The San Francisco call., 1896-02-25
AN INSTRUCTIVE INCIDENT.

Although the reports of Commander
Ballington Booths refusal to submit to his
fathers order removing him from the COM
mand of the Salvation Army in this coun-
try are somewhat obscure the general facts
seem to be these: Ballington Booth and
his wife had plished wonderful re-
suits, and there was strong protest from
all classes against their removal. Balling-
ton had written letter to the London
headquarters setting forth the situation.
Then Colonel Nicoll presented himself in
New York. claiming that he had authority
to demand of Ballington that he either
withdraw his letter and proceed straight
way to London or surrender the keys and
portfolios. 1t was in this incident that the
serious trouble developed, mlsunderstand-
ings arose and tempers were lost. Balling-
ton Booth promptly surrendered the keys
and cabled his withdrawal from the army.
The incident has sent profound shock
throughout the Salvation ranks AS for
the assertion that General Booth objected
to the "Americanizing" OF this branch of
the army. it is entitled to no considera-
ton, for it is not an element in the trou-
Bile. He was simply carrying out his
firmly established policy of transferring
his officers from one place TO another
whenever be might deem this best for
the cause. This policy runs all through
the organization. 1t was adopted from the
Methodist church, and has always been a
practice of the Catholics. What now con-
Germs the Salvation Army is to see its hon.
ored leader in this country refuse to place
himself under the ineXorable law of the
organization and set an example of insub-
ordination that may well be regarded as a
threat to the solidarity of this great body.
At the same time the intense affection
which Ballington Booths followers cherish
for him may lead them to revolt against
the authority of the general and set up an
independent order in America with Bal
lington at its head. Unless we greatly
mistake his character he will refuse to
countenance such movement. Mani
testify it would be the beginning of dis
integration that would prove destructive
OF that power which universally lends.
In such a revolt, should it occur, a very
large faction in this country would still
acknowledge the London authority, and
that would mean split even in the United
States. The probabilities are that BalIing-
ton Booth, unless he recants and returns,
will quietly drop out of sight and that the
present organization will continue.
The great peril that now besets the army
renders clear the fact that it was made
possible by the scheme of central auth ority
which rules the army. The Booth family
IS the self-constituted ruling power, with
the father at the head. One son in London
is his chief executive officer, and it was
from him (the father being in India) that
the representative claiming to have author
ity from headquarters came with demand
for Ballington Booths Keys. That is to say,
man sought TO exercise an imperious
authority over his brother. So long as
that exists the army will be in danger Of
disruption. The system is purely mon
archical and therefore unpalatable to
Americans. The scheme contemplates
the perpetuation of the Booth family's
authority by succession. Other great re-
liglous bodies employ the republican idea
of representative head selected bv the
followers. This is really the grave matter
which the Salvation Army has to consider.