Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-06-17
BOOTHS BODY
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removed from office in February.
1929. on the ground that he was
physically unfit to continue his
work.
His removal was voted by the
High Council Of the Army. which
was called in session for that pur-
pose the first time it had assembled
in the "a years of its existence. The
aged leader contested the custer
proceedings from every angle.
For some time there had been ru-
I mors of an internal upheaval in the
army, which was brought to a head
by the serious illness Of General
Booth, which began in the fall of
1928. and the summoning of the
High Council.
The slatter body met January 8.
Sunbury on Thames. For several
days there were secret sessions and
negotiations in an effort TO reach
an amicable settlement with Gen
eral Both. The first important an
nouncement that emanated from the
council was that it had decided 10
send a commission to General Booth
with O petition signed by So Of the
So commissioners asking him TO
retire.
Five days later. on January Is.
General Booth sent his reply. which
was a refusal TO comply with the re-
quest. The next day the High Coun-
Gil adiudicated General Booth
physically unfit for his work. Be
fore the council proceeded to elect
his successor a commander in chief.
General Booths lawyers obtained
from the Chancery Court an order
restraining such action and directing
the High Council to hear General
Booth in his own defense.
Higgins Elected
The litigation was adjourned from
time to time and finally was dis
missed. The High Council ON Feb
ruarv Is. again adiudicated General
Booth physically unfit to continue
his duties and elected Edward j.
Higgins, who had been chief of staff
as commanding general.
Meanwhile. the lawyers for Cen
eral Booth instituted another pro-
ceeding. questioning the legality OF
the 1904 deed poll. under which tie
High Council functions. That ac-
ton, however. was not vigorously
prosecuted and while II was pend
ing several months later. it was re-
ported that General Booth had been
cooperating with his successor IN
several matters.
Attorneys for both sides decided
10 continue the litigation in a more
or less friendly way for the purpose
Of deciding the legality of the deed
0cll. which was the basis for the en-
tire procedure by which the High
Council removed General Booth. 1t
was agreed that it would be to the
interest Of the Salvation Army to
have the deed legally tested. The
document, signed in 1904 by General
William Booth. provided for a sys-
tenn Of succession to the Salvation
Army's generalship in special cir
cumStanceS such as those which
srcse with General Bramwell Booths
illness.
For some time there existed two
factions of these in control of the
army's affairs. General Booth, who
succeeded his father. the founder Of
the army. was said to have favored
keeping control of the army in the
Booth family. The other side. called
the refoTmers. we're of the belief that
control Of such a n~extensive or
ganization should not be vested in
any n person.
EvangeIine Against Him
Commander Evangeline Booth.
head Of the army in the United
States, lined up with the reformers.
She attended the sessions Of the
High Council and had been prom
inently mentioned as her brothers.
successor. During her stay in Eng
Ian dShe did not see her brother. be-
ing denied that privilege because of
his serious illness upon The advice
Of General Booths doctors. II was
said.
This resulted in a sharp exchange
of CORRESPONDENCE between Evange-
line Booth and her sister-in-lav.
the American commander sailed on
her return trip to the United States.
General Booth was first in
formed Of the sumomning Of the
High Council early in January.
When his wife told him of the
movement that had been inaugur-
ated to remove him he said:
Whatever people thing of the
government Of the army. they must
feel this Is rough on me. I have
loved the army and I have done my
best for our people"
In April. 1929. King George sig
nally honored General Booth by
making him a member Of the Order
Of Companions Of Honor. The order
was founded by the king in 1917 for
men and women who had rendered
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