The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-03-04
GEN. BOOTH OVERCOME.
COLLAPSES AT HIS FAREWELL
IN THE OPERA HOUSE.
He Had spoken for Two Hours 70 Cheerins
Thousands, but Handshaking Tired
Him Out-Parade without Him.

Thousands, but Handshaking Tired
Him Out-Psrade without Him.
One Of the most impr essive meetings
ever arranged by the Salvation Army
In this county was held last night when 1000
members and friends OF the organization.
crowded In the Metropolitan Opera House,
babe farewell to Gen. Booth, who Ia to sail
for England next Saturday. -.
report was spread yesterday after
noon that the venerable head Of the Army
had fallen on a stairway and so injured
himself that the services Of the evening
might have to be shortened considerably,
even 10 they were not put OF on account
Of his inability to be present. But Gen.
Booth was present and in excellent spirits.
The opera house was prettily decorated
for the occasion. mostly in the American
| colors. The most telling feature was the
effect obtained by the distribution Of pro-
| grammes printed on differently colored
paper. In the orchestra, as well as on each
| Of the balconies. the first third Of the au-
dience received red programmes, the second
| thircD White ones and the last third blue
ones When Gen. Booth appeared on the
stage. the audience rose to it's feet and be-
gan waving these programmes. To the
|
| Of honor seated with him on the stage, II
seemed az IL the walls and the floor OF the
! house were all covered with the national
| colors.
The chief officers of the American branch
| OF the army were on the stage, and their
| bright red coats gave additional brilliancy
| to the spectacle. Music was furnished by
fifteen Salvation Army bands from this
and neighboring cities.
| The services were opened with prayer by
i Root h. IllckQr Cnnllil for AnnarNa
| Then Col. John Lawley sang farewell
song, Until We Meet Again" which had
been composed for the evening and dedi-
Gated to Gen. Booth. The chairman
introduced by Commander Booth Tucker
Senator Hanna was to have presided, but
had sent letter OF regret. having been
detained in Washington by the call for
an extra session OF the Senate.
| Justice mclean spoke only few words
| in introducing Gen. Booth. The General
received an outburst Of cheers which lasted
for more than Ave minutes. Meanwhile
| all the bands played and the air was filed
with waving programmes in red. white
| and blue.
Gen. Booth spoke for two hours and at
| the end of his address he showed no
| signs OF fatigue. II was remarked that.
while he repeatedly spoke Of his daughter,
Mrs Booth, Tucker, and the good work done
| by her and her husband. he did not once
refer to Ballington Booth by name and
| only once indirectly, when he said that
many acrimonious things had been ut
tered about him by some people In this
country
After expressing his thanks personally
and as head OF the Salvation Army, for the
enthusiastic reception granted TO him. Gen.
Booth said that he loved and believed in the
American branch Of the organization. In
spite Of what had been said and done against
| il and against himself, the Army was rapidly
advancing here and the people were coming
around to more and more favorable views
OF il.
He said that he had found the work
here much advanced since his previous
visit and he expressed the belief that,
II the present rate Of progress was kept
up, the American branch would soon stand
foremost Of all the branches in the world.
The object Of his coming here was to show
the enthusiasm OF the workers. Gen.
Booth then reviewed In detail the inception
and development Of the Army up to the
present time and his ambition for Its future
growth.
Another demonstration which seemed
20 shake the walls Of the opera house
marked the close OF the speech. Then a
collection was taken UP and hundreds of
messages were read from absent we'll
wishers Of the Army. Among them was
this note from President Roosevelt:
NV DEAN ZEN BOOTH In wishing YOU
farewell and continued success for your work
in the future. let me say how glad was 70
having s . You break bread in the White House I
With all good wishes. sincerely yours.
THEODORE ROOSEVELT.
Other messages were from Senator'S
Capp. Frye and Hoar; Speaker Hender-
Terrell Of Georgia and Mayor Scmitz OF
San Francisco.
Then followed one Of the prettiest cere-
monies Of the evening-'the trooping Of
the colors.- Twenty-Five or thirty groups
OF six men and women each, dressed In
the costumes and carrying the flags Of all
the lands in which the Salvation Army
has established itself. marched upon the
stage and gave homage TO the chief OF
the army. This took more than an hour.
Finally Commander Booth-Tucker offered
a set Of resolutions In praise 81 Gen. Booth.
Gen Booth when he left the meeting
stepped from the stage into the orchestra
and started up to the Broadway entrance.
shaking hands Oh both sides OF The aisle ~
he passed along.
The Handwriting proved too much for
Gen. Booths strength, already heavily
drawn upon, and he nearly collapsed when
lac was half way down the aisle. chair
had TO he brought, on which he sat for
several minutes until he recovered suf-
hciently 20 walk Ia the door.
A torchlight Progression. formed by about
? 900 members Of the salvation Army.
most 81 them women, Was waiting outside
to escort the Army's chief to the West
Fourt.enth street headquarters
Gen Booth was IN have marched at the
head ~ this progression Instead Of doing
-, hs drove IN a carriage with his daughter
aud son -in-law along this shortest route
10 Fourteenth street. While the prOo-ssion
followed the line ~ march laid out through
a." Tcnd"rloin and up Ia Madison squar-.
When. hfe~orks ~er" set ~
Mi.n ts Issfa,isrs finally I-sr fed tho
Leadauari-r- ten. Booth Appeared an the
lal0Jny sboN. the front entrance lie ~ss
hen ...r~naded by th. taraders With q
seriss ~ characteristic Salvation Army
snngs 1his lasted tiil " ~ o'nloak, sh.n
the fisnsfal uitf.d