BEHIND CLOSED GATES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20612, 10 January 1929, Page 9

BEHIND CLOSED GATES

SALVATION ARMY COUNCIL ELABORATE PRECAUTIONS. (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright.) LONDON January 8. The High Council, of the Salvation Army, attended by delegates from all parts of the world, met at Sunbury with the object ■of determining whether General Bramwell Booth was in a fit physical and mental condition to continue in command. After prayers and the familiar Salvation . Army hymn, “ Mine to Rise When Thou Dost Call Me,” had been sung, Commissioner Hay (of New Zealand) took the chair. The council adjourned . for threequarters of an hour to enable the various sections to consider the terms and resolutions they, proposed to. bring forward. Directly the adjournment was announced Catherine Booth and Commissioners Laurie and Kitchine motored to a- villa near Sunbury Court, which Catherine had hired for the duration of the conference.. Colonel Mary Booth, representing Germany,, also motored to Catherine’s villa, where a short conference was-held. Their movements intrigued the big crowd which had gathered to watch the assembly. All'the leaders arrived in motor cars, and were stopped at the entrance where an elaborate system of whistle signals had been arranged. A long blast meant that someone had been challenged and had been found all correct, two blasts meant that the visitor was'doubtful and that a messenger was urgently needed and three blasts meant the emergency call. Some unauthorised person attempted to rush the guards. In one case a man climbed over a. high wall but patrols discovered and ejected him,—Australian Press Association. , ■ COUNCIL ADJOURNS. DELEGATES STAY AT COURT. LONDON January 8. The Salvation Army High Council adjourned until to-morrow. None of the delegates was allowed to leave Suubury Court. ’■ The gates were locked at 7 o’clock, and no one was admitted.— Australian Press Association—-United Service. ■ 1 MESSAGE TO THE GENERAL. LOVE AND SYMPATHY. LONDON, January 8i It is officially announced that the Army Council spent a day in setting up the necessary committees to deal with finance and other formalities. One committee will deal with press matters and will prepare a daily, bulletin. Each of the three sessions openedwith prayers. At the first a message expressing love and sympathy in hia illness was sent to General Booth. It is officially stated that his residence at Southwold is not compulsory.—Australian Press Association.

The High Council of the Salvation Army consists of the commissioners from all parts of‘the world, with the addition of territorial commanders whose commands do not carry that high rank. It may be summoned by the Chief-of-Staff and four; other commissioners, or by any seven commissioners. The following official statement concerning the leadership •of the Army was issued on November.,2o by Commissioner E. J, Higgins, chief .of staff of that body:— Council of the Salvation Army has been summoned to . meet ,in London early in January -next. We extremely regret the continued grave condition o'f health of General Booth, but meanwhile the working of the Army will not be in any. way affected, as every , necessary arrangement exists for the efficient maintenance of its operations the world over, finder a well-established system of administration and' oversight which was inaugurated by the Army’s founder. All discussions as to supposed claimants to the generalship of the Army are. premature, if not indeed absurd. There are- neither claimants nor candidates for the position. The matter, by the very nature of Salvation Army policy, is one which can, only be decided when a vacancy actually arises.