The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-02-26
THE SALVATION ARMY
WORK OF COMMANDER AND MRS.
DARLINGTON BOOTH IN AMERICA.
Prejudice overcome and Great Good
Accomplished Among society's Out
cssts-A Gifted Couple.

A
Commander Booth was born in the town
of Brighouse, Yorkshire, England. on the
18th of July. 1857, and is the second son of
Gen. William Booth and his late wife, Cath
crime. His childhood and boynood did not
point TO a robust. active future. For many
years Ballington was looked upon as the
delicate member OF the family; tall, thin.
intensely high strung. it was evident that
he had outgrown his strength. But he be-
gan the work which he has carried out so
characteristically, consistently and success
fully throughout his life in his early boy
hood He began conducting little meetings
on the playground, and was often struck
and knocked down by schoolmates who took
issue with him. His first serious work was
undertaken in Manchester, England, when
ne had attained the rank of captain in the
Salvation Army. During his work there he
was arrested and imprisoned. so violent was
the opposition to the methods of the army
at that time He was treated as a common
felon, given prison clothes and prison Diet
This, however, far from quelling his enthu-
siasm and stopping the work, only acted
as a further incentive 10 Captain Booth
and his brave assistants, and brought thou
sands to hear him who would otherwise
have ignored his appeals.
Captain Booth became Major Booth, then
Colonel Booth father OF the first training
home in 1880. This was the Old Devonshire
House Training Home so dear to the men,
| DRY of men who are now commissioners,
| and colonies, and brigadiers and majors,
| and was the first step toward the training
| home system for the army. His next work
| was in Australia, for which country ne
| sailed in 1854. Nearly two years of faith
| full, untiring toll left their deep mark upon
| the Australian colonies. On the 10th of
| September, 1856, General Booth, just pre-
| vious to sailing to the United States, united
| the lives of Americas future commanders.
Baalington and Maud Booth; In April TO, or
| brought the commander and his wife TO this
country. His enthusiasm, hope and faith
1 in the American field is unbounded. After
| the darkest trials and most discouraging
| obstacles the army finally won recognition.
| Commander Booth stands about six feet
| three inches, is OF striking appearance, and
| has keen eyes His reputation as a ready
| and powerful speaker has Travelled through
| out the country. He is also musician,
| full baritone voice, and many of the most
| popular songs in the organization are of
| his composition, both words and music. TO
| see him personally conducting great
| meeting of the Salvation Army, directing
| the music, introducing the speakers, APP
| pealing to the audience, interfering apt
| during the exercises, and making his. own
| speech, is something worth seeing and hear
| ing, as the great audiences VINO nave crowd
| ed Carnegie Hall on two recent occasions
| will testify. He is a tirelesS worker, and
| possesses marvellous vitality The work of
the salvation Army in the United States is
| confined TO his office. for he travels thou
| sands of miles on army business.
| Mrs Balngton Booth is the daughter of
| the Rev. Samuel Charesworth, a rector of
| the Church of England. This youngest of
| his three children was born at Lympsheld,
| near London. Three years. after her birth,
| Mr.. CharIesworth was given charge of a
| large and important parish in the East End
| of London. 1t was rather singular COM
| cidence that the penny gaff" which the Rev.
| William Booth had captured for his mission
| was just opposite the church in which Mr.
| Charlesworth preached; and still more sim
| gular that when the police drove Mr.. Booth
| from the streets the rectory gates were
| thrown open, and upon these grounds were
held successful open-air meetings
| Her mother. ktoo2 was one, who made the
| peoples interests her wns and in their par
| sh no one was so reverenced and loved for
| kindly deeds and cheering words as the
| rector's wife. 1t was her indefatigable toll
! and self-sacrifice for others that shortened
| her life by many years. and brought to Maud
! Charlesworth a loss that was irreparabe.
| Mrs. Charlesworth had frequently taken her
| little girls across to Mr.. Booths mission,
and it was no surprise or disappointment to
| herself to God in one of these meetings.
ENTERED THE ARMY.
Shortly after her mothers DEATH at the
| age of seventeen. Maud Charlesworth, &C.
companied by her father, crossed to France
to begin an active warfare by the side OF
| Catherine Booth. the Generals eldest daugh-
ter. amid the darkness and infdelity OF
| Paris. Two years in a warfare which still
counts as the most difficult and bitter in
Salvation Army history, made of the timid
| girl tried veteran. Returning to England
at the end of two years. Miss Charlesworth
spent some time visiting all the large cities
on the arny's behalf, in England, Scotland
| Sweden and other parts of Europe where the
army was carrying on operations
| Mrs. Ballington Booth has always been a
| co-worlxer with her husband, and has beer
as active in service. Her constant travels
and many important meetings are vel
lea who ia more widely listened to or whose
opinions carry more weight from the public
| platform. Few people are able to interes
both extremes of society and to deal wisel,
| with both. But Mrs. booths influence ha:
been felt alike in the drawing room and In
whether surrounded by audience in a
Bowery saloon or in the rich parlors OF al
| uptown residence.
Mrs. Booth has also been known as a
writer, one who has, Notwithstanding her
crowded and busy life. contributed largely,
not only to Salvation Army publications but
country. Her book Beneath Two Flags
has been widely read. as also two very pop
ular booklets written few years ago
Wanted, Antiseptic Christians and 1.-The
| Cause of Septic Soul-Treatment.'
Mrs. Booth has two children, a boy and
n girl-both bright intelligent, well-cared-
for children.
Recently her father, the Rev. Samuel
Charesworth, visited this country and re-
NAMED in the home of Commander and Mrs
| Booth. He expressed his. delight and appre-
citation OF the good and noble work Mrs
Booth was doing.
One word more is due Mrs Booth, and
that regarding the warm feeling cntertiiIed
by all classes for her. She is one of she
bestowed women in the United States. II
IL certainly true that she and her husband
have a future OF large prospect and opDor-
tunity wherever their work may carry
them
When the Commander and Mrs. Rooth ar
rived i'm New York. in April, 1886, they found
the Salvation Army recovering from what
was one of the severest blows IL has evei
received. in the form OF a breach Of trus
on the part of per sons in whom coni1 ,1ce
had been misplaced. True, they Were the
second leaders after this event, bat al.
though much had been done and suffered
BY those who Immediately preceded them
they found that there was plenty OF b0th
toll and trial for them
| The number OF corps has been multiplied
by three. and there has been correspond
! ing increase in the figures for officers. The
/ army had then no training garrisonS. re
SLIM work no rescue work, and no shelter
Gepo.s: nor had any such valuable adiu1c.s
| as characters or outriiers been thought Of
| Indeed, the representatives OF the Salvation
Army on the Pacific coast in those days
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