The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1896-12-13
THE yonuA7EERs' CONSTITUTION.
The Principles Upon Which BnilinGton
Booth's Army h Organized.

Booth's Army h Organized.
A little more than pine months ago Bsllington
Booth. in making his first public address after
he and Mrs. Booth had resigned from the Sal
yAtion Army, had this to say;
Mrs. Booth and myself. under tho direction
and inspiration OF Almighty God, will organize
o new religious movement. Its main object
shall be the evnngellzntion of America What
name the organization shall bear, what shall be
tho details OF its plan and scope. how It shall be
differed, we have not yet decided. This much.
however. l can tell you: In the new organiza-
ton there will be no absolute monarch. II IL
has any members those members shall rule the
organization, from the head down. 1t shall be
an American organization as completely as it
is possible TO make it,"
Commander Booth has made good these
promises. On Nov. Q. the Volunteers of Amer
icn were Incorporated under the laws OF tho
State OF New York. During the past week there
has been In session. at the National Headuuar-
tiers OF the Volunteers, Sixteenth street and
Union square, the Grand Field Council OF tho
organization. Among other business transacted
by the council was the drafting OF n constltu-
tion, under which the Volunteers shall DO gov
erned. The constitution embraces nineteen
articles. based upon this sentiments: I'm right
eous principles, unity; in divine doctrines. har-
mony; In essential methods. liberality."
Article /. states that. The Volunteers Of
America is n military movement, military in Its
methods. organized for the reaching and up
lifting Of all sections OF the people, and bring
Ing them to the Immediate knowledge and ser
vice OF Cod In Article III. there Is this state
mcnt: 1T Is. and ever must be. An American
institution. recognizing the spirit and practice
OF the Constitution OF the United States. and it
is not. and never shall be. controlled or gov
erned by any foreign power whatso-
ever" In Article ". the question of mis-
sionAry work Is touched and the divine
command Go ye into all the world" Is recog-
n!zed. This article provides that In all foreign
work the principle of home rule. upon which the
Volunteers were organized. shall be maintained.
and foreign branches shall have absolutely no
connection, so far as their control Is concerned,
with the national organization IN this country.
Article vi. provides for the selection OIL q
Commander-in-Chief OF the military organiza-
t,on. The article reads: The officer in supreme
shall be designated as the Chief
aud he shall be elected by the soldiers, He shall
period OF not less thnn hve years previous To his
election, and he shall hold Office for a period Of
tn years ana until MS 50 ccessor SHAH be elected;
hy a three-fourths vote OF the Grand Field
Council. In case OF the death or removal Of the
C"mniand. erin Chief. the Board OF Directors
shall appoint one OF their nun her to act as Com
mnnder-in-Chie until a successor has been
cleo ed NJ a meeting OF the members specially
called for that purpose. ~ hich shall lie held
within two months after the vacancy sha',
have occurred. and who shall act as Com
mander-in-Chief during the remainder OF the
The members" OF the Incorporated society
are designated as those persons who. being
Commissioned officers holding rank OF and
above that Of Major; shall be members of the
sively in the service Of the Volunteers: they
must he citizens OF the United States, and they
must have been enrolled a. commissioned on
There are eleven members In the Board of Di-
rector. made up OF members OF the Grand Field
Council who have been members OF the council
for two years.
To the " cardinal doctrines" to which every
Volunteer must subscribe. belief Is declared In
one supreme God and In the Trinity, IN the IN
spirRtinu Of the Bible, in Jesus Christ as the
Son OF God. in the doctrine of the immortality
Of the soul. in the resurrection OF the body. and
in. eternal punishment.
1t Ia prescribed that the Volunteers must
never be regarded NJ a political organization,
each Volunteer being expected. "withnut pres
sure, influence, or inducement." to vote accord
in THIS the Volunteers differ materially from
the Salvation Army. where voting is disCour-
ngpI. II If also provided that I G Sacrament OF
tho Lords SUPPER and the rite Of bar.
required That the Volunteers shall main
tain friendly relations with the churches OF
MI Christian denominations. ANY Volunteer
who is IA church member may retain thnt mem
hcrsIip so long as lie chooses. but he must not
try to convert To his church other church MEM
beers who may be members of the Volunteers.
The constitution further provides TINT a person
becoming converted through tho Volunteers
may ufterwRrd ally himself with any church he
plctscs. Woman Is recognized AS mans equal
aud entitled to the same rights and privileges as
man in the organization. The constitution may
only be amended by a vote OF nine-tenths of all
the members OF the organization.