The Dawson news. (Dawson, Ga.) 1889-current, 1912-08-23
GEN. VIM. BOOTH PASSES
THE AGED FOUNDER OF THE
SALVATION ARMY HAS JOINED
THE HEAVENLY HOSTS.
FINAL MESSAGE TO FOLLOWERS
OtOgenarian Evangelist Knew End
Was Approaching Many Days Ago.
and Already Had Nominated His
Successor to Chief Command.

and Already Had Nominated His
Successor to Chief Command.
LONDON.-The Rev. William A.
Booth, general commander-in-chief
of the Salvation Army, died at 1913
o'clock Tuesday night. He was born
in Nottingham in 1929.
Twelve weeks ago Gen. Booth I'M
derwent an operation for the remov-
al of a cataract in his left eye. For
two days after the operation indica
tions justified the hope of the gener-
ais recovery. Then septic poisoning
set in, and from that time with the
exception of occasional rallies the
patients health gradually declined.
The general recognized that the
end was near and often spoke of his
work as being finished.
At His Death Bed.
Throughout the commander-in
chiefs illness his son, Bramwell
Booth, chief of staff of the army,
and Mrs. Bramwell Booth gave their
unremitting attentions to him both
night and day.
The aged evangelist died at his
residence, the Rockstone, Hadley
Wood, eight miles from London,
where he had been confined to his
bed ever since the operation.
Son His Successor.
Under the constitution of the Sal
walton Army the general dominates
his successor. That General Booth
did several years ago, placing the
name in a sealed envelope, which
was deposited with the Salvation
Army's lawyers with instructions
that it should not be opened until
after his death. Bramwell Booth,
his son and for thirty years the chief
of staff, was named.
General Booths last message to
his followers in America was written
last June, while blindness was over
taking him.
His Final Message.
"Pile up all my losses" he then
wrote, they are many and serious,
admit, but look at the mercies still
left me. First, there is my conf
dence in God; l am not going to al
low the existence of few things
which are in conflict with my judg-
ment to interfere with my confidence
in His wisdom, confidence that is in
spired by lifelong knowledge of His
loving care. Then l have not lost
the assurance of my own heart re-
lations with my Heavenly Father. |
have not lost the confidence and love
of my own dear, good people; l have
not lost the intestimable blessings
of life
81 want the continued loyalty of
my own people and the heartier CO.
operation of all men and women
whose hearts are fired with the same
purpose as mine. In a few weeks
time l hope to be found once more
on the battlefield. Anyway, my dear
comrades, in the light or in the dark,
you may count upon your general
to trust in God and go forward"
Surviving General Booth are sew
eral children carrying on the work
he started, most prominent being
Bramwell Booth, the eldest son.
Two other sons, Herbert and Bal
lington Booth, are widely known in
evangelical work, the latter having
been particularly in the public eye
because of a break with his father
sixteen years ago, since when he has
led an Independent organization
known as the Volunteers of Amer
| lea.
OF the daughters, in additions to
Miss Evangeline, who is commander
in America, there is Miss Lucy, COM
mander of the army in Denmark, and
Miss Mary, who worked with her
father in London.