Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-08-22
HEAD OF SALVATION ARMY
PASSES AWAY IN LONDON
HOME.
ILL TWELVE WEEKS
Veteran Evangelist Leaves Name OF
His Successor in q Sealed Envelope,
and It is Thought to Be His
Son, Bramweli.


Booth, general and commander In chlel
of the Salvation Army passed away q,
10: 80 o'clock last night. He was oorL
at Nottingham in 1929. The veteran
Salvation Army leader was unconscious
for forty eight hours.
Twelve weeks ago General Boom
underwent an operation Tor tne re-
moval of a cataract in his LETT eye. FOL
two days after the operation indications
justified the hope of his recovery. Then
however, septic poisoning set IN and
from that time, with the exception OF
occasional rallies, the patients health
steadily declined. The general recog-
nized that the end was near ana olten
spoke of his work as being finished.
Throughout the commanders illness
his son, Bramwell Booth, chief OF stan
of the army, and Mrs. BramWell Boom
gave their unremitting attentions to
him both night and day. The aged
evangelist died at his residence, the
Rockstone, Hadleywood, eight miles
from London. where he had been con-
fined to his bed ever since the opera
ton. Present at the bedside When the
end came were Mr.. and Mrs. Bramwell
Booth, and their daughter and son,
Sergeant Bernard Booth. The gener-
ais youngest daughter, Commissioners
Mrs. Booth Helberd, and Commissioners
Wardlaw Milne.
Public interest now centers In the
ouestion Of a successor to the late COM
mander.
Norinates His Successor.
Under the constitution OF the army
the general dominates his successor.
That General Booth did several years
ago, placing the name IN sealed en-
yelope which he deposited with the
10
lions that it should not be opened I'M
til after his death.
While nobody knows what name the
envelope contains, the general oellet
among the Salvation Army Is that IT
will prove to be that of Bramwell
Booth who for thirty years has been
its chief Of staff.
Where General Booth will be buried
has not vet been decided. While every
English member Of the Salvation Army
is convinced that no man was more
worthy of interment in Westminster
Abbey. it Is not expected this honor
will be awarded to General Booth by
the abbey authorities. It is the general
belief that the commander In CHEERS
last resting place will be alongside that
of his wife, who twenty-one years ago
was buried in Abney park. STOKE New
ington.
Tho Generals Last Words.
Almost the last words OF General
Booth were uttered just before he lost
consciousness. He was referring to
Gods promises and, speaking with
great difficulty, said: "They are sure.
They are sure. II you will only believe
Colonel Kitching said that up to Sat
urday General Booth showed solicitude
for the work of the army. He inquired
about the progress being made IN
America and India, especially about the
welfare of the officer sent to China to
report on the possibility Of commencing
work there.
Life of Gen. Booth.
Starting his career alone as soap
box preacher in the slums OF Noting
ham, England. at the age of fifteen
years, William Booth ended it at
eighty four as head Of an army OF
millions of salvationists scattered
through f1fty-four countries.
He fought many real battles in the
streets of London and often was in
peril Of losing his life In the cause, but
with those who rallied to his support
he forged the nucleus OF his great
movement, which was given the name
Of the christian Mission
Origin of Army's Name.
The present Salvation army was
never forseen nor was the name ever
ucIlUOldICiS SAAOoSA ~ '~AA! ~~'.
Booth was debating to stenographer
when he used the words The Christian
mission is a volunteer army" When he
looked over the paper later he substi-
tuted "salvati ton for volunteer as
the stronger word and the phrase
struck fire among his mission workers,
who seized the militant spirit from it,
So great was General Booths faculty
of handling and inspiring men that
Marshall Wolsey once declared that
the British army had taken lessons In
methods Of organization, distribution
and control from the salvationist
Surviving General Booth are several
children carrying on the work he start
ed, most prominent being Bramwell
Booth, the eldest son, who Is acting as
chief staff in London. and who Is ex-
pected to succeed his father as general
of the army.