Republican news item. [volume] (Laport, Pa.) 1896-19??, 1912-09-06
BOOTHS FUNERAL
SOLEMN SCENE
Salvation Chief Has Greatest
Burial Service.
HIGH PITCH OF EMOTION
No Pomp or Display, No Symbols Of
s-Congregation in Tears
-ChIdren's Chorus Breaks
Down When Called to Sing.

London.-Funeral services over the
founder of the Salvation Army, Gen.
William Booth, were held in Olympia,
in accordance with the traditions OF
that organization, without pomp OF
symbols of mourning, but with a most
moving fervor and impressiveness.
Thirty-four thousand people partici-
pated in the service. Nearly half wore
the blue coats and red jerseys or bon
nets with red ribbon so familiar on
the streets of cities in many coun-
tries.
The body of the late General in a
plain pine coffin rested high on a
white catafalque in front of the big
platform across the end of the hall,
where all the chief officers of the or
ganization were seated, and where
forty bands were massed. The Grim
son flag of the army "of fire and
blood" which the General unfurled
ON Mount Calvary, was planted above
the coffin. A bank of flowers COM
posed of the tributes sent by mem
bers of royalty and many societies
was behind it. Flags of various ma
tions in which the Commander-in-
Chief had waged campaigns and the
standards of the older divisions of the
army were arrayed in front of the
platform.
These and more Salvation Army
flags in the galleries, each tipped with
white ribbons, and twenty portraits
of the evangelist, surmounted with
green laurel wreaths, with a broad
orange ribbon connecting them, were
the only decorative effects.
Bramwell Booth, the late Generals
son, who has been made his successor,
wept at his fathers coffin. Up to
that moment he had borne his grief in
silence Commissioner Adelaide Cox
offered an impressive prayer, in which
she said: Lord, We do not want to
disappoint Thee; help us to save the
world"
The service itself was not only a
memorial, but a mammoth meeting of
prayer and praise. No other congre-
cation comparable with it was ever
seen in London, if in the world, save
at the funeral of the Generals wife,
held in the same hall twenty-five years
ago.
The most solemn moments of the
long ceremony We're when the coffin
was borne along the middle of the
hall to the music of the Dead March
in, II A
senting many branches of the army's s
activity, made up of men and women,
and a detachment of officers from the
foreign branches carrying the flags OF
their respective countries, preceded
it, Immediately before the body a
brigadier bore aloft the crimson flag
which the General raised at Jerusa.
lem, and under which he died at Had
ley Wood. Following it marched Off
GERS from Sweden, Germany, the
United States, Switzerland, Canada
France, Denmark, Norway, India and
Australia.
Then came the new General. Bran
well Booth, with his wife, each wear
ing the uniform OF commissioner
Mrs Booth-H elberg and the grandchil.
dren of the late General-Adjutant
Catherine Booth, Capt. Mary Booth
Capt. Miriam Booth Cadet Sergeant
Bernard Booth and Cadet NJ. Booth
Tucker.
This revival service was concluded
with the singing of the refrain heard
at every meeting which Gen. Booth
had conducted, His Blood Can Make
the Vilest Clean; His Blood Avails
for Me-"
The most impressive feature of the
solemnities followed. All the soldiers
of the army rose and recited the GOV
enant of fidelity, pledeing themselves
to be faithful soldiers of the Lord
The catafalque was then wheeled
slowly down the aisle while the great
gathering sang, when the Roll Is
Called Up Yonder III Be There" The
coffin was placed in hearse and con
veyed to the Salvation Army Head
quarters, whence it was taken to Alb
ney Park Cemetery.