GENERAL BOOTH DEPOSED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 565, 18 January 1929, Page 9

GENERAL BOOTH DEPOSED

UNFIT TO LEAD SALVATIONISTS

LEGAL ACTION WILL FOLLOW DECISION

DEPOSED because of mental unfitness from the leadership of the Salvation Army, General Bramwell Booth will leave it to the High Council to take legal action to remove him from office. The General, who is 73 years of age, is the sole trustee, under his father’s will, of property worth about £1,800,000. (United P.A. —By Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) (United Service)

LONDON, Thursday. The High Council of the Salvation Army held a ballot this morning with the result that, by 55 votes to eight, General Bramwell Booth was adjudicated unfit to continue in supreme command of the organisation. The sitting was then adjourned until to-morrow morning, when the appointment of a successor to General Booth will be discussed. This climax was reached in the early hours of the morning, the momentous ballot being taken after a six days’ secret conference between 63 members of the council, gathered from all parts of the world. The delegates had been sitting almost continuously since noon yesterday. Snow was falling when the council was due to meet, but soon sunshine — the first since it assembled —flooded the conference chamber at Sunbury Court. Progress was slow. When lunch-time came a brief statement was issued mentioning the singing of the hymn, “He Heareth Me,” and the recital of the Lord’s Prayer and the 48th Psalm. In the afternoon the debate was resumed and adjourned for dinner. At 7.45 p.m. the council reassembled for the purpose of taking the secret ballot. The delegates voted on paper. The result reached the newspapers after the first editions had gone to press. UNFAIR CRITICISM As soon as the result of the ballot was known an officer hurried to the adjacent villa, which is the headquarters of the Booth family and informed Colonel Bernard Booth. The latter was waiting at the telephone and transmitted the message to his father at Southwold. An official statement describes the vote as a complete vindication of the seven commissioners, who requested that the High Council should be summoned. It says: “Their action was absolutely unprecedented, but in the circumstances with which they were confronted they felt there was no alternative. “Nevertheless, the seven commissioners have been subjected to considerable abuse from uninformed quarters, where their action has been very unfairly criticised and misrepresented, although they are all old and tried officers with an average length of 44 years’ service.” SHOCK TO THE BOOTHS The statement lays stress on the fact that the seven commissioners were guided by independent legal advice which ensured their actions being in entire accord with the deeds and constitution signed by the founder of the Army, upon the terms of which the present General had accepted office.

The council said it thought an examination of the voting for the adjudication would reveal that the seven commissioners were justified in their action by the support of every territorial commander with the exception of General Booth’s daughter, Colonel Mary Booth. Although the decision of the High Commissioners caused no surprise, the delagates, s veral ot whom are personal friends of the General, showed signs of emotion. After the ballot. Sunbury Court, which for many hours nad been hidden in the darkness of the niglu, became a scene of great animation Soon a stream of cars was speeding members from the grounds to various parts of the country.

The news shocked the Booth family, who had maintained until the last the idea that the General might be retained in the supremo command.

It is learned that there was an impressive scene in the council chamber after the ballot. The delegates rose and sang four lines of the hymn: Oh, when we cannot see our way. Let us trust and still obey, He that bids us forward go. Cannot fail the way to show. When the council resumed its sitting yesterday it was faced with involved legal difficulties. It was necessary to refer several points to the sub-committee appointed to deal with legal questions, and the Army’s solicitor had frequently to be consulted. Progress consequently was slow. It is understood that the proceedings became very heated on the subject ot the fundamental r int of General Booth’s mental fitness. The deputation which waited upon him had reported that he was mentally unstable. Two councillors were taken ill. HIGGINS IN COMMAND A TEMPORARY POST British Official Wireless. Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY, Thursday. Commissioner Edward John Higgins, Chief-of-Staff of the Salvation Army, to-day took over temporarily the duties of General Bramwell Booth, the deposed leader, pending the appointment of the general's successor. In this connection additional names mentioned are those of Commissioner David C. Lamb, international secretary, who has a high reputation outside the army for his statesmanlike knowledge of emigration questions, and Commissioner James Hay, president of the High Council, who has won much approval from members of the Council for his handling of the debates. Though he has been in New Zealand for many years, his personal reputation in England is very high. Meanwhile, a special messenger left Sunbury this afternoon for Southwold, conveying to General Bramwell Booth the official notification of his deposition. At the General’s house telegrams were arriving all day, expressing sympathy and assuring him of continued support. The question of the legality of the General’s deposition will eventually he refought in the law courts. It is learned from a semi-official source that the General will probably leave it to the High Council to take legal action against him to divest him of the trust which be holds by legacy from his father. He is the sole trustee ot property in England and France and Australia valued at. about £1,800,000. If he refuses to divest himself voluntarily of this trust, it will be incumbent upon the High Council to take legal action against him. One who has been in close touch with him and his family states that this is the course he is likely to take.

"GENERAL, RETIRED” BOOTH’S TITLE DECIDED RETIRING ALLOWANCE (Australian and N.Z. Press Association) Reed. 9 a.m. LONDON, Thursday. Salvation Army circles opine that

the three candidates for the generalship are now Commissioner Eva Booth, Commissioner Higgins, and Commissioner Hurren, who was responsible for calling the council together. Commissioner Higgins is most likely to receive the offer, but he may refuse on the ground of age. There is a very strong feeling that now General Booth is deposed itie ! Booth regime should not be perpe'.is ated. Moreover, Eva Booth’s American standing handicaps her. Hence there is a probability of Commissioner Hurren's success. A notice exhibited at Army headquarters to-day set out that, during the interval before the appointment of a new general, the Chief of Staff was empowered to exercise the powers and discretions of the generalship. The “Daily Express” . understands that Commissioner James Hay is among those favoured for the generalship. It is expected that certain guarantees will be exacted from the candidates before the ballot proceeds. The intention is that the future government of the Army should be on a democratic foundation. General Booth will retain the title of general, with the addition of the word “retired.” He will be granted a retiring allowance.