THE SALVATION ARMY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20703, 29 April 1929, Page 10

THE SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER HAY’S VISIT. AN INTERESTING ADDRESS CASE OF GENERAL BRAMWELL BOOTH. Despite the inclemency of the weather, there was a good attendance at the Salvation Army Citadel, Dowling street, ves terday afternoon, when an interesting ddress was given by Commissioner James Hay, 0.8. E., the leader of the Salvation Army for New Zealand and president of the High Council. The chair was occupied by the Deputy Mayor (Mr J. S. Douglas), who extended a hearty welcome to Commissioner Hay He trusted that not only Salvationists but also the general public would derive some further knowledge as to the working and the future of the Salvation Army. Mi Douglas, on behalf of the citizens of Dunedin, expressed appreciation of the good work that was being done by the Salvation Army and its. influence for good The subject of Commissioner Hay’s ..! dress was “ The High Council and the Future of the Army.” In his opening remarks he said that the Salvation Army had recently been called upon to deal with the delicate question of the fitn or otherwise of General Bramwell Booth to continue at the head of this remarkable body now operating throughout the world with its 24,000 officers in 83 different countries. It had been known to the commissioners of the Army for several years that Mr Bramwell Booth, great as had been his powers of administration and control until 65 years of age, had latterly manifested a decline in capacity and effectiveness, and that it was only a question of time when a settlement must >e arrived at making the safety, service, and development of this work paramount, even to the removal,, if need be, of any one person or family, if unfit to control the move l ment properly. The founder of the Army had adopted the plan, at any rate for those earlier days, that the general in authority would name or nominate his successor, but though this was known, it was not equally known that the deed poll of the Army had provided that other means might be adopted. It was clear that the founder had a seer’s view beyond the days of his own personal operation and power, and could see that the method of nomination . of a successor might not always be the best or the safest for a body which might grow to numbers and influence immeasurably greater than the year, 1878, when that Deed Poll was executed. It was common knowledge that it nad so grown and was still expanding. Alas, wheti General Bramwell Booth came to office he, within a very short period, manifested a singular and unwarrantable attachment, not only to the retention of the nominative principle, but also to the undue elevation of his own family to positions of control—several of whom were so placed ml *°, indicate clearly dynastic intention. The leaders of the Army all over the world recognised the, evil result,that must ensue from this, as, it would undoubtedly mean, the introduction of a quite foreign principle—-that a family should have proprietary rights. The commissioners of the Army made representations from time to time to General Booth.- Unfortunately any attempt to persuade him to recognise the growth and capacity of the leading officers of the Army, to say nothing of the immense expansion and the. modern needs of the Army itself, proved futile. The commissioners of the Salvo Mon Array, many of whom had done 45 years’ service, believed that certain adjustments should be made—not in doctrine, principles of work, or chiefly in the method of appointing generals, and admitting also of adjustment of the one-man trustee position. It was -believed that General Booth could, if he would, meet his leading officers’ views. To their great regret he took up the attitude that he thought he could not, and if he could he would not, make any reform, nor in any way depart from the procedure ho had adopted. This created a somewhat unusual position. The leaders who had in many cases made the Army in different" lands, the teachers and trainers in the colleges, the outstanding leaders of the missionary work (there being 3000 missionaries) , the heads of the great departments at international headquarters, the business managers, thousands of the social officers and practically all the officers throughout the world, to say nothing of tens of thousands of local officers, bandsmen, members, and adherents of the movement were all, in varying degree it was true,‘but in- essential desire, unanimous that these changes should be made. It was a forced conclusion indeed, that General Booth, in' his decaying general power, failed to grasp the grave significance of all this; not only so, but he wished to —and actually did —set to one side any • who . had the temerity to- speak too plainly to- him At length, illness and physical unfitness of a decided character declared itself in General Booth. This could only be expected, as he had borne great burdens, and had manifestly been incapable of doing so for some years past. The first thought was that in case this illness should be serious it was imperative that the commissioners of the Army should meet the general and discuss the position. Unfortunately a policy of keeping the leaders of the Army in the dark was adopted. Such a policy might have had a good intent, but the issue was unhappy and disserviceable almost to an alarming degree. -After eight months of incapacity and no evidence of improvment or of General Booth ever being able satisfactorily to deal with his high office, the council was called. The High Council was composed of the commissioners of the Salvation Army, and all territorial commanders—whatever rank they might hold. The council numbered 64. Undoubtedly these men and women were greatly exercised as, although General Booth was unfit, he had drawn up a draft wherein he had thought to alter the very deed provided by the Army founder to deal with this situation. This seemed not only retrograde, but a violating of a special provision arranged by the founder, who was advised thereon by' three of the most eminent King’s Counsel of that day —Lord Asquith. Lord Haldane, and Mr Sargent. The High Council was summoned from all parts of the world. It met at Sunbury on Thames, on January 8, 20 miles from London, in one of the special training centres of the Salvation Army. After prolonged discussion, legal conferences, action taken by General Booth at the High Court, interviews with General Booth, much prayer, and extensive meetings, it was found that Mr Bramwell Booth was not improved in health, and that he was hostile to the operation of the 1904 deed poll. He also took measures—or big family aud lawyers did—with his approval, to thwart the High Council. The High Council, therefore, had no alternative but to remove Bramweli Booth from office. This was done by an overwhelming majority of 52 votes to five, and the new general was forthwith appointed by election. ; General E. J. Higgins, 46 years an officer, and recently chief of the staff, had been elected to the generalship. The commissioners of the Salvation Array. Commissioner Hay stated, were not trying to set up some hybrid ■ of new Salvationism attempting to combine some contrary elements, or to remove from the original germs the pristine vigour, abandon, intensity, and enthusiasm of its earliest inspiration and service. Any who might think that the name of Booth peculiarly enclosed some mystic potency of Salvationism might do injustice to those great makers of Salvationism, scores of whom had proved its suitability and success in 80 lands. At the same time the commissioners of the Army h-ad been moved by the tenderest regard for the late general, who has been removed from office. General Booth and bis family, perhaps his wife as much—or more—than any. had been, however, proceeding on a erroneous assumption that then family must control this- great movement. Neither history, nor need, neither capacity nor prospect, neither suitability incipient nor prospective leadership would, or could, : justify the astounding preparation they had made to found a dynasty, and to establish a nepotism that manife red itself to the dismay and grave uphappiness of thousands of officers in this and in other lands . Indeed, it was apparent to all who knew that no such provision or thought could have been ! n the mind of the founder—William Booth. Commissioner Hay went on to say that a variety of statements published or circulated might have to some extent confused the issue in some minds, but it was almost certain that the tens of

thousands of Salvationists and their wellwishers would avail themselves of such information as was now conveyed by him and would seek indeed if necessary to interview some of their experienced leaders of the Army who had just returned from their duty in London as members of the High Council, of this wonderful people who, they felt sure, were, only now in the early days of their great work. At the same time it was only fair to say that the earlier years of this now declined leader, from at any rate 1880 to 1912, showed an astonishing record of organisation and toil that might have hilled many. _ Alas, that he did not : see that, with waning powers and correspondingly reduced influence and effectiveness, he should have taken the course recently followed by Archbishop Davidson. Indeed, when Mrs Booth appealed to Lord Davidson, his inability to interefere in Salvation Army affairs was to some extent determined by the very fact that General Booth was holding on to office f°r. himself and his family instead of following the other course which must be best for the work. General Booth would, so far as could be ascertained, retain the rank of general, retired. It was not expected that he would be well enough to conduct services. In any case he would not in any way direct the future policy or work of the Army, though he would, no doubt, for the balance of his life maintain a deep interest in all its progress. Mrs Booth would probably take some active part in service, though not }? .liY- res Ppnsible office. Commissioner Catherine Booth, the most efficient memoer of General Booth’s family, might be still expected to bbld a- position in some part of Salvation Army work. General Higgins had already had many stirring manifestations of approval from all parts of the' world, and was now engaged in great public gatherings throughout the United Kingdom. No statement of Salvation Army affairs at this time could be complete without reference to that brilliant and outstanding leader—Commander Evangeline Booth. She, more than any woman in the Array’s ranks, had been its foremost orator and commander. For 24 years she had guided the destinies of the movement .in the United States of America, and it was only stating a recognised truth that from the Pacific to the Atlantic seaboard she was respected and admired, followed, aud . loved. Her personality had been brilliantly shown in the light of the deliberations of the High Council. No part of its close and intense thought and prayer and plan found her wanting; on the contrary,_ she was again and again, the inspiration and, mind of the moment. The oldest. Salvation Army leaders gave her encomiums and credits of most generous order, and it was well known that, but for a mind of unspoken chivalry in fearing lest the heavy task of generalship might break her, these men,'many of whom felt that she was the woman for the hour, hesitated to vote her into the office. All the same, her power, influence, personality, example, and future tonic to the movement would be felt far beyond the United States of America. In conclusion. Commissioner Hay expressed his warm thanks to the large circle of wellwishers of the Army throughout the Dominion, many of whom had already indicated their entire satisfaction with the work and determinations of the High Council of the Army. On the motion of Cr R; S. Black, a vote of thanks was accorded Commissioner Hay. The Salvation Army Band rendered several Appropriate hymns.