Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-23

Why He Left the Salvation Army Re-
Yeuled I'm His Letter.

NeaAeu IN HIS Letter.
Commander Booth-Tucker, the new COM
mander of tho Salvation Army in this
country, has given out for publication the
correspondence of Ballington Booth, Bran
we'll Booth and Gen. Booth relative to the
retirement of Ballington Booth and his
wife. 1t he's been generally known that
Darlington Booths reasons for his conten-
ton that it was necessary that he and his
wife should remain in this country. were
fully and frankly set forth in letter
which he sent to London on January 81
last. Hitherto both parties have uncom-
promisingly refused to give the contents Of
this letter to the public.
In part, this letter reads as follows:
1.-The generals action at this time when
he is SO perfectly aware OF our feelings, is
nothing short of a cruel move. We are
cornered-brought to check mate! The in
structions to relinquish command came
to us without a word from the general him.
self, at time when he knows we cannot
proclaim to the world that we are sure
our beloved general has planned this far
seeing WISDOM etc. etc. When we can
not say that it is the joy of our lives to
march in haste at his commands etc, etc.
Nor could we truthfully say that we be-
ieve he loves or cares about this country
and understands it's people. and, therefore,
has made this move in it's interest," etc,
etc. We have to be sincere and cannot pen
OF speak that which we do not believe"
1t is claimed that during the visit OF the
general to the United States he showed
himself unkind and unappreciative, hard
ill-tempered and impossible to please. He
beilttled the army work, utterly unmind-
full of the toll and effort Of our dear officers
and soldiers"
The letter continues: at became to us
quite evident, before he had been long in
the country, that he did not come to in
ant int hott 10
mere, but 10 express his preconceived and
preIudced ideas. and to ride roughshod
over us all. This was painfully patent at
the first staff-council, where he said Pm
not going to let you suck all the juice out
OF this plum, and many other things
the officers
The general utterly refused. saws Bal
Hnston, to receive the latter's opinions
upon anything. Feeling as he and his wife
uid, 1t was impossible to take another COM
nand. He did not wish tc discuss the mat
ter, and hoped it would be dropped
In the absence of Gen. Booth who was
in India, Bramwel Booth replied at great
length, and denied number of its state
ments.
He claimed that there was no intention
to ignore or disregard Ballington views
and expressed surprise that the complaints
should have been SO long withheld
FinaHy, the communication entreats Bal
Engton Booth, by the memory of mis- dead
mother, because of his fathers work in the
cause OF the army, and because of the fam
lty ties that surround him, to desist from
MS proposed deSertion from the army
rms letter was supplemented on March
u by letter from Gen. Booth himself
who, after referring to the anguish which
MS sons letter had caused him, and pro-
testing that he had done nothing to de-
serve such unfilal treatment entreats him
to come to London and see him.
In conclusion he says:
"Oh. BallingtoEi Darlington! You cannot
It,x I,oIo
Is like horrid dream. Again and again 1
ask myself, is this reality, or an imagi-
natlonE For your own sake hesitateI
Think! Return. The worst can yet be
averted. The past may be forgiven Be-
lieve me to be still your affectionate father
praying for you all the time.
- 81 have just received your cruel
cable refusing to come and see me, and
coldiy announcing that all negotiations are
at an end. Bramwell says i. cost you a
ooilar. Is this all the return you can make
TO my repeated messages of peace and to
BramwelPs long letters, and all our en-
treaties? No! 1t cannot be- Negotiations
bara