The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-04-01
SPLIT OF THE SALvATIoNIsTS.
A TELEGRAM FROM THE FOUNDER
OF THE ARMY.

WING to Interfere Win an Amert-
can Body Desiring 10 Carry ON
Work I'm Its own Way-American
Cooperation I'm Overcoming Hea-
thenism Counted on.
New York, March si.-The following
cablegram has been received from London
by the Independent. from Gen. William
Booth, founder Of the Salvation Army:
Your request is another token OF that
universal American interest in the future
OF the Salvation Army, which, am sure,
the past sad controversy can only have in
creased. With the arrival IN New York
or the new commissioners closes any per-
sonal disputes as to their predecessors.
whose work they will no more desire to
depreciate than / do; nor shall we wish
to NEEDLE with any body OF Americans
who. with opinions differing from our
own, may desire to carry on religious work
In the country. IL Is one of our invariable
rules to let other organizations. working
for God carry out their convictions un-
disturbed. The Salvation Army has only
TO be In the future precisely and growingly
all that It has been In the past TO secure
continually increased success In the
United States and every other country.
What 1t has become God has made II by
means of voluntary exertions OF men and
women filled by the holy ghost with un-
selfish deYotion TO the good of others.
Its future depends upon the absoluts
maintenance OF this standard.
Every present indication leads me to
the joyful conclusion that our American
comrades win not allow their horizon 90
be narrowed even at the bidding OF strong
personal affection. but that they will per-
severe in the march toward that universal
conquest for Christ upon which every
one enters on enlisting beneath our flag.
OF course we do not expect to maintain
this principle in every land without difi-
Guilty and temptation: but the whole re-
cord Of American history compels US to
regard Americans as among the likeIiest
or peoples fully 10 appreciate and thor
oughly TO overcome every conceivable bar
Tler which may lie along the path OF fidel-
lty 70 religious conviction.
what our American force will vet be-
come cannot help estimating by what
! nave lately witnessed among the ex-
tremest democratic commonweaiths OF the
southern world. Just where men most
revel In unlimited opportunity to carry
out their own plans. they most highly ap-
pIeclate the devotion which leads the free
10 become the slaves OF Christ and the ser.
wants or the poor. That is why Austra-
ia mas done more proportionatey than any
other nation to help US In the evangelical
ton OF the world.
The vast problem Of the future to
| Shrlsts people Is the conquest for God
eI ihe enormous and growing heather ma
| Jorlty OF mankind For that work the
army IN india and Japan has shown and
Is Is, showing i,n9 peculiar adaptation, But the
united resources Of all Christian lands can
alone suffice to deal with this most ur-
gent enterprise; and the oriental people,
accustomed to witness the most unbound-
| ed self-sacrihce to their helpless idols oe
false IDEAL, Will never yield 70 the de-
votees OF new religion whose renuncia-
| tion Is not as manifest as that practiced
| by themselves. To give up the hope OF
| American cooperation In the conquest Of
the largest half-world would be equivalent
| to despairing as to the success OF our d.
| vine mission among men.
Painfully as we have felt the possible
ltles IN America Of the destruction Of that
| confidence which Is never so seriously af-
| fected as by desertion, we think we also
| see there how the persevering faithfulness
OF the few must eventually secure the
| restored and increased sympathy Of the
| intelligent many. So that no temporary
estrangement among our outside friends
IN this or that locality can shake our
| faith as TO the ultimate result, and what
| we may already have lost has been far
more than compensated for by what we
nave gained among our own soldiers in
Nothing can be more vital TO the
| armys strength and success than that its
people, everywhere should belong to II
| from deep, settled conviction rather than
| personal influence or passing excitement.
The late events have forced all our off
| GERS and soldiers TO ask themselves why
| they follow our flag; and the result has
| already been a very greatly deepened res
| solve to devote themselves in a fuller con-
| secratlon than ever to the Christ-like
| task of seeking the salvation of the whole
| world.
Therefore I consider our prospects
| Immensely better than at any previous
/ period of our history; and / trust the
| American press, whatever they may do
| for any other institution, will continue
| to give us that unchanged support which
/ UNCHANGED Id mi
| activities for such an object as that for
which we fight deserve
| That the organic unity, real and lasting,
| Of a worldwide force, organized for bene-
| fitting the SHINING and suffering crowds OF
| all nationalities alike, should appear
understand but how the avowed friends
| of the army, and the open adj
mirers Of the work Of God al
| this principle of union so interwoven in
| its history and so plainly underlying its
very existence. and be angry with me for
| clinging to II with indestructible energys
| is a little difficult of comprehension. That
| a union of hearts and brains and possess
| sions OF the godly men of any single con-
4 tinent for the fulfillment of the end aimed
/ at in the tragedy of the cross Is desirable,
will be all but everywhere admitted. How
/ then can a similar union of dwellers ON
| every part of the globe be other than in
| harmony with the spirit of Him who
| made of one flesh all nations, and poured
| forth his blood alike for the salvation OF
| every member of the race? And II union
| is strength, how can such a union be oth-
| er than nightly helpful to the defeat OF
| hell and the emancipation OF mankind?
| Meanwhile / go forward. A very little
! time will show those of my dear American
friends who have been tempted to charge
me with so great a folly that no plans OF
mine could possibly contemplate anything
| like the subordination of one nation to an
| other in any form or in any degree. All l
/ ask is to be allowed to raise up, by the
| power Of God and to His eternal glory out
| of the lower depths OF helplessness, shame
| and despair people who were not peo-
| pie, to unite them in bonds Of loving dis
cipline and self abnegation, and to lead
| poor lost world. That, by Gods grace, I
| believe to be my destiny; and 1 do not
| think that any true friends of Jesus Christ
and Of America will seek to thwart my
| purpose. or turn me aside from its accom-
| plishment."
ENDED LIFE WITH A SHOT.