The San Francisco call., 1896-03-09
Purposes of the Salvationists
Rival Organization Are
Outlined.
WILL LABOR FOR THE MASSES
"The Defenders League" the Name by
Which the Order Will
Be Known.

NEW YORK, n. Y, March s.-Mr. and
Mrs. Ballington Booth addressed an i'm
mense audience at Cooper Union tonight
1t was one of the largest gatherings ever
held in the historic building. A few min
utes after the doors were opened there was
not an unoccupied seat in the hail. and it
is estimated that 5000 men, women and
children were turned away.
The stage was decorated with the Ma
tIonal flag and pictures of Washington.
A large crayon portrait OF Washington oc-
cupied the center of the stage. One of the
favorite hymns sung while the crowd was
waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Booth to appear
was that containing the lines:
We never. never will give in;
No we won'tl no we won't!
Mr. and Mrs. Booth appeared on the
stage at o'clock, and the immense au-
dience fairly went wild with enthusiasm.
Hats, handkerchiefs, flags, canes and bon
nets were waved, and those present cheered
and shouted for fully fifteen minutes with
out ceasing. During this time MIR. Booth
stood with bowed head, while Mrs. Booth
knelt in prayer. Some one shouted:
"Three cheers for our American COM
manderi" The cheers were given, and for
another interval of ten minutes the crowd
went fairly wild with enthusiasm. Cheer
after cheer was given for Mr.. and Mrs.
Booth. Major Peter Glen then addressed
the audience as follows:
This is not meeting where we have
come together to talk about that which
seems uppermost in every ones mind. We
are here TO have purely spiritual meet
ing"
Mr. Booth then led in prayer, and at its
conclusion said:
Mrs Booth and myself have not come
to this gathering for the purpose of alIud-
ing TO the recent sad events in our expert
ence. 1t is true that after deliberate
thought we have decided to inaugurate a
new movement. Cheers. Could it have
been avoided it would not have been
thought Of Mrs. Booth and l received
assurances from the people of the United
States fighting in behalf of Jesus Christ
that, we had done work for which they
were grateful and would not quietly SUBJ
nit that we should retire to private life
and relinquish field which is the largest
Of any on the globe, where there is not
only work for one Salvation Army but for
a hundred. We have endeavored to the
best OF our ability 10 do something to
bring over the middle or artisan classes to
God.
1--WE do not intend to enter into any
battle or strife with the Salvation Army.
We want no fight, neither actual nor ver-
bal"
Don't believe it," shouted man in the
audience.
THAT is brother" replied Mr.. Booth,
who, continuing, said 1--WE want to have
q mission to reach the masses. We have
resolved that the conservation we shall
make shall be lasting"
Mr.. Booth then spoke of conservation of
the heart and mind in religion, and closed
by saying: ''I want to assure Mrs. Booth
and those officers who have taken stand
by ne that by faith l see in the distant
future a movement that We will not regret
having linked our names with"
Mrs. Booth spoke briefly and was cheered
enthusiastically. She made no reference
to the troubles in the ranks of the army.
Mr.. Booth said in an interview that the
name OF the new movement had not been
chosen, and that the name of the auxiliary
league would be "The Defenders League"
A monster mass Getting would be held,
he said, at Carnegie Hall at some near
date.