Salvation Army and King Edward.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLV, Issue 2, 13 July 1910, Page 8

Salvation Army and King Edward.

BRAMWELL BOOTH’S INGRATITUDE. LONDON, June 3. Mr. Bramwell Booth, of the Salvation Army, has managed to put up the backs of a good many supporters of that great organisation by making in the “WatUry” a string of wholly unnecessary, offensive anil ungrateful references to the late King Edward. Here are some choice extracts from Mr. Booth’s obituary notice in the official organ of General Booth, who is indebted to King Edward, perhaps, mors than to any other man for the prestige he enjoys to-day among those nroet able to give the Army effective assistances—. King Edward “was not a great ruler.” King Edward “was not a profound thinker.’* King Edward “was not a great scholar.’* King Edward “did not win hie laurels on the field of battle.” King Edward “was not a moralist or a philosopher.” King Edward “kindled no great religious enthusiasm.” King Edward “inspired no great social movement.”

“John Bull” calls Mr. Bramwell Booth’s outpourings “negative piffle,” but seeiug how successfully his father exploited the patronage of King Edward and what the Army owes to the fact that His Majesty gave public evidence of his interest in and appreciation of its work, most people will consider them positively indecent. Mr. Booth may be right in ids first three propositions, though the voice of the world is against his first. Indubitably he is right in his fourth, possibly in Ids fifth ami sixth also. But when he Bays King Edward “inspired no great social movement” he speaks that which is not true. It was the King's deep interest in our hospitals that gave life to a great constructive scheme which has materially improved their finances, and has enabled them to continue their good work without State aid. It was the King’s Ur* interest in his people’s welfare that

gave life to the scheme propounded for the amelioration of his eon*u nip tire ami canevr-stricken subjects, ami his deep personal interest in the great housing question undoubtedly greatly aaaiatej those who were struggling to secure reforms which would improve the conditions under which the masses lived. Mr. Bramwell Booth has not done the Army any- good by bis negative attack on our dead King, and just at present the Army is badly in need of “a friend at Court.” It is being vigorously assailed from more than one quarter* and particularly by Mr. Horatio Bottomley, who is publishing in “John Buff” a series of articles entitled “The Break-up of the Salvation Army.” Tlie evidence Mr. Battonrley has thuss far supplied in support of his headline is certainly disturbing to the friends of the Army', suggesting, as it does, that the organisation has not only ceased to make headway, but is rapidly losing ground in almost every part of the United Kingdom.

The map explains how great was the queue of people who wished to see King Edward's lying-in-state. The arrows denote the direction in which the people had to advance from Westminster Hall nearly to Chelsea Bridge and back along < Irosvenor-roud—a distance of over four miles.

With these eheery words of farewell, Lady Bridgeman “ broke ” the white ensign on board the Antarctic ship Terra Nova, ere that stout vessel left London on Wednesday afternoon to begin its historic voyage, amidst rounds after round of cheers. Those on board responded with a wild theer for “ Old England.” For days before her departure frouf London the Terra Nova had been the centre of much activity while store® were being taken aboard. The stowing of the curiously assorted cargo within the narrow limits imposed by a boat of the type of the Terra Nova has been carried out with skill and ingenuity. Sixty sledges and the materials, carefully nunrbered and arranged, for the building ot two large huts for the lauding parties are packed away in a hold of very modest dimensions. The lamp room and the instrument room are two of the smallest in the ship. The living and sleeping