El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-09-02


new burden is put upon the Methodist
mission boards this year through the
absorption of the City union, which
has been a Methodist agency of some
Its method has been, not to raise ana
eXpend money, but TO agltate the ne
cessity for relief. Now that WORK IS
taken over by the Methodist board OF
home missions, Methodist benevolences,
several OF them, are heavily in debt
GEN. BOOTHS WEAKNESSES
AND THEIR EFFECT IN AMERICA
The late Gen. William Booth, founder
of the salvation army, one OF the
greatest men whom the Anglo Saxon
type has produced, had two weaknesses
In his character which eXerted pri-
mary and vital influence on army work
in the United States. These weaknesses
caused at least three startling ana
striking results to army enterprises
here. The weaknesses were hate that
once aroused died hard, if it died at
all. and an inability to let go power
after he had felt the joy of exercising
it.
After the quarrel between Gen Viii
liam Booth and his son, Gen. Balling-
ton Booth, the father came to Amerl-
ca and upon his arrival gave to report
erS of the New York newspapers as
bitter words as any man could put INTO
an interview concerning any. other
man. Indirectly, it killed the Episco
pal church's attempt then just begun,
TO copy in America the English church
army, still existent and still doing a
great work. But for that interview IL
is probable there would now be an
American Church army.
A few years later Gen. William
Booth came to America second time.
There met him in lower New York
bay, before he landed from his ship and
before the reporters had chance TO
see him, a company of three well
known New York clergy and laymen.
This company hoped that, some years
having elapsed, Gen Booth might en-
tertain kfndlier feelings toward ms
son, then and now the head OF the
prosperous Volunteers. However, the
three men were prepared for emerSen-
els. Gen. Booth greeted them as old
most affabIe until, one of them pur-
posely mentioned the subject of Bal
lington ard the fathers treatment OF
him during his visit. Immediately the
manner Of the head of the Salvation
army changed
In the words of one of the three. ut
tered at the time, the devil remaining
in the old man broke loose" Ties of
kinship counted for nothing. Gen.
Booth produced an interview, prepared
in advance, and gave IL TO the spokes-
be handed in duplicate TO the reporters
the moment the ship landed or they
came aboard. The interview was not
worse than the one of few years per
ViOuS had been because it could not be.
But all of the vitriol of the former
statement was there. The company
of men waited not an instant Com
manding Gen. Booth to silence for
moment, the spokesman told him with
words of authority, that that state
ment should never be given to tie
newspapers of America, should never
be uttered in any form while here
They told Gen. Booth that, considering
the ties of kinship, and taking account
OF the Salvation army's pretensions,
the statement, If published, would do
unreasonable harm to ChrtSts cause
in America. not Army and Volunteer
alone, but to all
All of the arguments were, however,
Of no avail whatever upon Gen. Booth.
Finally the company played its last
card Gen. Booth was told that If the
that if he, in his addresses while in
America, gave voice to them, or If on
returning to England he published
them, these men would see 10 II that
financial support for the Army In
America ceased once and for all, The
old man was whipped He knew the
power OF his visitors over his financial
support Not graciously,- not Kindly,
not even courteOusly. was the submits
sion But the promise was given,
dogged one, and it was kept. The IL
rade against BaIIlngton Booth, me
second one, remains undeliYered to this
cay. 4 copy OF it is said to be in exist
ence in this country, but forever after
Gen. Booth was silent That there
was a reconciliation no one who knew
the inside history of the controversy,
and knew Gen. Booth, ever expected
The other almost fatal detect IN the !
character Of this great man, now gone /
TO his reward. was that OF holding on. I
He held on to all of the power his J
ability set up. The Salvation army IL I
America, while great and useful, has 4
been hampered for years by the arbi- 1
trary, and the antiquated, orders of 4
the general at its head. The VOlun- /
teers of America has grown as an or (
ganiZation because it has had a free I
hand and because its work is needed !
That work is quite unlike the Salvation .
army, and consolidation is not to be /
looked for.
Gen. Booth gone, the new head is eX- !
Dected to admit others to a share in /
the exercise of power and to intro /
due new methods, not only in the Army /
the world, but TO permit
their Introduction in the Army in Amer
lea Such intention is fOreshadowcd in
the very first address of Cen Bran
well Booth 1t is believed that the
family differences of the Booths will
not be formally healed but will be al
lowed to disappear There will be no