New-York tribune., 1896-04-21
WHY HE LEFT THE ARMY
CORRESPONDENCE BETWEEN BALLlNG-
TON BOOTH AND HIS FATHER.

|
81. WHICH HERETOFORE HAS BEEN WITH
HELD. TELLS OF THE STRANGE Ac-
rIoNs OF THE ELDER BOOTH
IN THIS COUNTRY AND HIS
LACK OF SYMPATHY
WITH HIS SON.
| Commissioner Booth-Tucker. the new COM
mander of the Salvation Army in this country,
! returned to New-York yesterday from Chicago
where for the last week he has been holding a
| series of meetings True to the promise he maze
| last week In Chicago. after reading the state
ment which Ballington Booth issued on April IL
In justification Of his action in leaving the SalVa-
ton Army. Booth-Tucker gave out for pubhca-
| ton the correspondence which has passed be-
| tween the former commander OF the American
branch of the Salvation Army and General Booth.
and the atter's son Bramwell Booth who Is at
the head of the administration at the lnterna-
tlonal Headquarters In London These letters
were circulated among the brigadiers and the
| commanding officers Of the Salvation Army corps
throughout the United States upward Of three
| weeks ago and 1t is pretty we'll known that this
| action was the direct cause OF the issuance OF
| Ballington Booths recent statement.
| While II was the intention Of General Booth
/
perused only b. his administrative officers in
| this country ne decided It Is said. after learn
ing of his sons report of the controversy. to
| give general publicity 70 the correspondence
which defined the real points of difference be-
| tv cen himself and Commander Ballington Booth.
THE LETTER OF JANUARY 81.
1t has been generally known that Ballington
Booths reasons for his contention that 1t was
| ntp
in this country, were fully and frankly set forth
| In a letter which he sent to London on January
| 81 last Hitherto both parties have uncompro-
misingly refused to give the contents of this
letter to the public It is now, however. incud-
| ed In the other letters which through the in
structions Of the General. are placed before the
salvationists In particular and the people gem
orally in this country. In part this letter reads
| follows:
l. This letter Is not written under mere .,It, i'm
| pulse nor penned through mere stress OF feeling
on the contrary It's contents haze been M
hopeless and helpessly driven to take the STAND we
| The Generals action at this time. when he Is so
perfectly aware OF our feelings Is notnns snor, oI a
| cruel move. We are cornered-brought TO a check,
came to without word from the General MN m
10 The world that I'VE are sure our beloved General
has planned this far-seeng wisdom etc. A etc,
" nrn marsb IN haste Al his commanis" etc etc Nor
could we truthfuly say that I'VE believe ne loves or
and therefor has made this move in its interest,
etc. etc. We have TO be sincere and cannot pen OF
| q These instructions came to when the General
and you both fully understood mat We have neither e
ponmen our position Is adiie dinsren from otSes WG
cannot be inslncerc There are great many things
which stand between US and the possibility OF our our
sSt Ss9F ss
herefore no course open TO us pu' nat o, s
hsn gS s,sppng out, which for the sake OF our dear
& leSed g: We na hnYe NO no aou pth hs n
General VII say with but slish regsc' "Lst ,he% n,
our future lives and the nllng Of our cup with un
mixed sorrow.
| REASONS FOR NOT TAKING A COMMAND
Atart from The loss in the CONFIDENCE OF the Den
eraL Of which We will speak later. there are several
matters which will make II impossible for us 10
take another command without violating our own
convictions
l. We feel that rules are constantly manufactured
and turned out which commissioners are compelled
have nothing TO do with the making OF the same
These rules are bringing an enn'ess amount Of red
| tn. mere mechanical TO the detrment OF the
spiritual side They arc making some OF the army
iollc love and power gone. Again. these rules are
made In England withou, due consideration to the
: We. could not take a command In country
a.'' from The work Of the army when really ought
| and make us a power !s the arnys spiritual work
| We feel that the social work has and is being ex-
eyes are now drawn. from that side OF the army
upon which the world VIII be only too glad 70 turn
many feel tha, the social work Is @ @undermiaing the
ton from the armys blessed aim and work.
| q We have for the last four or Ave years been
almost entirely out OF consultation In matters per.
snHg 70 the work v" hays AYE ana Ge9.Sa
not concerned ourselves win other lands we 90
| not feel that We could take any other command
| under these circumstances.
| IMPOSSIBLE To PLEASE THE GENERAL.
| C. While In the States the General showed himself
not only unklnd and unapprecatve 10 us personally
but he was hard ill-tempered and impossible to
please (a) From the hour OF his arrival he treated
US without fatherly regard or affection, and often
with contempt and tha, In the presence OF our own
| people who had confidence In u.s. and who were
| watching every action. He alienated our affection
from him. (b) He appeared TO US so utterly ncon-
| piclt Instructions we had notable persons on The
| platform Though. understand. We had never had
them on an Army platform. or given them pre-. rres.
Re hardly took any notice Of the loyal troops. who
had come miles al persona s%ssh,e S % ana
Grafton and affection even to some OF these outsiders
TSs" Would III Sae out an II he despsd ese
and tha; he had no hope for tnem !c) He oeiittiei
the Army work. even SAYING to us ne could have
| success without any salvation Army at ALI. and re-
marked In anger that he would have done. much
nh s' his ine thus S he 20
officers and soldiers who have sacrificed lost rest
and worked themselves sick 10 please him and to
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