The record-union., 1896-02-24

lied the Salvation Army to American
tastes and needs. The general COM
mander, his father, evidently does not
like these changes, and insists that
English methods shall be retained. Ac-
cordingly, he takes advantage Of a. rule
much disused, calling for change of
commanders frequently, and recalls
his son to England. To this Ballington
Booth objects, saying that he has been
allowed to remain here for nine years
without the rule being invoked; that he
has gained public confidence for the
army, succeeded in establishing it in
public esteem and now to remove him is
unnecessary, is ingratitude and Unjust
ice. He therefore declines to accept re-
moval and suffers dismissal for insub-
ordination.
Accordingly, a new commander, Eng
lish clear through, is sent over, Balling-
ton Booth retires. and he and his wife
cease to be leaders This change cannot
may split the army. Though Balling-
ton Booth explicitly declines to lead a
movement of separation, and refuses to
be engaged in any secession, the Amer
so subordinate. They may follow the
earlier example of our forefathers, and
cut loose from the parent society. But
in doing so they would forfeit all inter
est in and the use of millions of prop
erty values of the army in this country.
They would have to start from the bed
rock again in the matter of accumulat
ing working capital.
Nearly all the officers and company
and subordinate commanders are Eng
lish, and their influence will be cast
against separation, and the power of
these officers will of course be very po-
tent. In addition, there is the disciplin-
ary force and method of the army,
which will hold vast body of the mem
bers true to the English head of the or
ganization, though their sympathies
may go out to the American view of the
question.
1t does not appear likely, therefore,
that there will now be any immediate
secession, any large detection from the
English commander. Yet in time an
American Independent organization
may develop, though we scarcely think
that Ballington Booth and wife will en-
ter it. Family ties, for one thing, will
constrain them to decline. The dis
missal order, for another thing, will de-
ter them. Having sworn TO obey or re-
tire. they will not wish to assume the
attitude of rebels. The American prop
erty held in the name of Ballington
Booth will be transferred TO the Eng
lish representative of the organization,
and there for a time at least the matter
will rest
But the blow Is a serious one for the
army. It will cripple its work. Amer
leans will feel less disposed than here
more difficult to raise money and erect
buildings with the title and right of
possession in an Erglish head. The
workers will meet with expressions of
rebuke and protest from a large class
of Americans whose sympathy with.
Ballington Booth will be outspoken, and
this will tend to stimulate strife in spite
of the unselfishness of the workers and
their innocence of the causes that has
led to the dismissal of their loved COM
mander.
But we cannot resist the thought that
after time there will be an American
Independent Salvation Army. The mem
bership in America will not forever sub
init to dictation from headquarters not
located in this country. The power of
the army, we repeat, is such that it can
prevent any notable movement of with
drawal for a considerable time, but we
apprehend that sooner or later the
American Salvationists will announce a
new Declaration of Independence.