The San Francisco call., 1896-03-03
ALL TO STAND
BY THE ARMY!
The Advice of Ballington
Booth to Brigadier
Keppel.
CAPTAINS WILL CONFER.
The Deposed General May Organ
ize New Evangelical
Society.
IT WAS A FAMILY QUARREL
A Belief That the Salvation Soldiers
Will Not Desert-Their
Solemn Oath.

. The various posts of the Salvation Army
are more or less agitated over the inter
national troubles in the army at this time,
but as yet there have been no official utter
ances made by the leaders and officers of
the army in this City, and there is good
deal OF uncertainty as to the position that
the deposed American commander, Bal
lington Booth, occupies just at present.
1--WE are not certain," said Brigadier
Keppe, the head of the army on this
coast, when seen yesterday, whether
Ballington Booth resigned or whether
he was dismissed; but this l do
know, he was ordered by General
Booth, his father, to leave America, and
he declined to do SO, which, according to
army rules, amounts to what might be
called insubordination.
LAS the matter stands now, he is no
longer officially recognized, and We do not
take any orders from him, but receive Or
ders direct from the headquarters OF the
general. What Baliington Booth may
do it is impossible to say, but in a commu-
nication to me he says, You stand by the
army Ii is possible that he may start
another and different organization to
battle against evil. 1t will probably be of
an evangelical character and be conducted
without uniforms drums and music.
Should he, however, determine o make
a call on the country for followers OF the
Salvation Army, there might be some in
dividuals or posts that would follow un-
der his leadership. Still, 1 am OF the
opinion that few would do that, for every
soldier is bound by solemn oath to stand
by the army in its war against.evil. Each
soldier cf the army subscribes to the fol-
lowing, which is the second paragraph in
the articles OF war:
Believing solemnly that the Salvation Army
has been created by God and is sustained and
directed by him, do hereby declare my de-
termination by Gods help TO be true soldier
OF The army till die.
"This," continued the brigadier-gen-
eral, SIS a solemn obligation, and l believe
that every man and woman who subscribes
to that oath appreciates its solemnity.
After a soldier mas signed it he or she is
required to appear on the platform in pub
lie, when he or she is asked if he or she has
signed the articles of his or her own free
will, and if he or size has any desire to
withdraw. II the answer is in the affirm
ative the soldier raises his or her hand to
God and renews the declaration.
"There is a principle in the army and
the soldiers swear to stand by it, no matter
what may become of the head, for the
head Of the army may die but the army
Will continue on in its work. What the posts
in California may do is not known, but from
conversations l have had it is my opinion
that they will stand by the head of the
army, as they are bound under their oath
to do. l noticed report in the dispatches
from San Jose this morning that the mem
bers OF the army there gave a vote of conf
dence to Ballington Booth. That certainly
was not an official action, for that is not
the way we do in the army. 1t may have
been that by show of hands the members
may have shown that they are friendly to
Ballington Booth, and it may amount to
no more than that.
The captain of that post will be in this
City in day or two, as will be captains
from number of other posts, and when
we are all together We may discuss the
situation, and there may be some express
sion of sentiment.
why there was disruption between
the father and son no one outside of them
selves knows, but it is my opinion that it
IS of family nature which General Booth
will not disclose preferring to suffer under
the charge of insubordination than expose
family affairs. It must have been of
serious character when the Commissioner.
Eva Booth, could not effect reconcilia-
ton.
"As / said before, the army no longer
recognizes Balllngton Booth as an officer,
but the soldiers and the officers all have
the highest reg ard for him.