The Detroit times., 1909-04-10
SEEK HONOR Of so
AND ESTABLISH
PATTERN NATION
Leader of Salvation Army, On
S0th Birthday, Sends Greetin9
To People of the United
States.
Remarkable Life Story of Man Wl
Began His Career of Uplift
go Years Ago.
BY VIM. BOOTH.
General In Chief Of the SaIvatlG(
Army.

General In CHIEF OF the SasSats
Army.
LONDON. April S.-(Special.1--A1
ter spending so years in TIT
world with almost countless o.
portunities for observing IN
purposes for which men generally
live. and the disappointments they e.
commonly suffer, it seems reasonabI
chat | should have formed some OPT
ion as to the course they ought to- ~
low II they are to have any real su4
cess.
So on this my eightieth birthdaX
on this eve OF the resurrection feo(
val. tell the American people tn
II they will seek the honor of God, q
reign OF righteousness, the welfare 9
the friendless poor, and the riches tn
endure forever. with the same set
sacrificing avidity with which they So
the wealth and pleasures of this woyt4
they will have good chance OF nu4
ing that life OF satisfaction which NOV
so often eludes them, and of buildiuI
up a pattern nation for the world
initiate.
Nearly 60 years ago slender, pale
faced youth was walking with
quick, nervous. energetic step throuo
the most densely populated part OF tn
ltv OF London. Swinging back an
forth, pendulum-like, through A.
brain rang the words of physic1q4
he had just consulted.
you are not strong enough for Pc
| toral work. the doctor said. mo
even in a quiet country parish. YoI
can't live a year If you do. You muo|
give 1t up You must get some 0t1S
door work which makes no great Dc
mands on your nerves and brain."
To think was to act with this n0E
vous. energetic white-faced, slendSl
youth. At once he began gathering
people together in one of the LUndoq
parks nearby There was an imp
rious magnetism about him thu
caught the careless and held them
The crowd gathered On an upturne(
ash barrel the boy began to talk.
Christ was the friend of the pool
and helpless-this was the Simple
powerful story he told. He had com0
TO the world to help them and saw
them. Christ said, Come unto me all
We that labor and are heavy laden.
This was the beginning of WIN;
Booth IL was also, though no on
realized 1t. the beginning of the SAX
walton Army.
The year of grace passed-a year "a
busy that VIM Booth forgot all abouy
the doctors prediction. The doctor
was glad to forget 1t too. For B0otN
did not die. He is stronger physically
today at 80 than he was at 20.
Booth found whole nation of peo-
pie whom the church did mo-
reach. They were ashamed @
go TO church on account 81
their clothes, or their sins
Sometimes they were Ignorant, some.
times defiant or hostile. Yet they
needed the church and God more thar
the people who did go to church.
The devil was busy among thesG
people. Gods people should not b
less so. Booth thought "a
Booth carried a message Of saliva
ton to the saloon. the gambling house,
the dive. None was too low for him
to reach out for. Wherever peopIq
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. a
opportunity, OF help-through poverty.
and the sins or wickedness OF others.
To these he carried the message OF
brotherhood
News Of the wonderful eloquenco
and power OF the young evangelist
spread through all London. People
saw the thousands who gathered ia
hear him and learned TO respect him.
The biggest church of London offered
| him its pastorate at a magnificent sal
ary. If he would leave the slums and
come TO them.
But VIM. Booth said NO. Withhold
hesitation, NO. He had found hi1
work
Soon helpers and disciples gather
ed to his fold Some we're converts
who. themselves lifted. wanted to helu
others rise Others were educated
mon who were inspired by Booths ex'
ample. This brought the second stage
OF Booths work--the work Of organi'
cation
Cen. Wolseley. field marshal OF the
English army. once said that II he
could pick chief of staff from all
the world his first choice would be
VIM. Booth The evangelist had miss
cd his calling. Gen. Wolseley said.
when he did not go into the army.
Certain 1t is that VIM. Booth proved
one of the most wonderful organizers
the world has ever seen. He was Inn
practical. fanatical, they said. But he
built up a wonderful organization over
the world. and has retained to this day
the absolute leadership of It. His grip
on its affairs is as strong now as e
ever was. He IL Is who has planned
every great aggressive movement ~
the army work.
At so. Gen. Booth finds himself a.
the head OF a trained army OF close e
100. 900 men workers. with branches "
90 countries. The only civilized court1
try where the army does not pene
4 trate is Russia, where the government
fears the advance OF this .impetuoue
kind of religion. Gen. Booth IL no.
knocking lmperiously at the doors q
the land of the car. demanding adm11
sfon In the name az his Master