BURIAL OF GENERAL BOOTH.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 9 October 1912, Page 4

BURIAL OF GENERAL BOOTH.

SIMPLE AND IMPRESSIVE.

BORROWING THOUSAND

(From "New Zealand Herald's" Own Correspondent.)

LONDON, Aug. 30

Yesterday's funeral of the founder of the Salvation Army was impressive in its simplicity, and the heavy rain in the early morning did not prevent a huge crowd gathering to pay reverence to one of the Grand Old Men of the modern religious world. The rallying spot of the 5000 soldiers and bandsmen -who preceded the founder of the Army t|o his last) resting place -was {the Thames Embankment, where they began to gather in the steady rain before 10 a.m., nearly two hours before the order to march was given. The only symbol of the General's death in the attire of his soldiers was an armlet of white, oipon which appeared the letter "S" in fed, beneath a crimson crowd. Some of the women wore white sashes, and from the head of the standards there floated streamers of white ribbon. The crack bands of the Army— those from Regent's Hall, the headquarters, and Chalf Farm —immediately preceded the coffin, and some very fine bands came also from Yorkshire and Lancashire, and from Tonypandy and Pentre. : "PROMOTED TO GLORY." Shortly after 11.30 the leading band marched off at a slow pace to the strains of the "Dead March" from "Saul," and the impressive sounds of this were never allowed completely to die away, for along the whole route, i directly one band ceased another took up the tune, which seemed to express the emotions, not only of the thousands who marched in silence, but also of the dense throng through which they passed. The funeral .march was varied by one tune only, " Promoted to Glory," which was composed by the General's son, Mr Herbert Booth, and was played by several bands as they passed the hearse.

When the standard-bearers came In sight, the iron gates of the Army headquarters in Queen Victoria Street were thrown back and, borne by senior staff officers between rows of saluting 601----diers. the General's "coffin wasoarriedacross the pavement and laid on the hearse. A flag was placed both at the he.a<? and the foot of the coffin, upon which were laid the General's hat and Bible. The breastplate was uncovered. At the side of the - hearse,, almost obscuring the wheels, was a device > ia green, upon which'in white letters were printed the words, «He laid down his sword." Preceding rthe hearse was a brougham filled with beautiful;:wreathe, f mong which were those from His Mai-

THE MARCH PAST. The maxch past, which was watched by General Bramwell Booth, Mrs Booth Hellberg, and Miss Eva Booth from a window at headquarters, was most impressive.

It took two hours for the thousands of {Salvationists.jto. pass by, and in the heart of the city business generally was suspend^!. On the balcony of .the Alans on Hous- the Deputy T^>rd Mayor Rto.l bat as the procession filed by, and saluted the coffin as the funera[..fN'ir stepped foe a-moment ouiside thrt hnildmc General Bramwell Booth revoi-ontly. returned the salute by bowing to the Deputy Lord Mayor and, the <M-ovk'd. Outside the boundaries of the cit,~ thousands and thousands of people worn collected. - «

TUP BURIAL SERVTCE. t The service at the graveside was no tess msririni, than the Temar'aWe .m-o----ceesions through the streets. AbneyPark "Cemetery, in Stoke Newmsrldn, -was. reached soor< after 3 p.m. The place of ■l':' ri^L was a Quiet; corner oyershadowedi Uy Lofty trees, and alrehdv consecrated ■m the mind- of General Booth's followers ns the resting place of ■ hie wife ■who <!h;.| 22 years ago. and .of many otnm- leadmcr officers of the Army. At the head of the grave an officer held .the banner which General Booth took with him to the top of Mohti+. fJalvary I" 1? 9 Tjjjerjmafte to the Holy Land in iw>->. ihe burial service, which lasted from four to six o'clock, followed the lines of a Salvation Army meeting TFTE LYTNG TN STATE The body of General Booth "far in state in the Coneress HnTl at 01-airfon during the early part of the week. 'The simple oak coffin stood on a marble catafalque, under a vast -canomr o f Wn ite and yellow streamers. TwSTv© cadets in uniform (six men -and c,v women) yarded the bier, holding standards in then* hands, and standing -motnon/less, with calm faces and down^sf p-ryy, Th^ coffin was draped' with the Salvation blood, and fire" emblem in the centre, and the tinner part of it -nr? s covered with a elnss .panel to allow the general's body to be seen to tW waist He was clad in the dark bine tmnic and crimson Jersey, and on the coffin -were his cap, Bible, book of songs, notebook, and fountain pen in crimson leather ense. Above his head -was a portrait of his late wife, and on the platform bovond the bier was n Inrse -photoprra.ph of himself held by two women ofßr-ers. A wrenth of white lilies, sent by the German "Emperor, was placed on the coffin.

A double snstem of barriers enabled two endless streams of neonl« to pass the bier and look f^r the ln^, time on that white face with the flowin.sr whit© hair and beard, which had meant so much to nrnnv of them. The lying in state lasted for three days.