The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-15
COMMANDER B0OTH-TUCKER
THE SALVATION ARMY LEADER IN
TOWN,

Center Church of the Redeemer and Cal
vary Baptist Accord Him the Privilege
of Their Pulpits-"There Was Little
City'-How to Deal With Poverty-Large
Audiences Greeted Mr.. Tucker.
Commander Booth-Tucker of the Sal
walton Army of America, was the chief
religious attraction in this city yester-
day Three of the principal churches
acceded him the privilege of their pull
pits. At all the services the congre-
cations were large, attesting the interest
manifested in what the leader of the
Salvationists in America had to say
about the work.
At the Center church in the forenoon
the congregation was an unusually
large one, every available seat being
occupied.
Commander Booth-Tucker is about
forty-five years old, tall and we'll built,
with the slightest perceptible stoop. He
dresses in the Salvation Army uniform,
wears his hair which is light, tinged
with grey, long and thrown back from
his high forehead. He speaks in a
clear, well modulated voice, and at times
is impressive. At no time yesterday
morning did he refer to the division in
the ranks Of the Salvationists, which
took place some time ago.
In response to the introduction given
him by the Rev. DR.. Smyth, who said
that he considered it an honor to eX-
tend the freedom of Center church pull
pit to the commander of the Salvation
Army of America, Booth-Tucker said
that he thought that the honor was all
see the spirit of inquiry so manifest
in the historic Center church.
The event gave him hope, and he
could look into the centuries that are
to come and see the success of the Sal
walton Army. There was much to en-
courage him In America, and in this
connection the speaker took occasion to
say that he had a claim upon this coun-
try, as he was q descendant of one of
its old Virginia families, one which had
furnished many eminent men to the
country Passing to the theme of his
discourse, which was founded on the
18th and 18th verses Of the ninth chap
ter of Ecclesiastics, There was little
city and few men within it, and a great
king came and besieged it and built
great bulwarks against it. Now, there
was a poor wise man, and he by his
wisdom besieged the city
The speaker said that it seemed to
him that the history Of this city was
that of a small organization founded
without money one that had grown to
considerable proportions-the Saliva
ton Army. 1T is only thirtytwo years
since the Salvation Army had begin
ming, and but eighteen years since it
has an organization. There are now
1900 officers, 2,263 of whom are in the
United States; 5,4o0 corps and stations,
712 being in this country. The average
number of persons seeking salvation
through the means of the Salvationists
is $50, 0OO of which $4,000 are in the
United States.
One million copies of the War Cry
are published and sold every year Not
one line of advertisement appears in its
columns, though the manager has been
offered $1,000 for one page.
Applying his text to individuals he
said that conscience had been set as
a sentry to guard the soul and warn it
of the approach of danger. 1t was
leedful that conscience should be on
the alert That it never should be
numbed or dwarfed. 1t should never
be beguiled into the evil of making
light of the little, trivial things. Ma
polean while crossing the Alps gave
the command that everything crossing
the picket line should be considered an
enemy. AS the sentinel patroled his
beat beautiful st. Bernard dog came
bounding toward him. Had it been a
man there would have been no hesita-
ton, but it was only dog. He paused
and as the command of the great gen
eral crossed his mind, the sentinel
raised his gun and fired That St
Bernard was leading the enemy the
shot from the sentiners gun gave the
alarm.
Conscience has to it's back the in
fantry of reason and the artillery OF
the affections. In command Of all the
will stood to give the orders. The
great question for each one to decide
was whether he would allow himself tC
see the danger pointed out by con-
science, to overcome it by his rea-
son. He appealed, in conclusion, to his
audience to nail the banner of Christ
to the mast head, and to let it stay
there Haft mast was the symbol Of
death.