The herald., 1896-07-15
VO[IEY Of VOLUNTEERS
First of Their Music in Los
Angeles
RULE BRITANNIA STRICTLY BARRED
Seceders Have Thrown Off the
English Yoke
UNDER AMERICAN BANNERS
The Gathering Hosts Will March and
Shout for Jesus
Major Washington DIackhursts Address at
the First Congregational Church
A General Idea Of the Perfe cted Organization
Outllned-A Non-autocratIc Head IN
Bai;ingto, Booth-The Sacre.
. msnt Feature
The Gathering Hosts Will March and
Shout for Jesus
Major Washington BIackhurst's Address at
the First Congregational Church

"Rule Britannia" is not the tune which
Commander Ballington Booths Volun-
ters of America will march to. The Sc :
ceders from the Salvation army have
thrown off the English yoke and will
march only to American music and un-
der an American banner.
Americanism was the keynote of Ma
jor Washington Blackhurst's address at
the First Congregational church last
evening, and every American sentiment
was heartily app!auded.
Major Blackhurst is the first officer of
the Volunteers of America to appear in
Los Angeles. and his mission here is to
organize a post of that new religio-mili-
tary organization. A large part of his
address last evening was devoted to
vindcation of Commander and Mrs.
Ballington Booth, and an explanation
of their attitude toward the Salvation
army, as we'll as an exposition of the
causes which led to the Inauguration of
this Independent American movement.
~ am here as sort of John the Bap-
tist." said Major Blackhurst. I've come
to prepare the way for my superiors.
Commander and Mrs. Ballington Booth
of your confidence and to convince you
that they have not forfeited one jot or
title Of their right to expect your con-
fidence in their leadership in the great
work of saving souls"
The people of Los Angeles had an op
portunity to hear the other side of the
salvation army controversy several
months ago wnen Commissioner Mrs.
Booth-Tucker sister of Ballington
Booth, and staff were here and SO elo-
quently championed the cause of Cen
eral William Booth and defended his
course in relieving his rebelious son of
the command of the Salvation army IN
America. Many who heard Mrs. Booth
fuckers explanation of the trouble
We're present last evening to hear Major
Blackhurst's statement of Ballington
Booths side of the controversy. The
large auditorium of the First Congre
Gatioaal church was more than half fill
ed. quite sprinkling of members of and
symra thizcrs with the regular Salvation
army being among the auditors. Most
respectful attention was given to the
Majors address, and some parts of 1t
were literally applauded.
DIR. j. +. Widney and staff Captain
II. S. Mills occupied the platform with
the speaker. Staf Captain Gardner
who was announced to be present was
unavoidably detained at San Francisco.
The proceedings were opened with the
singing of the familiar hymn. Alas.
and Did My Savior Bleed" The congrc-
cation sang in rather listless manner,
but Major Blacllhurst put life into the
music by asking all to get into the spirit
of the hymn. look pleasant and sing
heartily. After that there was no lack
of enthusia srl.
DIR. Widney led in prayer He thanked
the dear Master that the time had come
when men were willing to go into the
highways and byways to compel men to
come to Christ, and that the time had
come when there We're no jealousias
where souls were at stake. He asked
divine guidance in the new line of work
aud invoked the blessing of God on the
churches and the old Salvation army.
The latter sentiment brought forth a
pronounced chorus of ''amens"
Major Blackhurst then arose and COM
menced his address. He Is young man
tall straight and of soldierly appear
ance. His fair, smooth face. blue eyes
and light hair make him look younger
ny few years. perhaps, than he really
Is His delivery is earnest, emphatic
and carries with 1t the force of honesty
of convictions. Though not a polished
orator, he has the power to carry his au-
dience with him.
He began his remarks by saying that
he realized that he was placed in a deli
cate position when rising to speak on the
dissensions. 1t was so easy to have
his remarks misinterpreted. He knew
that there were those that were prejl~
diced and could not be Influenced by
anything that he might say. and he only
asked that he be given the credit of sim
cerity of purpose and that he be treated
with the same courtesy that he aimed to
show his comrades in the old army
lr the first place, wish to state en-
pnatlcally what our attitude is-the atti-
tude of Commander and Mrs. Ballington
Booth. We do not come to antagonize
the old salvation Army movement We
nave no spirit of antipathy toward it or
any OF its members. Any member of the
new organization that antagonizes the
Ola, Is going contrary to the wishes of
Commander and Mrs. Booth. They want
no war or controversy. 1t Is this spirit
exhlpited by them that has strength
ened me to labor in this cause. Through
OUT this trouble they have exhibited the
peautiful spirit of golden silence like the
Master, who when misrepresented and
siandered refused to retalate This has
peen the attitude OF Commander and
Mrs. Ballington Booth In nv close
proximity to them, acting as nrivate
secretary to the commander, | have been
enabled to observe what q seIf-sacrific
ing spirit he has maintained. There
mas nou peen on our part any exhibition
OF opposition. If there be anylit must
E. 49, DitA eitS otutI sue. we Will NOT
stoop to it, but has this been characterl
istie of the other side or some members
of it? Many misrepresentation have
been made and characters sullied bv cal
umnies.' do not wish to say more a ho,+
this than can help, but to prove tn.
Righteousness of our cause and vindicste
the characters of Commander and Mrs
Booth l must present our side of ~
matter and prove the purity of the mo-
tives of our leaders
IF we were to accept all that has been
appear, that he has fallen from q hirh
state of grace; that he rebelled and
started new army because of person
al ambition to be a general himself.
My personal knowledge is that this Is
false. but am not going to ask you to
PeHeve this simply because I say so. I
VIII Aendea8or to prove it to you by the
best ofrlugicI 'iA
II was surprised when General
Booths cablegram came from London