The Detroit times., 1912-08-21
GEN. BOOTH is TAKEN
BY DEATH IN LONDON
tContinued from Page one)

(COnttnued from rage OneD
duct OF headquarters routine business
until the generals successor has been
tnducted into Office.
Salvation Army headquarters today
issued the following official announce
ment to the army OF Gen. Booths
death:
"Our general has laid down his
sword. God is with u.s."
Gen. Booth left practically no per-
sonal estate. Vast sums were con-
tributed TO him or earned by him
through his writings, but all OF IL went
toward the support and up-building OF
the army. His death was directly due
to septic poisoning and the shock OF
an operation for the removal OF q
cataract from his left eye. but his
physician said today that really he
succumbed TO old age and the wear
and tear OF long life OF incessant
work.
It Is understood that the day he
died q cable message was received ex-
pressing the love and sympathy OF
his son, Ballington Booth, from whom
he had long been estranged. but the
general was unconscious when It ar
rived and died without knowing OF his
sons overture toward a reconcilia-
ton
Bramwell Booth who, 1t is taken for
granted, will succeed his father as the
army's eommander.in-chief,i - Sc years
old. He was Gen. Booths eldest son.
Born at Halifax, England. he grew up
In the Salvation Army and devotion
to its interests completely saturates
his nature. Though without his faM-
er's fire, magnetism and marvellous
eloQuence, he is a man OF sound com
< mon sense and an efficient executive.
He worked his way up through the
Salvation Army ranks, toiling like the
humblest recruit early in HIS career,
until he reached the rank OF chief Of
stan In 1888. He is widely travelled.
welleducated, and very popular with
the salvationists.
His wife, whom he married In 1882,
is q native Of Plymouth, England. She
is commissioner and leader OF wo-
mems social work Of the Salvation
Army In Great Britain.
Nearly so years ago William Booth.
then frail youth, was walking
through the slums of London He had
Just left his doctor, who had told him
he only had a year to live.
A sentence OF death that was what
the words meant to the young man.
whose spirit was fred with a desire
20 work In the name OF religion. A
coarse-faced woman Jostled him.
Come out OF the clouds, boy" she
81 will" said Booth, absently, and
he found an ash barrel near by. On
top Of II he preached his first sermon
In London. His congregation was a
crowd OF poverty-stricken slum dwell
ers. But they listened 10 his wonder
ful message and continued TO hear him
when he came again and again. That
was the start OF the Salvation Army.
And Booth. the young exhorter. who
had only year to live, defed his doc
tors word by living past so. and or
ganizing the worlds greatest evan
gelical agency,
william Booth was born at sneInton,
q suburb OF Nottingham England.
April 10. 1879 His father was build
l err In moderate circumstances and at
hts death Booth was left with very
little money. While still young boy
his attention was attracted by James
Coughey. an American evangelist
whose eloquence and magnetism gained
him a wide reputation In England at
by personal appeals. and they were a
powerful factor In influencing the
young man In later years.
AT the age of I5 Booth Joined the
one God, and John Wesley was his
prophet" he said. When only Il Booth
became a lay preacher OF the church
He followed the methods OF Coughey
at FIRST. but gradually ne became more
vivid and convincing than the Ameri-
can.
His ambition at this time was TO
enter the ministry. and he studied
him weakened physically, and Il was
then that his physician decreed him
only a year 10 live
--W When he was 2l years old = con
~ ha
church arose, and Booth as result
cf this, entered the Methodist minis
try A station was assigned him In
London. and IL was there. In his TWEEN
ty-nrst year, that he met his future
wife. Catherine Mumford.
In later years. when he was meet
ing with opposition on all sides. IT
was his wife's loyalty that kept him
at his plans. His dominating desire
for evangelical work still continued,
and for seven years he and his wife
Con, the Mldlands and the north OF
England
The last four years OF this period
\ were spent as circuit minister OF
the Methodist church. although he vio-
lated many OF the regulations for
Methodist circuit preaching. He was
criticised by other ministers for being
Unconventional" and he petitioned 20
be relieved OF his circuit duties and TO
turn a simon pure evangelist
A meeting OF the church authorities
was held 10 consider his request. and
IL seemed II would be granted when
an amendment was made TO the reso-
lution. suggesting n compromise. Booth
was considering the proposal when his
wife. In the gallery OF the assembly
hrii cried out. Never
Her one word decided him and re-
suited In his giving TO the world the
salvation Army. Without friends or
money the pair decided 10 begin the
work which was 10 occupy the rest OF
their lfves
In ise5 they organized the Christian
Revival association. A deserted ouak
er burial ground In the whIteehapel