Omaha daily bee., 1912-08-21
Sketch of Career.

The Rev. William Booth, founder and
head Of the Salvation Army, was born
\ at Nottingham, April 10, 1929, and edu,
He studied theology with the Rev. VIII
liam Cooke, D. D., became minister Of
the Methodist New Connexion In 1885,
and was appointed mostly to hold special
evangelistic services, to which he felt so
strongly drawn that when the conference
dinary circuit work he resigned and began
his iabors as an evangelist among the
churches wherever he had an oppor-
tunity. Coming In this capacity to the
east end of London he observed that the
vast majority of the people attended no
place of worship. and he started the
Christian mission" in July, 1865 To this
mission, when it had become a large Or
ganization, formed upon military lines,
he gave in 1878 the name of the Saliva
! ton Army" under which it soon became
Widely known and grew rapidly until 1T
had, at the beginning of 1906, 7.210 posts.
under the charge of 1880 officers and
employee with S,sss local officers, 1000
brass bandsmen and 5000 musicians. The
army was organized in forty-nine coun-
tries and colonies, and from the interra-
tional headquarters in Victoria street.
London, General Booth directed its af-
fairs. iEss,
General Booth established the War Cry
as weekly gazette of the organization
in 1880. The paper is now published in
more than twenty languages and has
total weekly circulation exceeding 1900
eco The army maintains about 100 social
relief institutions in various parts Of the
world, under the charge of nearly 5000
officers and employees About 1000 fallen
women annually pass through the 11S res
cue homes, and, according to the army's
reports, about IS per cent of these are
permanently restored to lives Of virtue
There are 1872 slurn settlements in the
slum districts of great cities. The number
Of annual conversions in connection with
the spiritual work is reported as ayerag-
ing from 100000 to 250,030 during the last
ten years. making total of over 100000,
of whom not less than 100000 were con-
verted from lives of drunkenness.
Attracts Wide Attention.
, In 1890 General Booth published a vol |
ume entitled Darkest London contain
ing a scheme for the enlightenment and /
industrial support of the lower classes. |
The work attracted worldwide attention |
and was much commented upon. In its |
he eohaa, of
Booth received the Endorsement of many |
high churchmen. During the latter years |
OF her life Queen Victoria made an an
nual contribution to the Salvation Army |
and 1t is understood that King Edward |
also gave the organization substantial en-
couragement. In 1905 the city of London
corporation conferred the freedom Of the
city on General Booth and also voted
considerable sum to the funds Of the
Salvation Army.
In the early career Of the Salvation
Army General Booth and his followers
were the objects of much ridicule. The
street meetings and the methods of the
army In general were looked upon az
sensational and often the forces were
hard pressed by persecution or prejudice.
But the organization persevered and when
its aims and work became better known
public sentiment underwent a change.
In his work General Booth was ably
supported by his family. Mrs. Booth
shared largely in all her husbands ef-
forts and further explained their views in
a number of written works. She died Of
cancer in 1880. after several years Of
painful illness. Until 1895 the generals
was his eldest son. Baliing-
ION Booth. In that year. however, a diff
ference occurred between the two, due
10 the order of General Booth transfer
ring his son from the command of the
Continued on Second PaRe.1 ,