Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1909-04-15


Booth must have been well nigh as
striking a figure as now. Tall, slight
ardent. he was on fire to carry the gos-
pei to the submerged tenth" and no
scoffing. indifference, hardship or ac-
tual danger could deter him. He con-
tinued his open air preaching even
while gaining an education and while
employed at clerical work during the
day. He was warned by the doctors
that his health would not stand the
strain and that If he did not desist
his life would pay the penalty, but he
hesitated not at all. Even when a
comrade fell at his side Booth went
on. He received a private education
from Methodist tutor and was or
dained to the ministry in the New
Connection church at the age of twen-
ty-three. Three years later he was
married to Catherine Mumford. the
remarkable woman who was after
ward to win the worlds love as the
mother of the army" AS long as
Booth could act as travelling evangel-
regular ministry, but when the con
ference required him to settle down to
the ordinary circuit work he resigned.
A certain dramatic scene in connection
with that resignation IS yet recalled.
In the gallery at the conference sat a
girlish figure, and when the decision
was reached that Mr.. Booth was to
4, 40
sembled ministers were not little
startled to hear a clear voice ring from
above, "Neverw 1t meant the cutting
off of a scant livelihood and facing
the world without a dollar, not an
easy thing for woman to do. espe-
cially since there were already little
mouths to feed, but the noblest causes
in this world have been built on the
heroism of women.
Life Often Endangered.
Out of the ministry and also out OF
a livelihood, Booth began preaching in
an old tent in q Quaker burying
ground. The tent which was donated,
was ripped to pieces in storm, after
which meetings we're held in cheaI
halls, In parks or in byways and alley
ways. The work was in the worst sec
ton of London, Whitechapel, and the
young preachers life was often endan-
gered by the hostile mob. The cause
throve on persecution, however, and
in 1865 in a literally God forsaken part
of the great city called Mile End
Wy oIr ,to ~
ed 1t was not at first called by that
name. but was known as the Christian
mission. Booth had a happy faculty
Of coming phrases and in 1877 penned
the line, The Christian mission Is a
volunteer army" Then he erased the
word volunteer" and in place thereof
wrote salvation" The name stuck
and was the real inception of the
army as 1t exists today. There was no
preconcerted plan of adopting it, but
rather a spontaneous growth. In n
short time the leaders were called
captain" Booth himself became the
general" a uniform was adopted.
drums, bugles and marching columns
were brought into requisition, and n
new era was started in religious prop
aganda among the poor.
In 1879 the War Cry was started
which now, with kindred publications
of the army, is printed in twenty-one
languages and circulates over a million
copies Il week. In 1880 the cause took
on international scope by invading
America. The next year it was carried
into France In 1885 the purity cru
sade was started for the protection OF
young girls. In 1856 General Booth
made his first trip to the United States
and Canada, holding POO meetings in
three months. In 1890 appeared his
most famous book. In Darkest Eng
land and the Way Out" During the
same year was founded the celebrated
Hadleigh Farm colony. system which
the army has extended over the earth.
Then India was invaded, and the In
dian banking system was inaugurated
to protect the poor from extortionate
rates of interest. There followed the
establishment of homes and employ
ment for Armenian refugees, the naval
and military league TO work among
soldiers and sailors throughout the
world, homes for fallen women, shell
ters for waits and strays. prison gate
homes for eX-cOnyicts. servants homes.
hospitals, factories and workshops.
bureaus for temporary and permanent
employment poor mems lawyer de
partment, bureaus for tracing lost and
missing frierds. food dcpots and shel-
ters for the destitute. free beds and
finally the anh-suicide department.
A Universal Traveller.
whatever may be thought of the re-
ligious methods of the salvation Army.
It's social work merits and receives uni
versal praise Behind all these benef.
icent activities stands the prophet.
like figure OF William Booth Auto
crat he may be. but if So he is an uu-
tOcIat for good ana one Who has done
more t. spread self reliance ami sell
respect among those who most needed
both those qualities than any other
one man OF his .imc
No, Only his institution. bet the man
himself, Is known la well nigh every
land beneath the sun. In the prrsecu
tion Of his wor. De has been uuisp.-
sal -Dyeier having traNar>.u A,sar-
lea anl Europe many times and hav.
ing visited Africa AusuaI1ala. India
and even Japan. The dream If bis
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