Evening star., 1905-10-01
CONTROL OF THE
SALVATION ARMY

Special Cablegram to The Star
LONDON, September 30.-Now that zen.
Booth, the commander-in-chiefo OF the SalVa-
ton Army, has returned not only from
triurnphal tour around the world put d
swing around the circle in Great Britain
there appears to be a disposition to crilcise
him and his movements in certain quarters
Among the remarkable interviews concern
ing the general and his life work just given
out to the public Is the following with John
Holland of Gateshead-on-Tyne:
"Those who have some practical ac-
ouaintance with this remarkable move
ment of the Salvation Army and, VINO,
though friendly to its work, are not
blind to its defects, will find their thoughts
passine from the glitter and show OF Cen
eral Booths triumphal progress TO the
drab background of the Salvation Army IT.
self, where many serious grievances await
redress Among these may be mentioned:
First, the absence OF any means Will, in
the organization for the frank ulscussioi
of it's defects and needs.
Second, the fact that Its 14,ooo palo
officers are subject to the control OF a iew
officials at international headquarters; lhal
anv one of them may be censured, tried OF
dismissed on any charge without any pow
er of effective appeal, and without the
facts being brought to light.
Third, the fact that designations IN all
ranks are so frequent, engendering a grave
suspicion that profound dissatisfaction ex-
lists throughout the organization.
Fourth, the fact that many officers ex-
ist on the merest pittance, are often de-
pendent on sympathiZers for food, wear
themselves out by the time they ought to
be at their prime, and are frequently COM
PEELED to seek other vocations when I'M
paired health renders success In that quest
the more difficult.
,rr,,r.t. 49, foot that Instances have
Cured where officers, after giving the best
of their lives to the Salvation Army serv-
ice are relegated to the background-tne
assurance department for instance-or re-
tired without pension, perhaps with
grant of few pounds.
sixth, the fact that the general body OF
salvationists, though they give 1reeiy OF
their time and money to the work, are
without any effective share In the govern
ment of the organization they voluntarily
compose.
.'All these things point to some deep
rooted cause. That cause l believe TO De
the essential contradiction existing between
the Christian nature of the movement and
the military system that has been designed
for 1t. Military government centerihg IN
autocratic authority In Christian Dody Is
repugnant to the true sense of the eternal
fitness of things, and alien to the spirit
and teaching of the new testament. The
essence of Christianity is freedom The
essence of militaryism and autocracy, even
in the modified form in which they exist In
the Salvation Army, is servitude.
.In any movement the principles of or
ganization ought to be in accord with the
reasons and objects which called it into ex-
istence.
"The reason for existence of the Saliva
ton Army is the propagation of the gos-
pel Its policy is form OF military autoc-
racy. Here then there Is clashing OF
conflicting. principles Whatever may De
o,estjon as to the existence of evils in this