The Saint Paul globe., 1896-09-21
TITLE OF THE VOLUNTEERS IS
CHANGED TO "GOD'S VOLUN-
TEER CHURCH,
MRS. BOOTH IN MINNEAPOLIS.
THOUGH UNEXPECTED, SHE RE-
CEIVES A WARM WELCOME
FROM FOLLOWERS.
POST PROJECTED FOR ST. PAUL.
Her Trip West Is for the Purpose
of organizing New Branches
of the Army.

Mrs. Ballington Booth the interest
ing and earnest assistant of her hus
band, Ballington Booth, of the Ameri-
can Volunteers, was in Minneapolis yes
terday. She came unexpectedly, and
left after a few hours conference with
the officers and soldiers of the Mime
apolis post.
Some time ago Mrs. Booth notified
the Minneapolis Volunteer officers that
she would be in the city on Sunday,
Sept. 27, and arrangements were at
once made for a grand demonstration
on that day The Lyceum theater was
secured for an afternoon meeting, and
the First Baptist church was to be
usedfn the evening. Later Mrs Booth
telegraphed to Paul Humphreys, at the
head of the post here, saying that her
plans had been changed, and that she
would stop off here on the Sunday
previous to that of her appointment
But the telegram was not delivered
and the Minneapolis people had no
knowledge of her coming until she ar
rived. She at once went to the home of
w. c. Gregg, secretary of the Defend
ers' league, and at 1 o'clock met with
the officers and soldiers of the post at
their hall on Hennepin avenue. The
conference was informal, but proved
highly valuable to those present Mrs
Booth told Of the progress of the new
organization, and said its leaders had
every cause for encouragement. There
are now, she said, 315 posts, with near
ly 800 officers, 5000 defenders and 5000
soldiers. Many thousands Of people
daily attend the meetings of the Or
ganization. At a recent conference in
Chicago the name of the organization
had been changed to Gods Volunteer
Church." the idea being to make the
organization an adjunct Of the church
By council composed of representa-
tives Of nearly all the denominations,
over which Bishop Fellows, Of the
Episcopal church, presided, Ballington
Booth had been ordained ''presbyter
of the church in general" He is thus
authorized to work in the name of any
and all denominations. He has power
to marry and to ordain his officers.
Mrs. Booth spoke of her own special
work, that for prisoners in the jails
Of the country. She has entered upon
that work with a determination to
make it succeed. She has got a post
in the Sing Sing prison, with eighty
seven converts, mostly young men.
She calls herself captain Of this post.
A few miles out OF New YOrk, she has
established a home, known as Hope
Hall, where released prisoners, who
have been members of her post, are
to be looked after until they are fur
nished with employment. In San
Quentin, the state prison of California,
she has another post started, and sha
hopes much from this. She will also
begin the work in other cities where
good results are promised.
She spoke Of the work that the Vol
unteers were doing in Minneapolis, Of
fered words of cheer to the officers,
and urged them to be earnest and
faithful In their work. They were not
to expect too much at the outset, but
should remember that they were part
or an organization, which, in time, Is
destined to do great work for the
redemption Of the wicked and igno-
rant The work in the state Is to be
Increased by starting posts in ST. Pau
and in Winona, there being no Saliva
tion Army division in the last named
city.
Mrs. Booth was on her way to the
Pacific coast, where she is to assist
Maj. Blackhurst in organizing posts
in the principal cities. She will later
join her husband at Denver, and about
Oct. 18 both will be in Minneapolis for
a day.
AS a result Of Mrs Booths visit, the
local post was encouraged to press for
ward to the work ahead of Them, and
to do all in their power toward the
salvation of the men and women in
the city who are in need of their as
Sistance.