Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935. GENERAL BOOTH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 55, Issue 168, 30 April 1935, Page 4

Ashburton Guardian Magna est Veritas et Prævalebit TUESDAY, APRIL 30, 1935. GENERAL BOOTH.

The visit to New Zealand of Miss Evangeline Booth in the capacity of head of the Salvation Army is an event of gre|t interest. Her election last September was remarkable in the fact that it placed a woman in the position of chief authority over a religious and social organisation which is world-wide in its scope and influence. And, as may perhaps be regarded as of special significance and importance, it revived a family tradition in a movement that owed its origin to William Booth, father of the present General. There was some years ago a good deal of opposition to the notion that anything that might be i described as introducing the element of an hereditary succession should be acknowledged by the Salvation Army. The constitution of the organisation was deliberately amended in such a way as to ensure that, upon the occurrence of a vacancy in the office of General, the fresh appointment should be made by a council composed of members of the Salvation Army who, by virtue of their services, had attained conspicuous rank in the organisation. It was under these conditions that General Higgins was elected, and it was under them also that Commander Evangeline Booth was appointed. The present General inherited from her celebrated father much of the dynamic evangelising power which imparted to the movement its remarkable momentum. She has vigour, aggressiveness, superlative gifts of oratory —in fact, all the qualities demanded of successful leadership in an organisation founded upon a system of evangelistic campaigning in the field of social service. These qualities were recognised by the High Council in making its selection, for in accordance with the spirit and conditions of the times the need was evangelistic leadership rather than organising ability. The founder of the Salvation Army, virile and autocratic though he was, had no illusions about the superiority of his own sex where religious work was concerned. His , wife had remarkable gifts of public speech and influence, and the success that soon came to the venturesome "departure in evangelism and social service was largely attributable, as William Booth was the first and foremost to acknowledge, to the place she took— unobtrusively, until a larger place was honounngly yielded her in campaign and council. It has often been remarked that bramwell Booth owed much to qualities inherited from that immensely capable mother. To enlist the service or women officers in practically all departments of the spreading enterprise was a natural development in quite early days, and many came to positions of divisional authority. 1 hus it was a logical step to the promotion ot Commandant Booth to the world leadership. The people of New Zealand, however, welcome her not only for her personal qualities, but also tor her official standing as [epresent a tive of an organisation that holds the respect of every citizen who is interested in social welfare.