New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-08-21
Booths Early Days.

! Eeneral Booth was born near Noting
man, England. on April 10. 1929. and was
'he son OF business man In moderate
! circumstances. The boy. following in his
| fathers footsteps. attended the services
{ of the Established Church until he was
| htteen years old. Then came his dissatis-
/ faction with the religious teaching he
mad been receiving. and he Joined a Wes-
! leyan Chapel where, as he explained,
! the Gospel was clearly and simply
| preached and he became "soundlv con-
verted."
Foilowing his conversion. he cast his
eyes upon the misery and suffering in
the Sums Of Nottingham and determined
TO 90 what he could TO remedy conditions.
! In speaking a few years ago of this
resolve. taken at such an early age
/ General Booth said: II was turned. fortu-
rately for me. in the direction Of suffering
and wretchedness just at the best age
the age OF romance and enthusiasm"
severe illness came upon him at this
time, however. and for several days his
life hung in the balance. This experience
further strengthened bis decision as TO
what his life work should be
! Il rose from my bed" he said once in
referring TO this period. "and went forth
resolved 10 spend my life in the service
Of God. Christ for me-. That was my
motto; that my battle cry: that my war
/ note; that my consolation from the very
first. even up TO this day. II is the cry
with which / could fight the devil and all
| his works until there is not a sign OF
curse in existence, not sorrow I'M
! soothed nor a tear unwiped away. until
/ the world is bathed in salvation and all
men are bathing IN fits life giving stream"
Begins EvangeIiste Work.
! General Booth began his evangelistc
work at night his time during the day
being entirely taken up by his business
! For nearly three years he labored in the
poorer sections OF Nottingham and then
took up the regular circuit work Of the
Methodist Church, When he was twenty
five years old he became a full fedged
minister.
But II didn't take him long to find out
I that this particular sort of religious WORK
was not suited 10 him. ~ couldn't rest 4"
| he said. Il wanted TO get out into the
wide sea OF misery surging and sweltering
about me The Conference wouldn't let
me do that special work. the only work
J for which ! felt myself really fitted. and
| so. believing I was called to II by God, !
went out and left every friend ] had in
/ the world"
! Cornwall was the spot chosen by Cen
eral Booth for the beginning Of his
/ laDors. and he met with wonderful sue
cess. According 10 his estimate, seven
! thousand persons were converted during
his stay. Encouraged by this showing.
/ General Booth went 20 Cardiff, and then
/ to Walsau, where he organized a Halle
uiah band" whose membership was
largely drawn from the criminal classes.
! In the mean time General Booth had
married Miss Catherine Mumford, whom
/ he had met when he first began his minis
! terial work She at once enlisted in her
husbands cause. and hcr unflinching faith
did much to encourage him when torrents
| OF abuse and dcrision threatened 10 over
/ whelm his plans.
/ Tho idea OF extending his crusade 20
! London had long been in General Booth
mind. and in 1864 he and Mrs. Booth took
ND their quarters in the Whitechapei dis
! t~ict. where, as he said. II found whole
continent Of misery and vice around me.
Warfare in the SIums.
/ lie began hts campaign without any
settled plans. but at first carried on what
he termed a guerilla warfare In the
lanes and slums." Services were held In
tents and in the open air, until nnaiy
the East London Revival Society was
founded This body in turn became
Known as the East London Christian
Mission. the Christian Mission and
finally. IN 1878. as the Salvation Army.
ORGANIZED effort was now established
and the work eventually fell into certain
well regulated lines. There were outdoor
meetings and professions; meetings were
held in theatres, factories and other IN
usual buildings, and private houses notes
( and prisons were visited.
General Booth. IN speaking OF this early
WORK. once told how he had tried TO have
himself taken up by two or three religious
to,iee lint had failed They fancied, !
s,,nrose, he said. that ! would be hard
IN manage. though ] offered 10 come en-
,lrelv under their orders II they Wouiu
leave me 10 my own methods.
So began the movement which now IN
nfty-three countries and colonies has
more than eighteen thousand commits
stoned officers commanding more thah
seven thousand corps of Salvation soldicry.
The work now extends into all parts OF
England. into Australia, Russia. Canada'
.tauaD. India. Sweden. France SwltZer-
land Germany, Africa. Tasmania New
Zealand. China. Corea and the united
States. The charitable institutions OF the
army include prison gate and rescue "o'h'
lnebriates' homes. boys and girls hoihes'
farm colonies. emigration naval and mill
torv homes. nursing work. Samaritan
brlgades. hospital and benevolent vista
tion police court. Indian day schools ana
other great social enterprises. Ana the
history Of the organizations CROWN ~
almost identical with that OF Eeheral
Booths career.
Great Enthusiasm Aroused
Going where he was invited ai'"''"e
tremendous enthusiasm, numbering con
verts by the thousands. General boo.h
quickly became known TO fame the "or'u
over. til at his death he stood OUT As