River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1909-04-15

formation OF the Christian mission,
from which 1t was the evangelist's
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 comradeshlp ana
oversight, he set about forming so
cieties of the converted. These ne
found to be a potent agency for bring
ing in more, as the needless East
ender could be impressed by the
words of a former pal when ne
would not listen to a minister. 80
was created the central idea OF the
Salvation Army.
The need of organization becomes
apparent, but several methods were
tried with little success before Gen.
Booth hit upon the military IDEA ana
named his organization the salvation
Army. From that time on the move
ment grew amazingly and it has con-
tinued to grow without ceaslng 70
this day.
Spread over the WOTtus
The movement began spreading TO
other countries of the world In 1851
when it first reached the United
States through the influence or SILK
weaver who had emigrated from Gov
entry, England, bringing with him the
Salvation Army idea and strong de-
sire to continue in the work. IL
reached Australia in the same year
through a milk dealer from Stepney,
and soon afterwards the first Canadian
corps was organized in similar
fashion.
Five years later, in 1886, the gen.
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 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
eminent 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, a circumstance of
strange import when it is realized
that Japan is not Christian country.
Another interesting distinction given
Gen. Booth was the comforting on him
of the degree of doctor of civil law by
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 E. Grey, the archbishop of
Armagh, Sir Evelyn Wood, the Ameri-
can ambassador, Mark Twain and
Rudyard Kipling.
AS writer Gen. Booth is remark
able, both as a stylist, as a thinker
and as a producer. He has written in
all 81 volumes, besides innumerable
articles for the army publications.
His best-known 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 best-known literary pro-
auctions.
Writes of His Creed.
OF his creed the general has written
very beautifully. He says:
"The simplicity of our creed has
been, as I believe it will remain, one
Of the principal helps to our unity.
We stand for the old truths. The
faith which can be interpreted in
terms of duty, of unselfishness, of
purity, of love to God and man, is the
only faith we really care about What
ever may be the case with the select
minority, the consciousness of sin,
the force of evil habit and the con-
seriousness of sin and the influence Of
passion, are all vivid realities with
the great masses of the population.
To them we bring the promise of de-
liverance by Jesus Christ"