NEW SALVATION ARMY HEAD

Chronicle (Levin), 11 May 1946, Page 3

NEW SALVATION ARMY HEAD

COMMISSIONER OSBORN LONDON, May 9. The Salvation Army Higli Council olccted Conimissioner Albert Orsborn to the position' of General of the Salvation Army. I-Iis fornier post was British Commissioner. General Orsborn was born in Kent. Hc was eliief seeretary in New Zealaiul in 1933, and returned to Englund in 1930. lle became British Oomniissioner in- 194IJ. His first wife died in 1942, and hc married a second tirne, in 1944, Miss Evelyu Berry, matrou of the Salvation Army 's hospital, Wellington, who died lust vear. General Orsborn, tall aiul luuulsome, and a liue voealist, is tlie Salvation (Vrmy's No. 1 singer, says the Press Assoeiation. Ile is Ihe author of.more (hau 250 livinns and songs, which during the Jirst World Wur wero sung everywliere to popular tunes. After liis etection, Genorat Orsborn tohi tlie Prcss: "We are going to be bulldozers of cvangeiisin. Tlie Army must niore than evor be mobile — tlie slogan being, 'Put the Army on vvlieels, or, if necessary, on wings. ' " General Orsborn was eleeted by a two-thirds majority vote, gaining 30 votes. The ruimers-up, Coinniissioiiqrs G. Baugh and Catherine JBraniwell Bootli, received G and 4 votes rcspectively. Service in New Zealand. Apart from his wldely-aeclalmed ability as a voealist, General Orsborn is regarded as the Salvation Anny's leading orator, a reputation vvitli wliieli tliose who came to know and admire him during liis service in New Zealand are f'ullv in aceord. As oue writer put it: "He is of slight build, lias the deep-set, grev eyes of a dreanier, and the voice of a man of aetion. lle does not go about with a haiul thrust-out in robust greeting for everyone he meets. but his quiet synipathy and observational temperainent niake him no less a good mixer tinui a skilled stndent of nieii. On tlie platforni hc grips the at- | tentiou both by his gift of language | and tlie vigour of his ideas. " ! General Orsborn will take up tlie j international leadersliip of the SalvaI timi Army next inontli, wlien General j George Carpcnter and Mrs. Oarpouter | retire. j Ilis fame as a poet and song writer j extends throughout the .Salvation Army j and his eoinpositions liave been sung | all over the world, lle joined the j Salvation Army in liis early teeus, and i during a career of ofticership extemling j from 1905 he proved liimself au able j executive, a strong leader, and a wliolej hearted evangelist".

I After his entr into tlie Army he I serveil for a pcriod in corps work. Ile | tlien served us a young people 's secre- | tary and as a divisional commander of | both the Norfolk aiul Southeast Loddon j Uivisions. Wlien General Orsborn was appointI ed eliief seeretary for New Zealand, he i succeeded Colonel Levi Taylor, who retired and went to Panada. Eor tlie preeeding cight years he was in charge of the men's training work at the William Bootli Meinorial Gollege, Loiulon, liolding the positions of brigade offieer, second side oflicer for men, and eliief side otlicer. ; . • General Orsborn, accompanied by his ! wife and tliree children, was given a I warm weleonie to New Zealand, Com- | missioner John Cuiininghain headiag a large gathering of Salvation Army representati ves at the Taranaki Street Wharl", Wellington, to ineet the Marama in which General (tlien Golonel) Orsborn and his family travelled from Sydney. Tlie tlien Mrs. Orsborn was born in Melbourne, her parents being Ooionel and Mrs. James Barkcr, the pioneer otlicers of tlie Salvation Armv in Victorin. She was a capttfin in the Salvation Army and married General Orsborn in 1909. Ilis personal charm and conscientious. self-sacrilicing work in the Dominion niade a deep and lasting iinpressimi on both Sal vationists and tlie general pubiie. Ilis next appoinliii 'ii t , with the rank of lieiilenaiit-coni-missioner, was Territorial Ooiniiiander for the Scotland and Ireland Territorv.