Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-23
SAL VAT|ON ARMY
HEAD VISITS i. S.
international Leader Will
Give Address in ConStitu-
ton Hall May 8.

Gen. Edward j. Higgins, head of the
! International Salvation Army, is to pay
/ his first visit to the United States to
| conduct officers councils in the four
| Salvation Army districts of this country
| and will deliver an address in Constitu-
ton Hall in this city on the evening of
| Friday, May g., at $50 o'clock. He is
to arrive in New York from London
Thursday, April 30.
A reception committee, including
prominent persons of this city, headed
! by the British Ambassador, Sir Ronald
Lindsay, as honorary chairman, has
been announced for his visit here.
John Hays Hammond is honorary vice
| chairman of the committee, and H. L.
Rust, Jr, general chairman. Other
| members of the local committee are
j. Carr, Corcoran Thorn, Robert v
Fleming, John Poole, Newbold Noyes,
Coleman Jennings and w. j. F'lather.
Simpson TO Make Introduction.
Gen. Higgins is to be introduced at
| Constitution Hall by Secretary of State
Stimson, and music will be rendered on
the occasion of the address by the
United States Marine Band and the
Gridiron Quartet. Other details in con-
nection with the arrangements for his
visit to this city and address here are
to be announced later.
While in this country Gen. Higgins
will conduct officers councils in New
York. San Francisco, Chicago and At
lanta, covering the four territories of
the Salvation Army in the United
States His visit will cover q period
of more than four weeks.
Gen. Higgins was elected to the SUI
preme position in the Salvation Army
in February, 1928. when circumstances
compelled Gen. Bramwell Booth. the
second general and son of William
Booth, to relinquish his Office. due TO
Ill health. For 10 years prior to that
time Gen. Higgins occupied the position
Of chief Of staff. the second ranking
officer and executive head OF the Sal
walton Army
Heard Call in 1882.
Back in 1892 Edward Higgins. with
his father, heard the call of William
Booth for helpers in the stern fight
he was waging against prejudice and
opposition. Father and son were en-
gagged in a prosperous business, but
they left all to engage in the strug-
giles of the Salvation war. For war it
was Nothing like the Salvation Army
had ever been seen before, and like
all new things it was viewed with SuS-
picion. The safely intrenched vested
interests CT drink and vice found them
selves challenged by the newcomer.
Every effort was made to prevent the
pioneers of the new evangel from pro-
claiming their mission Rioting and
bloodshed were the order of the day.
The young Higgins and his father
soon rose to positions Of authority and
responsibility. The elder Mr.. Higgins
soon became one of William Booths
right-hand men and helped to lay
firmly the foundations of the Salvation
Army in many countries.
Came Up From Ranks.
Gen. Higgins graduated through all
the ranks of citizenship. commencing as
a lieutenant Much Of his career has
been linked with that of Evangelinc
Booth, commander in chief of the Sal
walton Army in America. He was the
commanders assistant in the London
Training College for some years. and
was afterward associated with her in
her brilliant leadership Of the London
division.
He was called by William Booth to
London in 1905 to occupy the chair of
foreign secretary. It was period of
missionary expansion. and the foreign
secretary spent most of his time travel
ing around the world, either with the
founder or by himself. There is prob
ably today no person more acquainted
with world problems as they affect the
poor than Gen. Higgins.
A new appointment as British COM
missioner, having charge of the Sal
walton Army in the British Isles, took
Gen Higgins out of the foreign Office
He held the position of commissioner
through the World War. until in 1919
he was called to the Office of chief Of
the staff and second in command to
the general.
Great Strides Made.
During the two years of his general
ship the Salvation Army has made
great strides and he is well beloved by
the army of people he commands. 1t is
no sinecure. guiding the destinies and
activities of $4,000 commissioned Of
ficers and hundreds of thousands of
volunteer workers in all parts of the
world. But the general is not new to
a position of power, and his grasp of
army affairs comes like second nature
to him, those who know him say. He
is possessed of clear vision, sound judg-
ment, and the power of decision. A
man of attractive personality, his plat
form utterances are said to have an
unusual effectiveness based on a well
stored mind deep sincerity, and
strong humanitarian instinct.
The last country visited by the gen.