Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-02-01

himself practically unfettered. From the
leading members of his flock he had met
with an unusually warm-hearted recep-
ton. They were justly proud Of his tall
ents and still more gratifled with his sue
cess.
year or two later, being convinced that
1t was his duty to do SO. Mr.. Booth Joined
what was called the New Connexion. Here
he began the work which eventuated in
the Salvation Army
Mr.. Booths marriage to Miss Catharine
Mumford took place June IS, 1855. Despite
the fact that their friends numbered thou
sands, Mr.. Booth led his bride to the altar
IN the presence Of none except her father,
his sister and the officiating minister.
The Reputation Achieved.
Five months Of evangelistic work which
had preceded his marriage established for
Mr.. Booth widespread reputation for de-
votion. ability and success, SO that when
the annual conference had met at Sheffield,
just previous to the wedding, 1t was re-
solved that 1.-The Rev. William Booth, whose
labors had been SO abundantly blessed in
the conversion Of sinners, be appointed to
Gus circuits an opportunity of having his
services during the coming year
The results had indeed been remarkable.
In the space OF four months no less than
1,139 persons had professed conversion at
nine separate centers, besides a consider
able number at four or five other places
from which no official reports were made.
1t was an ordinary occurrence for forty
fifty and sixty persons to come forward to
the communion rail each night, and it Is
recorded that In one town on a single occa-
sion 10l names were taken.
Mr.. Booth continued to labor as an evan
gelist with great success for a number of
months. His enthusiasm and zeal were
not, however, shared by many of the
preachers in charge where he labored, and
in letter to her mother, dated September
49, 1856, Mrs. Booth gives the reason why
the Salvation Army was started. as fol-
lows: William (Mr. BOOTH is working
hard and with wonderful results. The
chapel was crowded all day Sunday and
slxty-three cases at night, a large proper
ton of them men. The work up to the
present time surpasses that of last year.
harassed in mind regarding his future
course. Reports are continually reaching
us of the heartless manner in which the
preachers let the work down after we are
concerned it IS almost like spending his
strength for naught. The cold, apathetic,
money -grubbing spirit of some preachers
and leading men is a constant thorn in his
SIDE Oh, for church of earnest consist
ent, soul-saving men! But. alas! alas! such
is indeed difficult to find.
After preaching to immense crowds in
birmingham. Nottingham and Chester, Mr.
Booth in 1857 found himself in London
Here his meetings were at first largely at
tended by the rabble, who for while
caused him great annoyance, but he soon
obtained a hold upon the masses, which he
has never lost.
History of the Army.
The history of the Salvation Army has
been largely the history of it's founders
and of their family. 1t presents the alto
sether unique spectacle of great religious
organization that has attained to world
wide proportions, of which, the embryonic
germ was contained within the circle of
single family, long before it burst into pub
lie notoriety. The earliest and to this day
among the most effective of General
Booths recruits have been his own chill
dren.
Trained from childhood to obey in an age
whose tendency is to overlap the traces of
parental authority, they have formed
valuable nucleus, round which Mr. and
Mrs Booth have been able to gather re-
oruits.
The Salvation Army has advanced with
altogether phenomenal rapidly, it is
claimed, because there has been a strong
governmental government of the best both
in regard to ability and piety-impartiaIly
administered, and based on the confidence
OF the rank and file. Ability has been duly
recognized without being improperly del
ned. knowledge has been subordinated to
holiness and power has been sanctifed BY
love.
The organization now Known as the Sal
Eatlon Army grew out of meeting in q
tent in the Quaker burial ground in
Whitechapel, July 2, 1865. Among the vaga-
ponoS ana outcastS of East London Mr..
Booth had found at length the very lowest
level of the social strata. From his boy
hood days in Nottingham he had always
loved and sympathfzed with the poor Since
then. 1t is true, he had climbed for a time
,he ministerial ladder. But it had only
been in the hopes of dragging the people
up with him. And when he found that this
was impracticable he descended, round af-
ter round, till at length his feet could fair
~ feel the ground and the lowest neediest
masses of humanity had been reached
And now he realized he was in his natural
element.
The shrewd East Enders appreciated his
Keen saliies OF wit and respected his evil
dent zeal and devotion. The utter absence
OF anything in the shape of cant the re-
1reshlng simplicity and total freedom from
religious veneer, and the arm-linking euuaI-
ny with which they We're treated made
them accept this apostle of the working
man. and that at time when 80 per cent
of this very class had given UP all pretense
of religion and never darkened the door
way OF place of worship from years end
to years end.
The First Conference.
Nine years after the first meeting a con-
ference or the army workers was held
There were then 265 unpaid preachers. and
300 outdoor and 5,744 indoor services had
been held during the preceding twelve
months. resulting in the professed CONVEX
sion of 312,220 persons. The contributions
Of the mission people toward the expenses
Of the work had amounted to nearly 10000
remarkable achievement, CONSIDERING
their poverty.
The first attempt to give legal consti-
tuition to the army was made at the confer
ence of 1875, when q formal deed-poll was
drawn up, executed and enrolled in chan
Gerry.
January, 1877, will ever be memorable in
the history of the Salvation Army, for 1t
was then that the democratic system of
government into which 1t had been drifting
was finally replaced by a purely military
constitution
It is a mistake to suppose that Mr.. Booth
called himself general. He had always
been known as the general superintendent
OF the army work. The name Of general
was forced upon him. For many years he
continued to be known es the Rev William
Booth. and 1t was only by degrees that he
accustomed himself to the new title. though
as far back as 1872, in writing to him. Mr..
Railton, one of the leaders, was accustomed
to address him as MY dear General" and
signed himself as his Lieutenant"
The Salvation Army in its present form
is no more the accidental grouping together
of a number of atoms than is the product
of engineering skill, such as a steamer or
railway engine. Those who see but it's out