New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-24

With frontispiece portrait in photogravure. Svo
PIP. xii, S54 h. 2. Dutton Co.
There is great deal in the carly life Of Gen
eraI Booth that parallels the lives of George Fox
and John Wesley. whose successor, logically and
historically, he IS. Ii is odd coincidence, and
illustrative of the crystalIizing tendency Of re-
lgious reformatory movements, that William
Booth was expelled by the Weseyans much as
John Wesley was shut out of the Anglican
churches in his day, and for the same reason
his persistent determination, in obedience to an
inward call, to preach the Gospel 10 those out
side the churches. The four principles on which
the work of the army has been consistently car
ried were formulated by him in his early days.
These are: 4. Going out to the people with
the message of salvation 90. Attracting the
people" g. Saving the people" a. Employ
ing the people" He was only seventeen when ne
began to act upon these principles and he still
acted upon them, when, as he says, the nfiu-
ence and the methods of church usage carried
me away from these simple plans on 10 the or
thOdox lines of action" He cut off from
communion with the Wesleyans because he in
sisted on preaching in the open air, and although
he subsequently, associated himself with the
Methodist New Connexion becoming regu-
larlv ordained minister Of that denomination, he
finally felt compelled to leave it, because the
Conference refused to permit him to carry on
2. regular circuit A dramatic incident is re-
corded of the way in which his decision was
given:
consent and Mrs Booth would be no party even
by her silence, to the idea; II vas UI ions are
forgotten and the heart, out OF its tuiness aCIs
upon the promptings ana inSPr g or q the gallery
Mrs Booths clear voice rang through the C3r l
Vas a pause of bewiderment and dismay Ever
eee woman daring to utter her protest or to
make her voice heard IN the Conference produced
little short Of CONSERVATION.
Thus upheld by his wife Mr.. Booth then and
there severed his connection with the churches
and the two started out with four little children
apd no money. to make a fresh start in life.
No doubt It was due to the hearty support OF
his wife that Mr. Booth able to carry
out his own ideas Of the best ways Of reaching
the heather Of Darkest England" Mrs. Booth
was a woman of great force Of character and
an impressive and impulsive preacher. Mr..
Booth first met her the very same day that ne
definitely gave up business to become min
ister-his twenty third birthday. How much
win Won reuuire?" he was asked. when the
question OF salary was preached. Twelve shlA-
ings a week will keep me in bread and cheese
was the reply. Il would not hear OF such
thing" HIS friend declared; "you must have a
t..
had foreseen the outcome Of his acquaintance
Nth Miss Munford, he would have been less
modest in his demands. Strangely enough, it
was from one of his most vigorous opponents
that Mr. Booth received the suggestion that he
afterward acted upon in his religious and socio-
logical enterprises. At the Conference where
Mrs Booth made her indignant protest one OF
the directors to Mr. Booths request urged that
if an evangeIistic agency were created It should
be applied TO the reaching Of the masses be-
yond the pale Of every Church. Let Mr.
Booth" he said, go forth, like Paul, into the
regions beyond instead Of building other
mems foundations"
Accordingly, in 1865, we find the Booths con-
Quoting services in a tent on a disused Quaker
burial ground at Mile End Waste Whitechapel
having for their congregations the vagabonds
and outcasts Of the East End, and moving from
one temporary shelter to another until they
found permanent accommodations in building
erected on the site Of a notorious beer house.
The original idea Of the Booths simply to
get the people saved and to send them to the
churches. This plan, Mr.. Booth declares he
soon found to be impracticable. and for three
reasons. Il found" he says,
Flrst-That my people would not go to the
secondzzThey were not wanted; and 49,. o,,u
selves. 70 help US in the business Of saving others
In his address on the occasion of his receiving
the freedom Of the CITY of London last
October. General Booth illustrated his attitude,
then and since. toward the poor (and toward the
.hurches) by an incident taken from the Boer
war.
In one of the bessged cities the people were were on on
1Eether and resolved TO do something to Keep them
got together difficulty was experienced IN DIS
TrfIuting them satisfactorily. At last an f5plscO-
long 70 my communion. FOLLOW meI The Methodist,
Baptist aud CJugregauonalst sald: Al VINO CONE CONE
10 my chapel, follow ne! men me "a anon i,
Army captains tu-l came lie SAD; All you
cbaIs who belorg TO nobody, follow me!'
Like Wesley. Booth found that in religion as
IN the world findings Is keepings,' and with
the growth Of his evangelizing movement he was
forced "a build up a more and more compact and
e1f- sustaining organization 10 take care Of IT,
rrbue I'm time and as a natural development, the
salvation Army was evolved rather than born
i, preparing an appeal for his mission in 1877
D.. .s1-zd he question What is the Christian
Mission" The answer suggested was, "A vol
iInteer army" Then. causing for moment and
leaning over the shoulder Of his secretary, Mr.
Booth picked up a a. passed 1t through the
word volunteer and wrote above Il Saliva
,f,n," The phrase attracted attention and sus-
,aated q sDecies Of discipline admirably adapted
10 The needs Of the organization and to the char
. oc.er Of it's recruits Speedily the definition be-
came the actual fact.
IL starting what, In one sense may De calico
a new denomination" though it Is really wider