The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-09-01
Inside Story of Unfatherly Conduct Toward His Son,
 BallingtOn Booth
CHUNG TO POWER
 TO THE VERY END
Christian World Amazed by His Att tack on His Son When He Made His First Visit
 to America


 late General 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 primary, and
 vital influence on army work in the United States. These weaknesses were two, and they caused at least three
 startling and striking results to army l enterprises here. The weaknesses were | hate that once aroused died hard If IL | dies at all, and an inability to let go power after he had felt the joy of exer- cising 1t. The results of these weak nesscs, as they affect America, are the far lower estimate held of him hero than in England because of his bitter ness of speech concerning his son; the existence of tho Volunteers of America, one of the greatest organizations of It's kind in any country; and the killing of an American church army that would, but for the late General Booths indi- rect influence, now exist in the Epis- copal church.
 After the quarrel between General William Booth and his son, General Ballington Booth, the father came to America and upon his arrival gave to reporters Of New York papers as bitter words as any man could put into an in- terview concerning any other man. Not only did he give out the interview, but he spent money and used the power of his name and his army to secure its publication widely. It related solely to General Ballington Booth, and 1t was so unfatherly, so unchristian. so devil | ish. that it shocked America. Indirect ly, 1t killed the Episcopal church's at tempt then just begun, to copy in America the English church army. still existent and doing good work. But
 for that interview it is probable that l there would now be an Amerlcah church army. | A few years later General William
 Booth came to America d second time. i There met him in lower New York bay, l before he landed from his ship and be- ! fore the reporters had chance to sec ! him, d company of three well known New York clergy and laymen. This 1 company hoped that, some years having elapsed, General Booth might entertain kindlier feelings toward his son. then 1 and now the head of the prosperous Volunteers However the three men
 were prepared for emergencies. Gen
 eral Booth greeted them as old friends.
 which they were, and was most aifable until one them purposely mentioned the
 subject of Ballington and the fathers
 treatment of him during his visit. h. 1 stantly the manner of the head of the Salvation army changed.
 In the words of one of the three, ut tered at this time. the devil remaining
 in the old man broke loose." Ties Of kinship counted for nothing. General l t,,f. rt.atsr nrpd i in advance and gave 1t to the spokes- | man of the company, saying 1t was to l
 be handed in duplicate to the reporters l the moment the ship landed or they | came aboard The interview was not worse than the one of few years pre- | vious had been because 1t could not be. 1 But all the vitrio of the former state ment was there. The company of men waited not an instant. Commanding | General Booth to silence for moment | the spok esman told him with words. ot | authority. that that statement should | never be given to the newspapers of | America, should never be uttered In 1 any form while here They told Gener- al Booth that, considering the ties of l
 llnship, and taking account of the Sal | walton army's pretensions, the state
 ment If published would do immeasur-
 able harm to Christ's cause in America, not Army and Volunteer alone, but to l all.
 All of the arguments were, however
 of no avail whatever upon General | Booth Finally the company played it's 1 last card. General Booth was told that if the statement was given out by him, | and that if he, in his addresses while in ] America gave voice to them, or If on l returning to England he published | them, these men would see to 1t that financial support for the Army in
 al fnp R11 old man was whipped He knew the | power of his visitors over his financial | support Not graciously, not kindly. not even courteously, vas the submis- sion. But the promise was given, the ! second one, remains undelivered to this l day A copy of 1t is said to be in eN-
 lstence in this country, but forever after General Booth was silent. That i there was reconciliation no one who knew the inside history of the contro-
 yersy, and General Booth. ever ex- pected.
 The other almost fatal defect in this ! great man, now gone to his reward, | was that of holding on. When Chris, , stopped Saul while the later was tn the | road to Damascus, and had told Ana i nias to go into Straight Street and see him, Christ physically disappeared. General Booth never learned to profit | by Christs example. He held on to all l of the power his ability set up. The Sal | yaticn army in America. while great [ and useful has been shampered for | years by the arbitrary and antiquated | orders of the general at it's head The i Volunteers of America has grown as Ian organization because 1t has had l | free hand and because its work is need- | ed. That work is quite unlike tue Sal | Nation Army. and consolidation is net to be look ed for. is s tJl
 General Booth gone. the new head Is | expected to govern more wisely, to at- l init others to share in the exercise of | power, and to introduce new and better | me thods not only in the army through | out the world but to permit their fn- | troduction in the army in America. | Such intention is foreshadowed in the i very first address of General Bramwell ! Booth It is believed that the family differences of the Booths will not be | formally healed but will be allowed 70 disappear There will be no amalga- | nation of the Volunteers with the arm. but the army will take on. as 1t did while General Booth was a younger |
 man, many of those dashing. unusual | and yet tremendously needed lines of | work that used to make 1t the most | talked about religious enterprise in the world.