SALVATION ARMY.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 2 April 1929, Page 4

SALVATION ARMY.

NO POSSIBILITY OF A SPLIT. STATEMENT BY COMMISSIONER HAY. .By Xelßgrapo —i rc-an ASSOCKtUui, > WELLINGTON. April 1. “There has been no split in the Salvation Army in connection with the retirement or our revered leader General Bra-mwell Booth, and the appointment of our new leader, General Edward O. Higgins, and there is no possibility of any such thing as a split happening,” stated Commissioner James Hay to a reporter on his arrival in Wellington by the Ulimaroa this afternoon The commissioner was accorded a warm welcome on arrival by a large group of Salvation Army officers-. He made a statement regarding the retirebent of General Booth and the appointment qf his successor, in which he said “The Commissioners of the Salvation Army are not trying to set up some hybrid of new Salvationism, or attempting to combine some contrary elements, or to remove from the original germ its pristine vigour, or to abandon the intensity and enthusiasm of its earliest inspiration and service. “Any who might think that the name of Booth preculiarly encloses some mystic potency of salvationism might do injustice to those great makers of salvationism, scores of whom have proved its suitability and success in 80 lands. “At the same time the Commissioners of the Army have. hee» moved by tho tenderest regard for the late general, who has been removed from office. Nothing could be more considerate than the attitude of the sympathetic and Christlike deputation who waited on General Booth to show him that he should take the obvious course _ ami retire from office in view of .his inability and that be should leave the task to stronger and abler hands. “Even now, grieved and wounded though these men and women have been by the totally unwarrantable legal action of General Booth, they do not bear him any ill-will or feel other than greatregard for his abundant service of earlier years. “General Booth and his family, perhaps his wife as much or more than any, have been, however, proceeding on the totally erroneous assumption that their family must control this great movement. Neither history nor need, neither capacity nor prospect, neither suitability for incipient or prospective leadership, would or could justify the astounding preparation they have 'made to found a dynasty and to establish the nepotism- that had manifested itself to the dismay and grave unhappiness of thousands of officers in this and other lands. . . “Indeed” concluded the Commissioner, “it is apparent to- all who know, that no such provision or thought could have been in the mind of the founder of the Army, General Booth.”