"STRATFORD EVENING POST" WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 16. 1929. SALVATION ARMY CRISTS.

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 18, 16 January 1929, Page 4

"STRATFORD EVENING POST" WEDNESDAY, JANUARY, 16. 1929. SALVATION ARMY CRISTS.

THIS High Council of the Salvation Army seems determined to depose General Booth while the General on the other hand is equally determined to remain where he is. It will be remembered that a communication was sent to him by the Council, expressing a wish that ho should resign his position at the head of the organisation, though retaining the title of General and all the honours in connection therewith. This was the outcome of a resolution passed by the Council, and the information was conveyed to, the General by a deputation appointed for the purpose. No reply was given a;t the time, but one was promised later. This has now been completed, and although, at the time'of writing, no official information has been given out, the news obtained by two London papers though conflicting to some extent, means the same 'thing—that General Booth io not going to reliunnisb office. The London Daily Mail savs the reply contains the intimation that be cannot legally accede to the desires of the Council, while the London Daily News savs be flatly refuses to retire. In other words it is a case of a. destinction without much difference. The opinion ban been expressed by a Salvationist officer that the General would! not be within hi H legal rights if he acceded to the demands of the Council, to whom the phase is to be put, with the result, perhaps, that the decision will be reconsidered. If the Council should hold to its original course the matter may be taken to court. The position is ait unfortunate one for the Army, and) is most .reregrettable, as it cannot fail to split a world-wide and powerful organisation into two camps with the result that, its efficiency must be impaired. No doubt both sides are actuated by the very highest motives, and one can well sympathise with the aims of each. The viewpoint of the General can be readily understood, and it is only natural that he should fight to the last against any attempt to remove him from the high office which Ids father had) held so nobly. At the same time, according to the Dad? Mail, there has been discontent in the Array for a long period, and the action taken in regard to Colonel Carpenter was a very high-handed due to say the least. Perhaps, if there had been a thorough investigation of the causes of discontent which commenced two years ago, the present unfortunate situation would have been avoided. There are grave times ahead for the Salvation Army which everybody must regret.