Henderson daily dispatch., 1937-09-23
GENERAL BOOTH TO
SPEAK IN ATLANTA
Salvation Army Officials
Preparing Biggest Cele-
bration in History"

Atlanta, Sept. 23.-(AP)-The trum-
pets will blare and the big drums will
boom when General Evangeline Booth
comes to town.
Salvation Army officials in the
south today were engrossed in prep
arations for their biggest celebration
in history" It will be held here Oc-
tober l, 2, and 3, in honor of their
organizations world commander and
will mark the 10th anniversary of
formation of a separate southern ter
ritory.
Salvationist leaders in Dixie are
convinced it will be the last time they
will see aging Evangeline Cory Booth
as their commander in chief. She is
due to retire, at 73, next year.
So more than 1000 officers and
bands from Is southern states and
the District of Columbia will come
to pass in review and hear General
Booth make the first public address
of an American tour (Other addresses
will be made at Detroit, Chicago,
Toronto, New York; She is due to
arrive in New York from London on
September 20 and come directly to At
lanta.
Evangeline was the fourth daugh-
ter of William and Catherine Booth,
founders of the Salvation Army. She
was born in London, Christmas day
in 1865. That was the same year in
which they established the Christian
Mission which developed into the Sal
walton Army.
The girl, Evangeline, pretty in bow
stringed bonnet, joined her parents
work. At 26, she was made principal
of the organizations international
training college and commander of
field operations. Five years later her
father placed her in charge of the
forces in Canada.
While she was extending activities
there, the gold rush started in Alaska.
To the Klondike went Evangeline
Booth, to set up Evangelical camps
and libraries. At Skagway she had
many a brush with the hardboiled
"Soapy'' Smith dictatorial mayor, who
called religious workers "meally
mouthed skyplots-" She finally got
"Soapy" to attend a meeting of her
group.
From Skagway Evangeline went
over snow-covered mountains to
rough-and-tumble Dawson City and
set up another mission station. Then,
in 1904, she took command of the
Army in the United States. The Sal
walton Army grew and prospered, Its
devotees and officers became fam
;liar sight on city streets, making
their religion militant, seeking other
christian soldiers
The United States entry into the
World War brought Evangeline Booth
into the international spotlight. The
Salvation Army Lassie and dough
nuts for the doughboys became popu-
lar figures in France and at army
environments. Evangeline went to
France to supervise the work there
She came back to a distinguished SER
vice medal
In peace. Evangeline Booths Chris
tian Soldiers" marched on. She had
the ear of international leaders, au-
diences with kings. In 1884 she was
elected general of the worldwide Sal
walton Army and returned to London.
Under her command now are 26,2O4
officers in 80 countries and colonies.
There are 1915 Salvation Army posts
Salvation Army leaders, proud OF
their commander, like to tell of her
early struggles on London streets
when prejudice ran high. They say
she led parades despite threats OF
violence, was a participant in street
scenes of violence more than lOU
times.
And a Salvation Army lassie's eyes
CLEAN when she tells Of the time Lon
don foes offered $50 reward to the
man who would knock her down and
take her bonnet.
"No man.. she says, "ever got the
S5O--or the bonnet"