WILLIAM BOOTH

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20690, 12 April 1929, Page 9

WILLIAM BOOTH

FOUNDER OF SALVATION ARMY. CENTENARY CELEBRATIONS. (British Official Wireless.) ‘ (United Press Association.) (By Electric Telegraph—Copyright) RUGBY, April 10. The hundredth anniversary of the birth of William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army, is being celebrated today in almost every capital of the world. In some European countries, including Britain, the leading members of the Government are taking part in the celebrations. The Prime Minister, Mr Stanley Baldwin, will preside ton;ght at a great meeting in the Albert Hall, which is capable of holding 10,000 people, and in addition to General Higgins, head of the Salvation Army, the Bishop of Willesden and Dr Phillips, president of the Free Church Council, will give addresses on the religious and social work of the Army. MR BALDWIN’S TRIBUTE. “GREAT RELIGIOUS LEADER.” e \ LONDON, April 10. Mr Baldwin, who was accompanied by Mrs Baldwin, presided at the Albert Hall centenary celebration of the birth of General William Booth. Thousands of Salvationists enthusiastically cheered the Prime Minister. A pageant, illustrating the rise and progress of the Salgvatiou Army, included the whitebeared survivors of General Booth’s original Christian mission, which was founded in 1805, and representations of the various phases of slum work, social activity, emigration, and' industrial colonisation. Mr Baldwin said: “ The Victorian age is unpopular to-day because, despite its faults, its numerous great men had faith in goodness, moral earnestness, and a sense of duty. Their work for human souls will last to eternity. Their critics will be forgotten with their generation. General Booth was one of the greatest of men. He was both a Conservative and a Reformer. He believed in tradition and in novelty, which he applied to in Ins Gospel teaching. General Booth realised that religion was fundamental, and faced the fact of evil, of which we were afraid to-day, having banished the word ‘ sin * from the dictionary. Nevertheless, the ugly fact remains.” Mr Baldwin added: “ We have to thank (} o< i for William Booth, whom all Christendom recognises as one of the world’s great religious leaders.” There were none of General Booth’s family on the platform. They received on!y ordinary tickets of admission to the haH —Australian Press Association —United Service.