SALVATION ARMY

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1929, Page 5

SALVATION ARMY

THE DISPLACED GENERAL. ACTION TO KIND SUCCESSOR. GENERAL BOOTH’S OBJECTIONS. (British Official Wireless.) RUGBY. January 17.An official statement says the result ol the High Council vote is a complete vindication of the seven Commissioners who requested the calling of the Council. Their action was absolutely unprecedented. hut under the circumstances with which they were confronted they felt there was no alternative. ft is added that numerous legal and technical questions had to be dealt with before and after tin* calling of the Council, and in these matters the seven Commissioners have been guided by independent legal advice, so as to ensure their actions being entirely in accordance with the deeds of the Constitution, signed by the founder and upon the terms oil which the General accepted office. The result of Hie liaßof was immediately telephoned to General Booth, who is lying seriously ill at SoutliWold. He stated he will resist with every means in his power the attempt, to deprive him of the leadership, which he regards as a sacred trust, that lie cannot give up either morally or legally, in view of the terms ill which it was imposed upon him by his father. The High Council resumed sitting today to consider the appointment of a successor to Booth. Commissioner Higgins, Chief of Staff, to-day took over temporarily the duties oif General Bramwell Booth, the deposed leader, pending the appointment of the General’s successor. Commissioner Lamb (International Secretary) who has a high reputation outside the Army for his statesmanlike knowledge on emigration questions, was also suggested. Commissioner flay (President of the High Council) won much approval from members of the Council for his handling of the debates and though lie has been in New Zealand H'or many years, his personal reputation in England is very high. There have been suggestions also that Commissioner Eva Booth (sister of General Bramwell Booth) might he chosen. She has won a world-wide reputation for her leadership of the Army in the United States and has been a leader of the movement against her brother’s autocratic position, but there are many who think her appointincut would ho too controversial. It appears that the High Council will proceed with the election of a new General to-morrow. Meanwhile a special messenger loft Sunhury in the afternoon 'for Soutliwold, conveying to General Bramwell Booth official notice of his deposition. It is. learned from a semi-official source that the General will probably leave it to the High Council to take action against him to divest him ot the trust which he holds by legacy from his father. Lie is sole trustee of the property in England Era nee and Australia valued at about C 1,800,000. ],f he refuses to divest himself voluutairv ol this trust, it will he incumbent upon the. High Council to take legal action against him. One who has boon close touch with him and family states this is the course he is likely to take.

POSSIBILITY OF HIGH COURT PROCEEDINGS. LONDON, January 17. An Army official points out that General Booth, as sole trustee, lias vested in him valuable properties in England. France and Australia, and it is necessary that he should execute a deed to divest himself of that trust. If General Booth reluses the onus rs on the Council to initiate proceedings in the High Court. Regarding the matter, a “.Morning Post” editorial says General Booth has been ill-advised. He still has a noble part to play. By accepting the facts, painful as the position must he, the great personal sympathy felt for him may ensure under the appointed successor full and fruitful if unctions of the Salvation Army. Any other course of action will only weaken the Army and not add to the high respect in winch the name of Bramwel! Booth deservedly is held. COMMISJONEB HAY A POSSIBLE CAN!)I DATE. LONDON, January 17. A notice exhibited at the Salvation Army Headquarters to-day set out that during the interval between 1 ho appointment of a new general, the Chief of Stall' is empowered to exercise the powers and discretion of a general. The “ Daily Express” understands that in addition to those cabled earlid-, Commissioner Hay (New Zealand) is among those favoured lor the Generalship. Tt is expected that certain guarantees will he 'exacted from candidates before the ballot proceeds. It is intended that the ifuture government of the Army will he on a democratic foundation. General Booth will retain the title of General with the addition of the word “ retired.” He will he granted a retiring allowance.LONDON, January 17. It is understood up to midnight no official notification was made to General Booth of the High ConneiTs decision. The task of informing General liontll will he left to the lawyers who for forty years handled the law business ol the army. it is understood that -General Booth may decide to assume a perfectly passive attitude and will authorise the bankers to honour only such cheques as

arc signed on his hefialf by certain representatives. It is believed that he will refuse to sign any conveyance of the leases or any authority which may tend to surrender his power as General. This will inevitably bring matters to a crisis, livery officer at headquarters is paid by cheque, which has to he signed by General Booth, and they cannot receive any further payment without his authority. GENERAL’S LETTER. LONDON, January 17. The following letter was to have appeared in the “War Cry” from General Booth:—- “ Beloved Comrades, in this moment, of serious anxiety and the crisis of our history, I turn to you to keep the high standard of the Army. Go on wTHf vimr work of publishing the sinner’s Irieiul. confident in Him in our cause, and looking to Him for strength which we need to carry us through the battle. lam fighting. I will fight. with little strength though I have, but in the strength of the King. T shall come through. Pray and fight for me." The High Council had the following . substituted : “ At the High Council on Jan. Kith, after conforming to all requirements of the deed, a poll adjudicating a decision was reached by which the General is relieved from office. Further information will lie published in next issue.” TILE DISSENTIENTS. , LONDON, January 18. The eight who voted against the'deposition of General Booth included four members of his family, namely, his wife, two daughters, May and Catherine, and youngest sister. Lucy, who is Airs Ilootli Hellberg. The lour others, according to the “Daily Express.” were Commissioner Allister Smith, the Army’s travelling representative in missionary countries. Theodore Kitching, private secretary to the founder, at present Kditor-in-Chief of the “ War Cry.” J. B. Laurie Chancellor of the Salvation Army Exchequer, and John Cunningham, who accompanied the ileputaTion to ask the General to resign but who is strongly averse to his compulsory removal. WILL NOT APPEAL TO COURTS. LONDON. January 18. General Booth does not intend to ap peal to the courts, says the “ Daily News,” upon the assurance of one ot the General’s closest adherents in the High Council. He adds that Catherine Booth gave the High Council a similar assurance on Wednesday. The Booth family says the General’s letter lias been misunderstood on this point.