The herald., 1896-03-09
BaIIingtOn Booth Takes the First
Formal Step
FIVE THOUSAND SOLDIERS
Express Their Enthusiastic Appreciation
of the Movement
The Depos-d Commander Addresses tn Vast
Throng and Outlines the Nature
Of the New Army

Associated Press Special Wire.
NEW YORK, March s.-The inaugural
step made by BaIlington Booth, the de-
posed commander of the Salvation army
in America, in rival organization on lines
similar to the one from whose command
he was removed, met success tonight.
Cooper Union was the scene where the
first gun was fred. the echo of which
thrilled the hearts of 5000 loyal soldiers,
who, since the commencement of the in
ternational strife which has sundered Bal.
lington Booths allegiance to his father,
Gen. Booth of London, have rem aimed
loyal to the deposed commander and his
wife, Maude Booth. Every seat in the big
auditorium was occupied. The aisles were
crowded and the streets outside were
thronged.
The women wore the regular Salvation
army emblem, but the poke hat was alb
sent. The men, too, had their badges,
but wore no red jackets. Shortly after
o'clock and before the vast audience had
time to be seated, Capt. Schneider of
the Bowery corps sprang on chair
on the platform and waved an American
flag with painting of George Washing ton.
to their feet and the utmost enthusiasm
prevailed. Order had scarcely been re-
stored when Major Peter Glen, who was
among the first officers to tender his resig-
nation after Eva Booth had taken COM
mand, appeared on the platform waving
an American flag, and placed lifesize
crayon painting of George Washington on
an easel in front of the speakers table.
This was the signal for renewed outbursts
of applause. Ii was only when Ballington
Booth and his wife arrived from their
Montclair home that the audience lost con-
troll OF itself. Their presence OH the plat
form was the signal for an outburst OF en-
ihusiasm. such as never before has been
Witnessed in Cooper Union.
There was some music and singing and
the customary religious invocations, after
which Ballington Booth rose and said:
MRS. Booth and myself have not come
here tonight to allude to the recent trouble.
1t is quite true we have, after mature DELHI
Grafton, decided tie inaugnrate new move
ment. Could we have avoided it. it would
most assuredly have been done on our
part; but recognizing that the great Amer
lean people believed that we had done a
work for nine years, for which they were
gratlied, and would not listen to the pro.
test that we would not retire into private
life.
"Recognizing, as we do, the largest field
in the world, and still further recognizing
that there was room in America for one,
two. aye one hundred Salvation armies, we
have resolved, 20 the best of our ability, TO
win over tine middle classes of the artisan
community of this country. We wish no
strife with the Salvation army-no strife
either literal or verbal.
II believe that the future of the so-called
religious organizations of the present day
is that they do noV come down to the living
places where Jesus Christ wants to be rep
resented
II want to assure Mrs. Booth and those
officers who have stood by me that | see in
The distance a movement which tonight
has received its impetus in this great gath
ering. ] do not want anything that EXISTS
in the air, but a genuine conservation of
our soldiers to the faith of Christ.
"There is at least 46 per cent of the wage
earning populace of the communi y who
are not identified with any church or place
of religious worship.
ut is there we want to reach and extend
to them the love that inspired the Naza-
rene on the streets OF Jerusalem, nearly
nineteen hundred years ago.
"Oh. how much hateolo2y and how little
heartology there is today. Mrs. Booth and
myself have, within the last few days. been
reading the history of that great American
soldier, George Washington, whose portrait
stands OH this platform tonight. We
thought OF him and his goodness of heart
and love for Christ as he turned away for
moment from the frigntful scenes of VAL
ley Forge and repaired to the woods where
he knelt in prayer to the God of his
country.
Whatever be the mission we undertake,
it will bear the right stamp and will be
directed in the right direction"
OMAHA Is LOYAL
OMAHA, Neb., March S.--The branch of
the Salvation Army headquarters in this
city held meeting this evening and by q