The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1909-04-10
SEEK GODS HONOR,
SAYS GEN. BOOTH
Salvation Army Leader. On Eightieth
Birthday, Tells Americans To
Build Up Pattern Nation.
BY Nm. Booth. General in Chief OF the
Salvation Army.

BY Wn. bootn, OcneTal IN Snief on N'e
Salvation Army.
LONDON. April s.-(Special)-Af'
ter spending so years IN TINS
world with almost countless 'op-
portunities for observing the
purposes for which men generally
live. and the disappointments they so
commonly suffer, ii seems reasonable
that | should have formed some opin-
ion as TO the course they ought TO fol
| low II they are TO have any real sue
cess.
So on this my eightieth birthday,
on this eve of the resurrection fesu'
val. | tell the American people that
il they will seek the honor OF God. the
reign OF righteousness. the welfare or
the friendless poor and the riches that
endure forever, with the same self
sacrificing avidity With which they seek
| the wealth and pleasures of this world.
they will have good chance of ind
! ing that life OF satisfaction which now
so often eludes them. and OF building
up a pattern nation for the world TO
| initiate.
Nearly 60 years ago slender. pale
! faced youth was walking with a
Quick. nervous, energetic step through
the most densely populated part OF the
Ntv OF London. Swinging back and
forth. pendulum-like, through his
brain rang the words OF physician
| he had just consulted.
You are not strong enough Tor pas
toral work. the doctor said. Not
even In quiet country parish. iou
can't live year II you do II. You must
give il up. You must get some out
door work which makes no great de-
mands on your nerves and brain
To think was to act with this ner.
vous. energetic. white-faced, slender
youth. AT once he began gathering
people together in one OF the London
parks nearby. There was an impe-
rious magnetism about him that
caught the careless and held them.
The crowd gathered. On an upturned
ash barrel the boy began To talk.
Christ was the friend of the poor
and helpless-this was the simple.
powerful story he told He had come
to the world 10 help them and save
them. Christ said, Come unto me all
We that labor and are heavy laden"
This was the beginning of VIM.
Booth. II was also. though no one
realized il. the beginning of the Sal.
walton Army.
The year of grace passed--a year so
busy that VIM. Booth forgot all about
the doctors prediction. The doctor
was glad to forget 1t too For Booth
did not die. He is stronger physically
today at so than he was at 90.
Booth found a whole nation Of peo-
pie whom the church did not
reach They were ashamed TO
go TO church - on account of
their clothes. or their sins.
Sometimes they were ignorant. some
times defiant or hostile. Yet they
needed the church and God more than
the people who did go TO church.
The devil was busy among these
people. Gods people should not be
less so. Booth thought
Booth carried message OF saliva
ton 70 the saloon, the gambling house.
the dive. None was too low for him
to reach out for. Wherever people
needed the Christ message was
Booths pulpit.
He learned that people are not wick
ed because they like TO be. He learn
ed how men and women sink TO the
DEPTHS through lack of education. OF
opportunity, OF help-through poverty.
and the sins or wickedness OF others
To these he carried the message OF
brotherhood.
News of the wonderful eloquence
and power OF the young evangelist
spread through all London. People
saw the thousands who gathered TO
hear him and learned 10 respect him
The biggest church OF London offered
him its pastorate at magnificent sal
ary. II be would leave the slums and
come to them.
Bnt VIM. Booth said NO Without
hesitation, NO. He had found his
work
Soon helpers and disciples gather
ed 10 his fold Some were converts.
who themselves lifted, wanted TO help
others rise Others were educated
men who were inspired by Booths ok.
annie. This brought the second stage
OF Booths work--the work OF organi'
cation
Gen. Wolseley. field marshal OF the
English army. once said that IL he
could pick chief OF stan from all
the world his first choice would be
VIM Booth The evangelist had miss
ed his calling. Gen. Wolseley said.
when he did not go into the army.
Certain II is that VIM. Booth proved
one Of the most wonderful organizers
the world has ever seen. He was i'm.
practical. fanatical. they said. But he
built up q wonderful organization over
the world and has retained 20 this day
tho absolute leadership OF It, His grip
on its affairs is as strong now as IL
ever was. He II is who has planned
every great aggressive movement In
the army work
At so Gen Booth finds himself at
the head Of a trained army Of close to
100 600 men workers. with branches in
50 countries The only civilized couu-
try where the army does not pene.
trate Is Russia. whore the government
fears the advance OF this impetuous
kind of religion Gen. Booth is now
knocking imperiously AZ the doors OF
the land of the car. demanding admis.
sion In the name Of his Master.
-----
LOVE BITE" HIS DEFENSE.