Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-04-16
GEN. VIM. 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.

AONOON, April 1U.-l Apeclal. I-Gen.
William Booth, the founder and head of
the Salvation Army, was so years old to-
day, and all over the world Salvationists
OF every degree and almost every color
are celebrating the anniversary. The
celebration in London is to consist of a
series of monster meetings, beginning to-
day and continuing through several days
OF next week. The aged general, who
has just returned from a visit to Russia
where he went to intercede with the
Gar in an effort to secure the estab-
lishment of the Salvation Army in Rus
STA, has promised to address several of
the meetings. The celebration is an in
ternationaI one in every sense of the
word, for from all parts of Europe lead
| ing members of the organization have
come to London to attend the meetings.
Receives Many Messages
| steady stream of cOngratulatory
messages from all parts of the world
poured in upon Gen. Booth today at his
headquarters in this city. The senders
| included not only the officers and mem
berS of the Salvation Army, but many
| persons prominent in public life, philan-
throplSts, educators, social reformers and
noted divines took occasion to felicitate
upon the success of his life work. A
number of the London newspapers to-
| day contained eulOgistic references to
Gen. Booth and the great organization
| of which he is the handspring.
In many respects this birthday of Gen.
| Booth is momentOuS occasion. 1t not
| only represents the fact that the general
| has exceeded by a decade the biblical
| three score years and ten," but prom
| Uses 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 outposts
and barracks IN various countries, specu-
| lation is rife as to Gen. Booths possible
successor, for one thing is 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 the great moving spirit has
departed. But, on the other hand, there
are weighty opinions to the effect that
BramwelI has not the dominating indi-
vCUality for the position and that when
the general passes from the theater of
activity the army will fall to pieces-or,
if not will be kept going without gen
| eral."
Organization Permanent.
AS II TO cOulDdL the SuSScSllOu THAT
Gen. Booths death will wind up the
army, concerted efforts are being made
| throughout the world to demonstrate that
| the organization over which he presideS
| is permanent one, quite capable of SuS-
| tanning itself in full efficiency even after
the general has passed away. This feel
inf of uncertainty has brought out the
emotional side of the birthday festivities,
and they promise to be an event unique
III the history of the Salvation army.
It is now thirty years since the Saliva
ton Army began work on its present
name. For about twelve years prior to
| 1873, Rev. William Booth had conduct
ed a small organization in the east end
| of London under the name of 1.-The
Christian Mission" At that time Booth
| and his followers were the objects of
! much ridicule. The street meetings and
the methods of the organization in gen
eral were looked upon as sensational and
often the forces were hard pressed by
persecution or prejudice But the organi-
zation persevered and when its aims and
work became better known public senti-
ment underwent a change.
In 1890 Gen. Booth published a volume
entitled Darkest London" containing a
scheme for the enlightenment and indus
trial support of the lower classes. The
! work attracted worldwide attention and
was much commented upon. In its chief
features the scheme of Gen. Booth re-
ceived the Endorsement of many high
| churchmen. During the latter years of
! her life Queen Victoria made an annual
| contribution to the Salvation Army and
it is understood that King Edward also
| has given the organization substantial
| encoura cement.
Army's Great Work.
The Salvation Army, as William T..
| Stead recently remarked, is one of the
miracles of modern times. But little
more than thirty-fve years ago the or
ganization'' consisted of but one man
and his wife, without money, without in.
| fuential friends, without even a place of
worship they could call their own. To
day it's worldwide operations are carried
on in thirty four countries and colonies,
| embracing 1855 posts, under the charge
of 1,O25 officers and employees, with 51,-
161 local officers, 10000 brass bandsmen,
| and about $4,000 musicians. The num-
Der of annual conversions in connection
with the spiritual work has averaged
from 100000 to $4,000 during the past
| ten years, making total of over 2,OOO,>
| 900, of whom not less than 100000 were