LETTER TO GENERAL

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 10, 12 January 1929, Page 9

LETTER TO GENERAL

CEREMONY 'OF SIGNING r "A VERITABLE SACRAMENT" '..;'■' . . ', tTnited Press Association—B7 Electric Telegraph— CopyrJeht. , STJNBUBY ON THAMES, 10th Jan! An official bulletin, issued by the authority of the High Council" states: The council resumed its sitting this morning, and after the usual opening services proceeded to ■ consider business in connection with a letter of 6th January, received from - the General. As a result of the deliberations following the reception of the letter, the council resolved to communicate with the General and submit the following resolution, which was passed by tho council without a dissentient vote: — "This council desires to place on record its high appreciation of the life and labours of General Bramwell Booth and to join with him in gratitude to God for his partial restoration to health. It expresses the hope that the improvement may be maintained.

"The 'council, beiiig unable to see the practicability of ;the suggestion made by the. General, and realising it to be most unlikely, at the General's advanced ago, that.ho can ever.recover sufficiently to take up the ■ burdens under which-'-ho 'collapsed, takes this opportunity, of requesting him- to cooperate ;■ with the council' in ■ securing the Army's future welfare, and to that ond resolves 'that, the General being, as his doctors assure us, capable of considering important questions and giving. decisions thereon, the president, vice-president,'.and five ; members of the council be ■■ deputed to see the General and. suggest he sliqulcl retire from office, retaining the title of Genoral, and continuing to enjoy the honours and dignities'attaching, thereto." It: had not been intended to communicate this resolution to tho Press until'the General had had time to consider it, but in view of the fact that tho terms of tho General's fetter were communicated, without Hie knowledge of the council, to a London journal, the council decided to publish the terras of this resolution. r The council adjourned early this afternoon to give the seven delegates appointed to wait on the general opportunity to .visit him. After singing '+O Ggd, Our Hejg in Ages. PastJK g.^

letter to the General, couched in. affectionate terms, was laid on. tho presid* ent's table. An impressive scene followed, as silently one after another of the council members walked up to tho president's table and signed what will doubtless prove to bo an historic document. This ceremony was described as a veritable sacrament. ■ . Fifty-six of tho officers present signed the letter. Tho council is called to meeting again; on Saturday morning.