Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1934. SALVATION ARMY.

Greymouth Evening Star, 5 September 1934, Page 6

Greymouth Evening Star. AND BRUNNERTON ADVOCATE. WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5, 1934. SALVATION ARMY.

pROM its earliest days, the Salvation Army has broken away from orthodox church customs and methods, but perhaps its greatest departure from convention occurred last Week-end when it elected a woman as its chief commander. Even in these days of feminism, the announcement came as a bit of a shock, but when is recalled the success of women who have reigned over countries, there is no reason why one of the sex should not repeat the triumph in ■ruling over a religious organisation, large as it may be. General Evangeline Cory Booth should not lack experience in Salvation Army affairs. She is the seventh child of the founder of the movement, and has held high office in Britain, and North America. She has been National Commander in U.S.A, for the last 30 years, and her election was probably due to the influence of the American Salvationists, who urged her selection when General Higgins was appointed. The Booths claim to have some prior right to the highest office in the Salvation Army, but this “hereditary principle” is losing support, and the latest member of the Booth family to reach the Generalship, may prove to be the last. She is no longer young, and may not have the physical strength necessary to carry out her new responsibilities, especially where travelling is concerned. It is reported that her first visit abroad will be to New Zealand and Australia, when no doubt she will receive al cordial welcome.

General Booth has her share of self-confidence, as was demonstrated by her first public speech after her election, in which she claimed to be endowed with special loving kindness towards others. This was a touch of the Americanism to be expected after her long residence in that land of boosters. She has already declared against innovations in dress and Army rules, a matter of interest mainly to the members. Few outsiders realise the restrictions on personal pleasures members of the Salvation Army accept, yet in this alleged selfish and luxury-loving age, the Salvation Army membership continues to increase. Public support for the Salvation Army comes mainly because of its social reform work, especially among the down-and-outs. The Salvation Army has no monopoly of

such good work, all the leading Churches doing relatively as much,, if not more, in this direction, but there is less publicity about their (

I doings, whereas the Salvation Army (gets the credit due for its special I efforts. The organisation,.is not I without its critics, but its history i from beginning to end tells of great I work done for mankind, and it is to be hoped that under the new General, this social benevolence will be maintained wherever there is need for it.