Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1901-09-21

Booth TO the United States
naturally attracts attention e
one Of the worlds most re-
markable personalities. There
Il are those, In fact, who hold
II to be a disparagement to
term him a Napoleon since, they claim
his genius for evolving a vast army
from practically nothing far transcends
that Of the conqueror OF Europe, who
had all the resources OF France at his
command The warrior, they say rep
resented destruction, dlslntegration;
the soldier Of peace stands for the up
building OF fallen homes and the even
tual eradication Of poverty and crime.
Napoleon's armies vanished like dew
before the sun, General Booths bat
talions are steadily augmenting and
fighting with q perennial vigor born of
conviction and faith.
If II be true, as has been asserted,
that the Salvation Army is really an
Emporium In lmperio"--a government
within a government--there Is certain
ly no doubt that the old general may
well be styled 'imperator" Although
seyenty-two years OF age having been
born In nottingham, England, April 10,
1929, he is still the actual and dominant
head OF the army and all its affiliated
institutions. He created the army, he
supported II in It's vicissltudes. he has
devoted his energies, his income, his
very life, to the carrying out Of It's
purposes.
Nearly half a century has elapsed
TO be exact, forty-nine years-slnce the
Rev. william Booth entered upon his
FIRST past0rate and began his career as
a revivalist. lie was then connected
with the Methodist church, but In 1861
resigned in order to devote himself
solely to evangelistic labors The So
cial work by which the destitute poor
are reached and which has since be-
come such a feature OF the Salvation
Army was begun In 1870 by the estab-
lishment Of a large soup kitchen In
Whitechapcl, London. but the founda-
tons for the army were practically
laid In 1865. Booth began undenomina-
tional mission work in the Garrlck the
alter, London. and at that time, forty
years ago. when asked where he expect
ed to get his workers and helpers, an
swered In words that have since proved
prophetic. From the saloons and
dancehouses."
II was In 1873 that his christian
mission" came to be styled the Saliva
ton Army, It's general superintendent
became simply It's general, and military
titles were first employed. The mill
tary form was simply a growth conse-
quent upon the increase OF the depart
ments Of It's work. and the title Of
general was bestowed upon It's or
ganizer--not assumed by him, as Is
generally believed.
The army organization has proved |
eminently NJ and successful, as shown |
by statistics, the army itself having |
grown until at the present time II In
cludes nearly 1000 societies established |
In forty-flve countries and colonies. un-
der the command OF more than 1900 |
officers, men and women, detailed for |
the work.
The military method, with Its titles,
suggestion Of discipline and organiza-
tion, proved a taking one with the
people the founder of the army most
desired TO reach, and In 1879 its official |
organ was established under the name |
Of The War Cry, a paper the profits Of
which, like those from the generals
subsequently published book, Darkest