The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-03-16
GEN. BOOTHS FAMILY
HIS SONS AND DAUGHTERS ARE NAT
URAI-BORN LEADERS OF MEN.
They Have Established Armies I'm
Forty Nations and Control Prop
erty Worth Millions.
New York Morning Journal.

New York Morning Journal.
The Salvation Army Booths constitute
the most remarkable family on earth. They
have impressed themselves upon this day
and generation as no others have found
power to do. If these brilliant English
p~eople-father. sons and daughters, who. In
reality, are the royal family of the Saliva
ton Army-ever adopt a motto, 1t might,
with singular appropriateness be BLOOD and
Fire." words they have carried or sent by
their emissaries, emblazoned on the banners
OF their army, among forty nations of the
earth. At no time in history has such a
record been equalled. It is doubtful If a more
remarkable family than the Booths, regarded
in the light of their achievements. has i'm
pressed itself upon its day and generation.
81 will not have a wicked child" was the
constant cry and prayer Of Catherine Booth.
the mother Of the Salvation Army" who.
dying in 1890, had the largest funeral seen
in England since that Of the Duke Of Well
ington. Having thus passionately determined
that her children should all be good, she
systematically trained them for the cause
on which her heart and that Of her husband
were set.
Speaking Of this matter, she declared upon
the platform: They have put their chill
dren into the movement people say. Yes,
bless God! And If we had twenty We would
do so. But I stand here before God and say
that Ii is all from the same motive and for
the same end-the seeking and saving OF the
Gen. william Booth is the father and
patriarch of the flock. which. until the
tracing such widespread attention and in
terest, he ruled with the absolute and un-
SnIy EeDsra iw of the of s E G,staaor Ar mns q hs w ana
up to a few days ago, the only general
among the Booths. Whether he will remain
| remains yet to be developed. Whatever the
issue of the present trouble, he has been the
absolute dictator for more than thirty years,
| and the members Of his family have sus-
tanned him In the position they helped to
maintain. Over four million religious meet
ingS take place annually among the forty
nations in which the army is established,
and every one of these meetings is held
under the auspices of Gen. William Booth.
With the exception Of one daughter, Mari
| on. all of them are ready speakers, preach
ers or organizers. as the case may be. Since
the death Of Mrs. Booth, Marion has re-
| manned with her father, ministerihg to his
wants. but taking no official part In the
management OF the army.
GENERAL BOOTH A METHODIST.
William Booth is an Englishman, who was
formerly a Methodist preacher. He was born
at Nottingham. AS commander in chief of
the Salvation Army of the world, he issues
his orders from London, where he is at
present represented by his eldest son. VIII
liam Bramwell Booth. Whatever may be
thought of the value of the evangelical
work Of the Salvation Army, Gen. William
Booth must be credited with its inception
| and phenomenal progress.
Two other notable innovations emanating
| from him are the production of that re-
markabie book. IL Darkest England" and
farm colony, for the purpose Of draining the
big cities Of tramps and rendering the very
1t was in 1852 that William Booth, then
an ardent Wesleyan, met and became en-
| gagged to Catharine Mumford. that remark
! able woman who was destined to become
known far and wide as 1.-The mother of the
Salvation Army" She was an active and
earnest evangelist and temperance apostle,
with strong conversational and argument
| alive powers, capable Of meeting in debate
some of the heavy, guns of that day; These
During the years of their engagement they
were both doing their utmost for the spread
of Wesleyism throughout England. No two
people were more completely suited to each
other in disposition and temperament.
Mrs. Booth was an authoress of no mean
| sive Christianity. The activity Of her mind
Is shown by the fact that while recovering
from a severe illness after her marriage she
ton to her other duties.
Bramwell Booth, the eldest son of the
resembles his father somewhat in appear
ance. his face, however. not being quite so
fSrceful In expression; He inherited the en-
as he was nearing manhood, was one Of the
great events in their lives.
In the Booth family no veil is drawn over
the doings or opinions of any member. Con-
versions, marriages. .funerals-all are con-
Quoted in the most public manner. The we'd
dings Of the sons and daughters that have
taken place were quasi religious functions
of a public character. Hence the conversion
He sprung at once into harness, and has for
years been his fathers right hand in the
control of the widespread interests of the
army. His manner OF conducting a holiness
meeting is quite as remarkable as that Of
his brother Ballington, so well known in
New York. Bramwell also developed finaN-
cial and executive qualities of much strength, |
and Is considered the most capable financier
among the officers. He has always been
the suddenly developed independence of
brother Balinston came as a great surprise
CAREER OF THE REBEL.
Ballington Booth is the next child in or
der of age. He was born in 1857. His career
in this country as head of the Salvation
Army in America is well known. That the
Americans have taken him and his talented
wife seriously and believe in their genuine
character and probity is evidenced by the
fact that through contributions that are al
most unprecedented IN their liberality Mr..
Booth has absolute control of property in
this country amounting 20 upward Of a mil
1t is a fact which he joyfully admits that
he has been overshadowed by the talents
and popularity Of his wife, who was Miss
Maud Charles worth before marriage. Bal
lington Booth and his wife are both natur-
allied American citizens. and their two
children were born in this country. With
the exception of the elder Mrs. Booth, the
mother Of the army, the Ballington Booths
have attained q popularity not reached by
any other member Of the family. Mrs. Booth
is not only a very beautiful woman, but
she has the faculty of making herself well
come in any society, and she is equally at
home in the drawing room of the millionaire
or the most humble abode OF the poor.
Booths is said to TO signalized by the fact
that, while personally controlling title deeds
to 500, 600 worth of property. they draw but
SIS a week as -yneir stipend for managing
the vast interests CT the army in America.
The father of Mrs. Balington. Booth, the
Rev. Samuel Char esworth, was a rector of
the Church of England. who at one time
had a parish is the East End of London,
among the pooi, and by this means Maud
Charlesworth lear ned to know what human
suffering was
Upon the death 81 Ssr mother she accom-
panied her father 10 France. where ne
worked among tire ouscasts of Paris, side
by side with Catherine Booth, the Generals
eldest daughter. IN that way Miss Charles
worth, who was Tut seventeen years old.
the Salvationists. to whom she has since
devoted her whG,e life. She is a graceful and
spirited writer. her book Beneath Two
Flags" having heea widely read. and other
efforts of her pen, such as "Wanted-Anti-
semitic Christians and The Cause of Sep