Norwich bulletin., 1912-08-21
Death Claims General Booth
SALVATION ARMY LEADERS
 WORK IS DONE,
UNDERWENT OPERATION
Septic Poisoning Set in and He Has Steadily Declined for Twelve Weeks His Son May Succeed Him.

Lonodn. Aug. 20.-Rev. William Booth. general and commander in chief of the Salvation Army died at 1918 o'clock tonight. He was born at Nottingham In 1929.
 The venerable Salvation Army lead CT was unconscious for 4S hours pre- vious to his death. The medical bull lettns had not revealed the seriousness of the generals condition. which, for a week past, 1t Is now admitted, was hopeless.
 Underwent an Operation.
 Twelve week ago General Booth underwent an operation for the re- moval of a cataract in his left eye. For two days after the operation in dications justified the hope of the gen. erals recovery. Then, however, sep tic poisoning set in, and from that time, with the exception of occasional rallies, the patients health steadily declined. The general recognized that the end was near and often spoke of his work as being finished.
 Children at His Bedside.
 Throughout the commander in chiefs illness his son, Bramwe1 Booth, chief of the staff of the army, and Mrs. BramwelI Booth. gave their unremit ting attentions to him both night and day.
 The aged evangelist died at his residence, the Rookstone, Hadleywood, eight miles from London, where he had been confined to his bed since the operation. Present at the bedside when the end came were MT. and Mrs. Bramweu Booth and their daughter and son, Adjutant Catherine Booth and Sergt Bernard Booth; the gen. erals youngest daughter, Commission CT Mrs. Booth-Helberd and Commits sloner Howard. Colonel Kitching and pr. Wardlaw Milne.
 BramweiI Booth May Succeed Him.
 Public interest now centers in the question of a successor to the late commander Under the constitution of the Salvation Army the general nom- l mates his successor. That General Booth did several years ago, placing | the name in a sealed envelope which was deposited with the Salvation Ar my's lawyers with the instructions that it should not be opened until aft CT his death, While nobody knows what name the envelope encloses the i general belief among the Salvation Ar my is that ths name will prove to be
 
 | years has been it's chief of staff, Place of Burial Undecided.
 Where General Booth will be buried i has net yet been decided. While ev- | cry members of the Salvation Army is | convinced that no man was more WeF- l thy of iRteFmant in Westminster ab- | hey, it is not expected that that hansr will be awarded General Booth by the l a fG t9n | belief that the commander in ehiefs | last resting place will be alongside that l of his wife, Whe 2d years ago was buried in AbRey park, Stoke Ne#iRg- | ton,
 Generals Last Words.
 Almost the last words of General Booth were uttered just before he lest | consciousness. He was referring to | Gods promises, and, speaking with | great difficulty, said
 They are sure-they arc sure-if | you will only believe"
 It is probable that the obsequies will l include the lying in state for several | days at Congress hall, Clapton, which | will be followed by a big memorial service, and a procession from London to Abney park.
 | Bramwell Booth on being interview 1 ed this afternoon, while under the fear that the evangelist's end was ap- preaching, said;
 Many Messages of Sympathy
 The general is quite free from pain but in the last few days he has had | increasing difficulty in articulation and 1 is unable to express himself clearly | We have received messages of sympa- thy from all over the world, showing the very great affection manifested towards him"
 Bramwell Booth specially mentioned John Wanamaker's message, which read: Farewell to thee who never thought of myself, but only of others. Career of General Booth.
 Starting on his career alone as a sOapbox preacher in the slums of Not ttngham, England, at the age of 15 years, William Booth ended it at 84 as head of an army of millions of Sal vationists scattered through hfty-fou1 countries.
 He fought many real battles in the slums of London and often was ir peril of losing his life in the cause but with those who rallied to his sup port he formed the nucleus of his great movement which was first giver the name of the Christian Mission The present Salvation Army was never foreseen nor was the name ever de- Hberately chosen by anyone. MT, Booth was dictatfng to a stenographe1 when he used the words: The Chris tian Mission Is a volunteer army. | When he looked over the paper later he substituted Salvation" for ''volun- teer,'' as the stronger word. and the phrase struck fire among his mission workers, who seized the militant spirit from it.
 Newspapers Pay Tribute.
 London, Aug. 21-The London morn ing newspapers pay eloquent tributes of sympathy to the late Salvation Ar my leader. They regard him as the greatest apostle and evangelist of the age and compare him with John Wes- ley and Martin Luther.