The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1909-04-15
GEN. WIN. BOOTH
IS 80 YEARS OLD
COMMANDER OF SALVATION ARMY
RECEIVES CONGRATULATIONS
FROM ALL OVER WORLD
CELEBRATION IN LONDON
Metropolis Pays Homage to Aged Phi
lanthropist in Recognition OF
Great Work.
SPECULATION AS TO SUCCESSOR.

LONDON, April 10 SPECIAL. I-Gen.
William Booth, the founder and head of
lie Salvation Army. was 50 years old to-
day, and all over the world Sa!vationsts
If every degree and almost every color
ere celebrating the anniversary. The
celebration in London IS 10 consist Of
series Of monster meetings, beginning to-
lay and continuing through several days
If next week. The aged general who
mas just returned from a visit to Russia
where he went to iutercedc with the
Gar in an effort to secure the estab-
ishment of the Salvation Army in Rus
sia, has promised to address several Of
he meetings. The celebration is an in
ternatOnal one in every sense of the
word, for from all parts Of Europe lead
ng members of the organization have
come to London to attend the meetings
Receives Many Messages
\ steady stream of CouGratulatory
messages from all parts Of the world
poured in upon Gen, Booth today at his
headquarters in this city. The sendcrs
included not only the officers and mem
5erS of the Salvation Army. but many
persons prominent in public life, phiIan-
.hropiSts, educators, social reformers and
noted divincs took occasion to felctate
the aged general and congratulate him
upon The success of his life work. 4
aumbcr Of the London newspapers to-
Day contained culogistic references to
Gen. Booth and the great organization
Of which he is the handspring.
In many respects this birthday Of Gen,
Booth is mpmeutous occasion. II not
only represents the fact that the general
has exceeded by a decade the biblical
three score years and ten but prom
iscs To be almost turning point in the
fate Of the vast organization over which
at present he exercises autOCratiC control
In the thousands of army outp0sts
and barracks in various countries, spccu-
latiOn is rife as 10 Gen. Booths possible
successor, for one thing il fairly certain
the time is rapidly approaching when
that will have to be announced. Most
people imagine that no one else but
Bramwell Booth, the generals eldest son
and present chief OF staff Of the army,
can succeed TO the head Of the organiza-
ton when fla" great moving spirit has
departed. But on the other hand, there
are weiChiy opinions 10 the effect that
Rramwell has not the dominating indi-
viGLalty for the position and that when
The general passes from the theatcr of
activity the army will fall 10 pcccs-or,
IL not, will be kept going without gen
craL'
As if 60 combat the suggestion that
Gen Booths death viii wind up the
army, concerted efforts are being made
throughout the world to demonstrate that
the organization over which ne prcsidcS
rs permanent one, quite capable Of sus,
tanning itself in fun efficiency even after
the general has passed away. This feel
inf uf uncertainty has brought ont the
emotional side Of the birthday festivities.
O.
h. the history Of the Salvation army
II IS now thirty years since the Saliva
tiuu Army began work on its present
name. For about twelve years prior 10
1873 Rev. William Booth had conduct
Cd small organization in the east end
Of London under the name of "Thc
Christian Mission" At that time Booth
and his followers wcr" the objects Of
much ridiculc. The street meetings and
the methods If the organization in gen
oral We're looked upon rs sensational and .
often the forces were hard pressed by
persecution or prejudice. BIT the orgaui
zatiou pcrscyorcd ana when its aims and
work became better known public scnti- .
ineut underwent change.
In 1890 Gen. Booth published a volume
entitled Darkest London containing q
scheme for the enlightenment and indus
trial support Of the lower classes. The .
work attracted world wide attention and .
WAS much commented upon, In its chief .
features the scheme of Gen. Booth re
coivcd the Endorsement Of many high .
churchmcu During the latter wears of
her life Queen Victoria made nm annual
contribution to the Salvation Army and .
it is understood that King Edward also .
has given the organization substantial
encouragement
Army's Great Work
The Salvation Army, rs William r. /
Stead recently remarked is one of the
miracles Of modern times. But little
more than thirty-hvc years ago the COR
ganization" consisted Of but one man
and his wife, without money without in
iuontial friends, without even q place 81 .
worship they could call their own. To
day its worldwide operations are carried .
on in thirry-four countries and colonies,
embracing 5000 posts under the charge
Of - ,O2J officers and employees with 81
lGl local officers. 10000 brass hundsmpu
and about $1,000 musicians The mum
her of annual conversions in connection
with the spiritual work has averaged
from 10000 10 3JOvpO during the past
Ten years making a total Of over 1000.
600. of whom not less than 2Oo.OOD were