The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-08-24
Vol. XXXIV. No. Sc.
GREAT EVANGELIST DEAl.
FOUNDER OF SALVATION ARMY
DIES IN LONDON.
Rev. William Booth The Apostle 10
the Poor and Depraved Passes
Away at the Age of S3--Ope of the
Greatest Eyangelists of All Time.

"featest EVangeiistS of All Time.
Lo don, Aug. 20.-The Rev. Will
liam Booth, general and commander
in-chief of the Salvation Army, died
at 1913 o'clock tonight. He was
born at Nottingham in 1929. The VET
eran Salvation Army leader was un-
conscious for 4S hours previous to h.
death. The medical bulletins had
revealed the seriousness Of the > Z
erals condition. which for - eek
past, it is now admitted. " Aope-
less. y
Twelve weeks ago Go Sooth un-
derwent an operation @ lthe removal
Of a cataract in his = eye. For two
days after the 4ion indications
justified the ho' the generals re-
covery. Then bod poisoning set in
and from that time, with the excep-
ton Of occasional rallies, the patients
health gradually declined. The gem
eral recognized that the end was near
and often spoke of his work as being
finished.
Throughout the commander-in-
chiefs illness his son, Bramwell
Booth, chief ,of staff Of the army, and
Mrs. Bramwell Booth gave their un-
remitting attentions to him both night
and day
The aged evangelist died at his res
idence, the Rookstone, Hadle Wood,
some eight miles from London, where
he had been confined to his bed ever
bedside when the end came were Mr.
and Mrs. Bramwell Booth and their
daughters and son. Adjutant Catherine
Booth and Sergt. Bernard Booth; the
generals youngest daughter, COM
mander Mrs. Booth:Helberd, and
Commissioner Howard, Col. Kitchiag
and DR.. Wardlaw Milne.
Public interest now centres in the
question Of successor to the late
Of the Salvation Army, the general
noIiinates his successor. That Gen.
Booth did several years ago, placing
the name in a sealed envelope which
was deposited with the Salvation
Army's lawyers with instructions that
il should not be opened until after his
death.
While nobody knows what name
the envelope incloses, the general be-
lief in the Salvation Army is that it
will prove to be that Of Bramwell
Booth, who for 80 years has been its
chief of staff
Where Gen. Booth will be buried
has not yet been decided. While every
English member of the Salvation
Army is convinced that no man was
more worthy of interment in West
minister Abbey, it is not expected this
honor will be awarded to Gen. Booth
by the abbey authorities. 1t is the
general belief that the commander in
chiefs last resting place will be be-
| side that Of his wife, who 81 years ago
was buried in Abney Park. Stoke,
Newington.
Starting his career alone as a soap
| box preacher in the slums of Noting
ham, Eng, at the age of 15 years
William Booth ended it at "a as head
of an army of millions of Salvation
lists scattered through 54 counties,
He fought many real battles in the
Sums of London and often was in
| peril of losing his life in the cause.
but with those who rallied to his
support he formed the nucleus of his
great movement which vas first given
the name of the Christian Mission"
The present Salvation Army was
never foreseen nor was the name ever
deliberately chosen by any one. Mr..
Booth was debating to a stenograph-
er when he used the words: THE
Christian mission is volunteer
army" When he looked over the pa
per later he substituted salvation"
Tor volunteer as the stronger word,
and the phrase struck fire among his
mission workers. who seized the mil
liant spirit from it.
So great was Gen Booths faculty
OF handling and inspiring men that
Marshall Wolsey once declared that
the British army had taken lessons in