The record-union., 1897-10-10
The AMERICAN 0LUHTEERS.
BALLINGTON BOOTH AND HIS
WORKERS.
His Address Last Night-Says lie
Is an American All
Through.

GIdI Ol luc OI AlifSElCd.
For a number OF years BallingtOn
Booth was at the head of the Salvation
Army in America, and only a few
months ago he and Mrs Booth con-
ceived the idea of withdrawing from
the old organization and forming an
other along the lines of American en-
ergy, push and principles.
Major Garland Of the New York di-
vision conducted the meeting, and in
the course of his remarks abruptly
turned to General Booth and informed
him that the audience would listen to
his efforts as a musician And rather
than disappoint his audience the noted
religious leader brought forth his con-
certina and proved himself its master
in his rendition of THE Last Rose of
Summer"
Major Garland presented Rev. Mr..
Sherman pastor of the Sixteenth-stree
Presbyterian Church, who delivered q
short address of welcome to General
Booth. Mr.. Sherman thought it but
natural that all persons should cor
daily hold out the hand of fellowship
to each and every one whose whole
energies are directed toward the eradi-
cation Of sin and the defeat of satan.
Mr. Sherman said the name-"Volun-
teers''-is good to hear and called to
mind the fact that Sacramento has for
the past few months been getting ac-
quainted with the Volunteers of Amer
lea, and that it gave him much pleas
ure to introduce the leader Of those
volunteers-Gener Ballington Booth.
General Booth is a pleasing talker.
and IS possessed of considerable mag
netism. His observations were all tersa
and acute. and he never lacked an
anecdote wherewith to adorn a moral
or "linch an argument. He is tall, slim
and chock full of nervous energy, and
certainly left a favorable impression
on his audience not only as to the
cause he champions but respecting his
own individuality
General Booth said that the recep-
tions given him since his arrival on
the Pacific Coast had been encourag-
ing, and had led him to believe that
the people realized the good work be-
ing done by the Volunteers of America.
1t was not his intention. he said. to
give expression to one unkindly word
respecting the old Salvation Army. On
the other hand, himself and Mrs. Booth
had placed no impediment in the way
OF the old army. But when they were
placed at the head Of the Salvation
Army III America, he found that every-
thing was not right. They saw that
II the movement was to be a success
IN this country, it must accord with
American principles and with the free
dom ard customs of the American peo-
pie.
1 was born in England" said Cen
eral Booth, but by principle, love and
adoption, I am an American" The
statement was received with rounds of
applause. He had, he said, been in
America for eleven years, and had no
wish to exchange his new allegiance
Tor that of his mother country or of
any other
he had, the speaker said. come to the
conclusion that any people who had
made the strides in civilization. eduea-
tlon, municipal and central govern
ment and religion that the people of
the United States have done. had an
entire right to cut loose from all for
eign rule, even in religion, and adopt
their own rules and regulations. and
elect their own officers-make the or
ganizatlon American in name and fact.
and the Volunteers of America had
been the result of the conclusion.
In Speaking Of the growth and work
OF the organization of which he is the
head, Commander Booth said:
1t is now about seventeen. months
since God, in His providence, revealed
1t TO be His will, and the American
public made known their desire that
We should inaugurate this new move
ment affiliated with the churches and
distinctly American in it's character.
It's growth has been truly phenome
nal and remarkable. Though we have
scrupulously avoided any display Of
hgures, believing them to be made
quate in setting forth the great good
done, yet as they are, perhaps. the
most concise method of conveying ol1r
growth. to the public 1 may mention
that the Volunteers of America have
now eight regiments, their centers be-
ing located in New York City, Philadel-
phia, Boston, Buffalo, Chicago. Grand
Rapids, Minneapolis and San Fran
cisco. These are subdivided into six
teen battalions and detachments. in ad-
dition to our national headquarters. in
which we publish The Volunteers, Ca
zette,' and employ some forty people.
There are already ninetv-two staff
officers, and over 500 commanding Off
GERS, whose whole time is employed in
furthering the interests of our phiIan-
thr0pic work, by far the larger ma
jority of whom have been raised in
our own ranks. AS an instance of the
manner in which the movement has
taken hold of the public l may state
b0x ,-+
reports information that during a re-
cent month 2,142 open-airs were held,
reaching some 10000 people. while
about 10000 attended our week night
services, exclusive of the 10000 at
tending our Sunday services in the ar
mo;'ies throughout the States.
"On an average 10000 people per
year are protesting conversion in our
meetings. and we have every reason to
believe that it is only question of a
short time until we shall be able to
raise a force of consecrated evangelists
from our own ranks enabling us to
more effectually reach the unchurched.
THE Defenders League is thor
oughly representative group of all
evangelical denominations and includes
some Of the foremost citizens of the
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., ministers, lawyers,
physicians, literary men and mer-
chants who subscribe s. per annum
towards the support Of the movement
There are several thousand of such
permanent friends at the present time.
'.8y no means least in our work is
the prison branch. The volunteers have
nearly /. $50 members in their prison
league with the State Prisons, and are
in touch with nearly SnNl nrisnr ars