SALVATION ARMY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXVI, 5 September 1934, Page 5

SALVATION ARMY

THE NEW LEADER TO VISIT DOMINIONS EARLY NEXT YEAR (United Presß Association— By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) (Received sth September, 9.45 a.m.) LONDON, 4th September. Evangeline Booth told the “SunHerald” service she was determined to visit the Australian and New Zealand Commands early in 1935, making this her first campaign as General. HEADQUARTERS TO REMAIN IN LONDON LONDON, 4th September. Evangeline Booth, the new General, declares" that it would be unthinkable f,r the Saivation Army headquarters to be anywhere but London. She will return thither to undertake her duties after a farewell visit to America, where she has spent thirty years. The “News-Chronicle says that nve ballots were necessary before Evangeline Booth was selected.

TO RETAIN AMERICAN CITIZEN SHIP

NO FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE IN POLICY

(Received sth September. 10.25 a.m.) LONDON, 4th September. Evangeline Booth held a large press conference, faced scores of cameras and reporters skilfully and humourously, and answered myriads of questions. In the course of replies she stated she intended to retain her American citizenship. There would be no fundamental change in the Army’s policy, and no drastic innovations or modifications ni the great work, which was a sacred tradition handed down from the Founder. There would not be the slightest change in uniform. She added: “In these days of changing fashion we Salvationist women have a distinct advantage over the poor creatures to whom dressing has become an agony.” , There would be no relaxation of the Army’s regulations against smoking and against attendance at cinemas.

The place given to and the use made of women in the Army is one of its most noteworthy features typified this week again by tlie election of Evangeline Booth as supreme head of this great organisation. Mrs General Booth, the 1 Army Mother as she was called, with marked ability and with spiritual insight and power, led the way to one of the most wonderful emancipations of modern times in this respect. She exercised the prophetic office in such a way as to silence all adverse criticism of her personally, and she claimed as a right for her daughters and for other women the same privilege and office (wrote Colonel Frank Bell in the “Sydney Morning Herald”. Tens of thousands of Army lassies have followed her example, with the highest joy to themselves, and with the marked approval ot God upon their work. The majority of the officers are women, wives being officers in their own right before they are wives, and a full half of all past achievement stands to their credit. The Hallelujah lass with a radiant smile chastely framed in lier poke bonnet and her dress of sober tone and simple line, is one of the world’s assets with which it would not like to part. Tho Army’s philanthropic work is best known to many people through its vast, varied, and wonderful social institutions, of which there are 1581 throughout the. world. These afford nightly shelter for about 33,000 persons year in and year out, to say nothing other physical sustenance, and that moral and spiritual direction and inspiration which is the main objective. For, although there are no fewer than sixty-five different kinds of social work carried on, it is all directed in tlie end to. the moral and spiritual rehabilitation of the man himself by the grace of God. WHERE ITS STRENGTH LIES No doubt, the majority of people think that the great trophies who are tlie Army’s crowning glory have been made by the social work, but in that they are in great extent in error. One need only cite tli e men whose stories are tokl by Harold Begbie in “Broken Earthenware,” all of whom were the product of tlie ordinary evangelistic work of the organisation, the saving iustrumentally in their cases being a frail girl, intimate personal acquaintance with whom, was one of the greatest privileges I have ever enjoyed. Tlie weapons of the Army’s, warfare have always been of the simplest. It has refrained from all theological disputation, and has left tlie speculations of philosophy, the refinements of the higher criticism, and tlie guesses of the evolutionary theory for those who felt they had time and strength to spare for such work. It has been content to take tlie Bible as it stands on the principle given expression to by D. L. Moody, who said: “I believe that the Bible is inspired because it inspires me.” At a meeting in the Melbourne Town Hall tlie late Archbishop Lees said: “Tlie Army has kept true to its great twin ideas—Good Friday and Whit Monday, Calvary and Penetecost, ‘Blood and Fire.’ ”

SPIRIT OF SONG On the other hand, its soul was swelled to, and has found marvellous expression in, music and in song, ’file heights to which it has risen in this respect have probably never been exceeded in religious history.- The revulsion caused by the discords produced by the hands of early days has given way to pleasure and admiration. It has even infected the songless religion of Buddhism with this spirit. The Army has not only used music and song on the grand scale, but it lias made it, a large proportion of both having been composed and made !>v men and women in its ranks.

When it began its work, songs of war, victory, joy and certainty were not numerous and, anyway, abounding life had to create forms for itself. So thousands of songs and tunes have been made and added to the- repertoire of tho Church militant. Consider the beautiful simplicity and assurance enshrined in the chorus of one of the latest compositions by a workingman:

I know a fount where sins are washed away, I know a place whcio night is turned to day; Burdens are lifted, blind eyes made to see. There’s a wonder-working power in the Blood of Calvary.

and the tune to which he lias set it is an example of the charm of the wedding of simple verse to simple melody. The reason for the Army’s success

is not far to seek. It lies in a few simple ideas clearly and vividly conceived and passionately aiul enthusiastically pursued. The following briefly epitomises them:

That "it is God’s will that, all men should be saved. S

That none is too had or too vile for this to he done.

That the accomplishment of this is tho one great business of God’s people. That methods must he adapted to the various peoples and conditions that are met with.

That faith, and the courage that faith alone inspires, is indispensable. That offence, as. expressed in the Army song: Storm the forts of darkness,

Bring them down, down, down, and not defence, as expressed in Sankey’s hymn, “Hold the fort, for I am coming” must be tho inspiring idea of the Church’s plan of campaign. That love expressing itself in sacrifice is in the end irresistible.

It is a historical fact that religious organisations tend to grow old and stale unless the spirit which originated and formed them is reborn in the 'hearts of succeeding generations of its members. That is the thing that really matters to tho Salvation Army at the presnet time. All its well-wishers might well pray that the members of the High Council in their representative capacity should receive a new vision of tlie Army’s task in the world, renew their dedication to its accomplishment, and experience a fresh and mighty enduement of that blessed Spirit Who gave the Army being, making it a modern incarnation of tlie Lord Christ, and Whoso power flows unceasingly, and only, along the lines of His own peculiar purpose, SINGULARLY GIFTED

Commander Evangeline Booth is usually described as a “singularly gifted personality.” She inherited many fine qualities from her parents the founders of the Salvation Army, but she reached her position as one of the outstanding women of to-day, by utilising and developing these gifts It lias been said that distinction came to her as a result of continuous hard work, devotion and convicition and ideals, willingness to face perplexing situations as well as pleasant ones, and a comprehensive love of mankind. The Hon. Henry W. Taft, brother of the late President Taft contributed an appreciation of her life and work to the “Daily Mail.”

“I continually find cause to respect her grasp of affairs and knowledge of character,” lie said. “Her alert mind keeps step with the trend of the times. Her gift in forecasting events affecting the Army is remarkable. Indeed, she lias that keen perception of the Practical that one. expects to find only in successful captains of industry or finance, and her time is not wasted by humbugs for she has an uncanny gift in detecting all varieties of them. In the past four years of world wide economic collapse, the Army has weathered financial .storms as devastating as those that have wrecked great business enterprises. The ability of the commander for shaping affairs to the needs of the Army, was only stimulated by the urgency of such situations. She conferred personally with hankers and business men, and realigned her front. She rallied her officers in a voluntary movement to accept with her substantial reductions in their already meagre salaries; so that the Army might carry its flag into the front ranks of the war on depression.