NO BOOTH DYNASTY

Evening Star, Issue 20139, 2 April 1929, Page 3

NO BOOTH DYNASTY

REMOVAL OF GENERAL COMMISSIONER HAY EXPLAINS [Pkk Untied Press Association-] WELLINGTON. April 1- “ There Ims been no split in the Salvation Army in connection with the retirement of our revered leader General Bramwell Booth, and the appointment of nnr now leader, General Edward J. Higgins, and there is no possibility of any such thing as a .split happening,” stated Commissioner James Hay on his arrival in "Wellington by the Ulimaroa. this afternoon. Thn commissioner was accorded a warm welcome on his arrival by a. largo group of Salvaltiou Army officers, and lie made a statement regarding tbe retirement of General Booth and the appointment of lu’s successor. He said: “The commissioners ot the Salvation Army are not trying to set up some hybrid of new* Salvationism-, attempting to combine some contrary elements, or to remove from tbe original germ its pristine vigour, and abandon the intensity and enthusiasm of its earliest_ inspiration and service. -Any who might think that the name of Booth peculiarly encloses some mystic potency of Salvationism might do injustice to those great makers of Salvation ism, scores of whom have proved its suitability and success in eighty lands. At the same time, the commissioners of the Army have been moved by the tendcrest regard for tbe iate general who lias been removed from office. Nothing could be more considerate than tbe attitude of the sympathetic and Christlikc deputation who waited on General Booth to show him that he should take the obvious course and retire from oflico in view ot bis inability, and that he should leave the task to stronger and abler bands. Even now, grieved and wounded though these men and women have been by the totally unwarranted legal action of General Booth, they do nor bear him any ill-will, nr feel other than a great regard for liis abundant service of earlier years. General Booth and bis family, perhaps bis wile ns much as (or more (ban) any have been, however, proceeding on the totally erroneous assumption that their larnily must control this great movement. Neither history nor need, neither capacity nor prospect, neither suitability incipient or prospective leadership would, or could, justify the astounding preparation they hnve'niadn to found a dynasty and to establish tbe, nepotism that manifested itself to the dismay and grave unhappiness of thousands of officers in this ami in other lands. Indeed, it is apparent to all who know that, no such provision nr thought could have been in tbe mind of the founder, William Booth.”