GENERAL BOOTH'S DEATH

Grey River Argus, 24 August 1912, Page 5

GENERAL BOOTH'S DEATH

•COMMISSIONER RICHARDS INTERVIEWED. (Per Press Association.) GISBORNE, Aug 22. j ! ■'Commissioner Rdchards, IBe head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, speaking- to a "reporter,- said that, fte j death -^of General- Booth came as a great Wow^to the Army. "Though we knew that his condition was serious, we did not expect him to leave us just yet.' ' "General Booth,' proceeded the Commissioner, ' 'was the greatest man I ..have known. I have carefully read the biogiraphies of the great men of the past, and can recall few who during their lifetime have 'accomplished so much \ for humanity. The chief characteristic about the General was the great- love for his own people, for outsiders, and for. the poor A wondrous love for humanity permeated his ye^y .being.' "General Booth, he my mind," continued "dhe Commissioner, "was the. greatest man of modern time: All would admit that John Wesley was. a great man, and had accomplished a great deal of good; arid the worlc he had done lived after him,, and was a force in. the woTlid today, yet John Wesley, as the. result, of; his life's" work, left o'rily S9 ■preachers to caarry on. the greats movement he had "started. 'General . Booth, thad founded, and successfully brgariise.d a religious movement which had spread to all. quarters of the. .gTo.be. The Gerictnl had : left 22,000 preachers to carry on the movement his master mind had created, and who was to say tp r \vhat lengths "it would spread? I am perfectly assuired General . Booth has left such a thorough ' organisation that. the great humanitarian movement must go fprward," said the Commissioner. , ' 'There, mxist be no ■.deterioration. No looking back.". t Who will be the new leavJer ?" . the Pressman asked. '/ .

: "That I will not know until I return to^Wellington,", replied Commissioner Richards. I have at headquarters a packet which I was ordered to open" in the event of tfie General^ death. In' that packet will be (revealed tee name of; the new general. While no one knows. positively who will .succeed'to jSupreme 'Command, ; it' ii& ;generally recognised Mr. Bramwell Booth, General. Booth's eddest son, will succeed to his father's rank.' "; . ; .: "We are going to hold a big nationals memorial service -next Sunday,'' the Commissioner added. "We are g-oing to invite the ministers of all denomi-" nations to take part, ..and feel, sure. they'will be glad .to do so. It is our; intention - to. hold i, the service after chnrch,. so that everyone can attend. Similar services. will be held in every town throughout tie iDbminion.' w . ■;.•.'. . -.ADELAIDE, Aug. 22. The Assembly, on the motion of the Premier, seconded by Mr. Verran tteader- of the Opposition), placed on record its high appreciation of General Booth's wprk to humanity* Both paid tributes to^he deceased. The Premier described him as one of the~greatest moral, religious and social forces of the present age., • '" . j • MELBOURNE, Aug 22. Hon. Alfred Deakin. has . received from Bramwell Booth a message: It is with deepest sorrow that I r announce that the General has , laid clown has j sword. Pray for-me." . .Mr. Deakin replied: Sincerest sym- j pathy is unversal hftre. ■",,■'■•.-"■•. > (Reed 10,40 p.m.) I "■; '■' : LONDON, Aug 23. THE .NEW GENERAL IiNTER- j ■:;;,. ;.,'.■■ VIEWED.,: . ;;■ J vßramwell' Booth interviewed said that, .the spirit-of the -Army was -.not chapg.ed, but,-, new methods:, were; emr ployed..^ ;The Army, had^an undefined personality .alone but 'also in :the spirit that worked' - throughout its ranks-." There was still an immense amount .of work to do amongst the,lowest strata and 'he believes v the. Amy in the fut-/ ture: will obtain. some measure^vof... control, over all. .unfortunate :<c-cases r vtat Home .and, abroad.,,. ■ ■ Another-j; ne^ .field is China, where, investigatipns were . proceeding in the hope-to develop, a scheme to help the poor, widows with,families by.sending them to.tne colonift&.; :-...;-:;. y.'n.r> .•■•-. .:; : :.' '■-. QUEEN ALEXANDRA'S SYM- , .- '}-:■: 1..r :■; PATHY,,'; -. .'. • , ■'■■. Queen : Alexandraj-in. a message :tp General Baram\yell Booth regretted, the loss of a ■ great-"and; good man .andnever Ho the forgotten--father,; a" loss which ■ will;be felt -throughout, the civilised .-world. ;■ But she thanked Godthat his work: would live for-eyer. ' • ■"•': ■"-::■. OTHER; MESSAGES;-, .._■ „ The King; ■: of iSwedenv President Taft^ The Hon Li Botha, Lord Islington, Mr. A. Deakin .and MrV'Massey ■also telegrapHedXsympathy,;;V- ';[■: •..{■:■