir color for part Of
his unifcm This Is the badge of the re-
ugious Iendicant throughout Asia In
this humble garb he went about, begging
his food fom door to door and spreading
the religbn Of Jesus Christ among tho
Asiatics IL truly Asiatio manner.
From tat time on the success Of the
Salvation 1rmy in India was wonderful.
He came inc close contact with the people
whom he wanted to reach and he soon
began to make many converts. There are
now in Inlia and Ceylon 1873 corps and
634 officers, " whom a very small percent
age have been brought from other lands.
In 1887 the commander married General
Booths second daughter, Miss Emma M.
Booth, who was then in charge or the large
Woman's Training home In London. IL
was then that he changed his name to
Booth-Tuoker. She went TO India In the
fall OF that year, but the climate so affect
ed her health that she had 60 return to
England. In 1894 Commander Booth
Tucker was called TO London to take
charge OF the foreign office of the interna-
tional headquarters of the Army, and that
post he occupied, with his wife as assist
ant, until the recent change.
The new commander for the American
division Of the Army has had a varied ex-
perience. Besides his work in India he has
served at different times In Stockholm,
Copenhagen, Berlin, Amsterdam and Paris.
He speaks 10 languages. In 1890 he made
visit to this country and attracted con-
siderable attention by wearing his peoul
lar Indian garb. The Salvationists today
number $4,000 soldiers In this country
alone, and it Is estimated that they preach
every week to congregation numbering
1900, 900. Mrs. Booth Tucker is an inter
esting looking woman and is reported to
have been highly successful in making the
female officers Of the Army the great pow
or for good that they have been In many
lands FRANCIS B. TALBERT.
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