A GREAT OLD MAN.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 478, 10 April 1909, Page 6

A GREAT OLD MAN.

. * GENERAL BOOTH'S 80th BIRTHDAY. "FULL OF YEARS AND OF HONOUR." London, April 17. Queen Alexandra and Empress Mario of Russia received General Booth, head of tho Salvation Army, at Buckingham Palace. Ticir Majesties wore greatly interested in the General's narrative of his visit to Scandinavia and Russia. A WONDERFUL CAREER. General Booth, tho founder of the Salvation Army, celebrates to-day his 80th birthday, and doubtless will rcceivo congratulations from all corners of tho world. Latest advices indicate that the General is improving in health, after his recent operation for cataract, and maintains the greatest enthusiasm in his work. No Room in the Churches. General Booth commenced his special organisation when he found that the Churches had no room for his peculiar work and methods. Born at Nottingham in 1829, ho was baptised in the Anglican Church, and as a boy converted m a Wesleyan chapel. He was a street preacher at an early age, and, being cut off from membership of the Methodist body by a short-sighted minister, he was ordained a minister of the Methodist New Connexion in May, 1858. Three years later ho withdrew from this body on their refusal to set him free for evangelistic work, and William Booth, his wife, and four children, in his own words, "went out .together, not' knowing a soul who would give them a shil-' ling, neither knowing where to go."

The "Hallelujah Band." Revival tours of Cornwall and the Midlands saw the introduction of the novel methods which later shocked the orthodox as practised by tho Army. A special sensation was caused by the "Hallelujah .Band" "of converts, a kind of star company of notorious wife-beaters, poachers, prize-fighters, and great, drunkards, who had been changed :iu character by the revival services. They were, billed extensively before tho meetings, at .which they related their past crimes and tho effects of their conversion. "Tho band," writes a biographor, "attracted to the meetings many who certainly would not have stirred to hear an archbishop or priest. That was precisely what Mr. Booth intended. It was one of his earliest and most successful endeavours to find tho masses, and make .the lowest, in tho social scale willingly attend a religious- service." At these meetings Mrs. Booth was a frequent speaker, as well as her husband. Their expenses were defrayed by the collections. In Juno, 1865, work was commenced among tho slums of tho East End in an old tent, which a galo destroyed aftor a fow Sundays, and afterwards in an old dancing-room. Tho first week-night placo after the tent was an old warehouse. "When crowded," wrote tho General much later, "which.was ordinarily the case, it was frightfully hot, especially in summer.' .' If we 1 opened the windows the boys threw stones and mud and fireworks through, and fired trains of gunpowder laid from the front door

inwards. But tho people got used to this, shouting 'Hallelujah!' when the crackers exploded and the powder flashed." 'A stable in Whitcchapol .Road, a carpenter's shop at 01(1 Ford, a wooden shed at l'oplar, a "penny gaff" at Limehouso, a covered skittle alley in Whitcchapel, a low becrhouso called the Eastern Star, and tho old Ettingham Theatre, were scenes of other meetings as the work extended, and in these curious surroundings hundreds of rough characters wero "reclaimed." The Army of To-day. In 1870 tho name of tho movement was changed to "Tho Christian Mission." Allnight prayer meetings, testimonies of reclaimed scoundrels, street processions, visits to slums, and a soup kitchen for the poor were features of tbo work at this time. In spite of ribald interruptions, street assaults, and tho disfavour of authorities, the movement grow apace. Annual conferences wero inaugurated, and quite unconsciously the work assumed a semi-military organisation. In 1877 tho namo "Salvation" Army, an inspiration of tho Gcnoral, was adopted, and tho red jersey and rank nomenclature followed. In December, 1879, appeared tho first "War Cry." In 1879 tho work was introduced to America by tho Shirley family, who warn f-Uoß«>db.y Commissioner Hailtouj Com-

missionc)- Booth-Tucker borotho bright flag over India, and.Captain and Mrs. Sutherland wero sent to aid tho Australian work, which John Gore and Saunders, emigrant converts, had commenced in Adolaido and Sydnoy. Sinco then the General himself has travelled in every country of the world, and tho activities of the army have multiplied and become enormous. Tim General's own energy is tremendous, and ho scorns capable of _ tho samo exertions in his 80th year as astonished men in his prime. Tho first footing of tho Anny in New Zealand was gained in Duncdin'in April, 1883, and many can remember still tho astonishment and hostility which their novel conduct then and long afterwards produced. From tho South Island the movemont spread'to tho North, and now it is established in over 200 towns in this country, and its last enemy has probably been converted to admiration by the zeal and thoroughness of its work. To-day the world salutes "Tho General." Soma Eloquent Statistics. The following figures show tho dimensions of tho Army and its work at the ond of li' 08: Countries and colonies occupied 54, languages in which salvation is preached _ 28, corps and outposts 8055, social institutions 786, day schools 528, naval and military homes 14, officers and cadets, including social 15,715, persons without rank wholly employed in Salvation Army work 5310, officers and cadets engaged in social. work 2334, local officers (senior and junior) 51,161, bandsmen 19,683, periodicals published 69, total copies per issue 1,013,292, Number of food depots 6, shelters and food depots (men) 66, shelters and food depots (women) 16, hotels for working men 97, hotels for working women 8, total 193. < Beds supplied during tho year 5,449,004, meals 9,557,241. • Industrial institutions 194. Accommoda-

tion for working capacity 3677; men supplied with work during twolvo months (temporary' and permanent) 47,102. Labour Bureaux. —Number of branches 45, applications during twelvo months 74,408, situations found during twelve, months 49,580. Prison Gate Work. —Number of Homes 17, accommodation 456, ox-criminals recoived during twelvo months 1867, numbor passed i out satisfactory 1711'. ' Inebriates' Homes.—Number of. branches 5, accommodation 91. Children's Hom'es.—Number of branches 23, creches 22, accommodation 1136. Rescue 'Homos.—Number of brandies 115, accommodation 2862, women received during 12 months 6292, number passed out satisfactory 5589. Maternity Homes.—Number of branches IS, accommodation 314. Farms 15, slum outposts 137, other social institutions 72, total number social institutions 786. Officers and cadets engaged in social work 2334.