The Springfield herald., 1909-04-16

ance that he has been repeating
throughout the world for At years.
How He Started the Army.
This first meeting resulted in the
formation of the Christian mission,
from which 1t was the evangelists
custom to send his converts to the ex-
listing churches of the locality. but
finding that they were not welcomed
and were in danger of slipping back
from sheer want of comradeship and
oversight. he set about forming So
cieties of the converted. These he
found to be potent agency for bring
ing in more, as the needless East
ender could be impressed by the
words of former pal" when he
would not listen to minister. SO was
created the central idea of the Saliva
tion Army.
The need of organization became
apparent, but several methods were
tried with little success before Gen.
Booth hit upon the military idea and
named his organization the Salvation
Army. From that time on the move
ment grew amazingly and 1t has con-
tinued to grow without ceasing to
this day.
Spread Over the World.
The movement began spreading to
other countries OF the world in 1881
when 1t first reached the United
States through the influence of silk
weaver who had emigrated from Cow
entry, England, bringing with him the
Salvation Army idea and strong de-
sire to continue in the work. 1t
reached Australia in the same year
through milk dealer from Stepney,
and soon afterwards the first Canadian
corps was organized in similar
fashion.
Five years later, in 1886. the gem
eral made the first of many visits to
the American branches of the army
and he has seen them grow from a
few small corps into a veritable army
of tremendous influence and unsur-
passed efficiency. His first great
world-tour was made in 1891. when he
visited South Africa. Australia and
India. Since then he has visited the
United States. Canada, Australia, New
Zealand and India four times, South
Africa twice and Japan and the Holy
Land each once.
During all these travels the actual
executive responsibility for the gov
ernment of the army has never been
lifted from his shoulders. Even on
shipboard he is an indefatigable work
er, planning and writing through the
days.
Gen. Booth Honored.
One OF the most remarkable of the
many tributes paid to the general by
the great of the world was that of the
mikado of Japan during the visit to
that country. The mikado personally
received the general with great
warmth and he was accorded remark
able ovations in Yokohama, Tokyo.
Sendai and kyoto, n circumstance of
strange import when it is realized that
Japan is not a Christian country.
Another interesting distinction given
Gen. Booth was the comforting on him
of the degree of doctor of civil law by
oxford university The significance
of this honor will be better under
stood when It is stated those who re-
ceived university honors with him at
the time were Prince Arthur OF Con-
naught the prime minister of Eng
land, the lord chancellor. the speaker.
Sir f. Grey. the archbishop of
Armagh Sir Evelyn Wood, the Ameri-
can ambassador, Mark Twain and
Rudyard Kiplins.
AS writer Gen. Booth is remark
able. both as stylist, as a thinker
and rs a producer. He has written in
all 81 volumes. besides innumerable
articles for the army publications.
His bcstknown book is 'In Darkest
England and the Way Out" in which
he outlined his scheme for social re-
form by means of colonization. THE
Training of Children" Love, Mar
riage and the Home" and his books
on reform are among the others of
the generals bestknown literary pro-
ductions
His Greatness in Time of Trial.
The greatness of this born leader
OF men shone with especial bril-
lancy during that most trying period
in the history of the movement, when
disagreements caused split in the
| Army's American forces and they d.
| vided. one part becoming the Volun-
teers OF America with the generals
| own son, Ballington Booth, at its head
| nFDuSn tnlS serious DTedk, WHICH
threatened the progress of the work
| for time. the patriarch maintained
such simple and dignified attitude of
| acceptance as to strengthen greatly
| his position before the world.
OF those who have left him the
| general wrote: ut was to be expected
that in such work as ours, demanding
as it does arduous toll and constant
self-denial and often real hardships
of one kind or another, some should
prove unworthy, some should grow
weary and others should faint by the
way. 1t could not be otherwise for we
are engaged in real warfare and who
ever heard of war without wounds or
losses? But even of those who do thus
step aside from the position of officers
large proportion remain with US en-
gagged in some voluntary effort in our
ranks"
Writes Of His Greed.
OF his creed the general has written
very beautifully. He says: