THE SALVATION ARMY.

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume XXXX, Issue 5424, 15 May 1929, Page 3

THE SALVATION ARMY.

COMMISSIONER HAY IN PAEROA AN INTERESTING ADDRESS. ■ On Monday night Commissioner J. Hay, 0.8. E., head of the Salvation Army in New Zealand, delivered an important and interesting address to a small gathering of stalwarts at the Gaiety Theatre. The terribly inclement weather was without doubt responsible for the theatre not being fully occupied. Mr W. Marshall, Mayor of Paeroa, presided, and among those associated with him on the platform were Mrs Commissioner Ray, . Brigadier Bladin, Brigadier Cottrill, and the Rev. J. Lowden. t The evening commenced with rousing Singing led by Brigadier Bladin, tjtie enthusiasm of those present, more than making up for the smallness of attendance. I The Commissioner, introduced by Mr Marshall, said that he was there to speak on a subject which- was rather trying 'And /challenging', one which many might not feel belief in the forced retirement of their beloved leader, General Bramwell Booth, through decay and senility. He wished to- correct many misstatements which* had appeared in the Press. The Press objected to being excluded from the High Council’s deliberations in London; and the best- papers Were still Constantly making statements which Were not accurate. The High Council Was somewhat to blame* in ; the matter, as it had excluded the r Press, but ft was impossible to allow theii’ attendances >A-great deal of public interest -hhd been afoused by the Army’s crisis. In the life of all religious bodies there had at some time or other come, a critical point; and the Salvation Army had successfully passed its point through the .sagacity of the High Council. No change of Standard, conduct, inspiration, or doctrine had been involved; it was the Question of succession to the generalship and the matter of trusteeship. < Referring to the Booth family; Commissioner Hay said that William Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, /was. a: wonderful rnan, )yhom he had known personally,, and who was known unto God. But General Booth individually did not make the Salvation Army all over the world. He inspired it. Under the General’s guidance, assisted by his wife and a Ijttle.handful.of men and women, the Army took form until it had become a world-Wide organisation. God had graced William Booth and his wife , with a wonderful and unusual family, and Bram Well Booth was one of them. Probably the most outstanding was Evangeline Booth, the third daughter, a woman no longer young. Commissioner Hay stressed repeatedly on the fact that the makers of the Salvation Army- were-not all--members -of the Booth family. It would be a poor thing for the Salvation Army if all the leaders had'to be called -Booth. “Where,” said Commissioner Hay, “would I come in with my unromantic name.” In India the Salvation Army hail been made by Booth Tucker, who had devoted his life to that country. The Salvation Army in Japan had not been made by any white' man, but by a Japanese. The makers of the Salvation Army were of all races, quite outside the original Booths. The Salvation Army had doctors of divinity, M.A.’s, B.A.’s, and all sorts of A’s in its ranks, but the Army was modest—he himself had had men pat his hand and women kiss his hand. Withal, he did not believe that high officers of his rank should be distinguished by the wearing of a frock coat; they should not be separated from the people by any swanky dress. The Salvation Army was known all over the earth. It had been faced with many matters which needed adjustment—signing on articles of war, the training of officers, etc. Adjustment was necessary. The processed of Christianity were not inflexible and unchangeable. Christianity was unshakeable and iminovable, and Should not be moved. But the process must go on changing. This the Commissioner illustrated by saying that not very many years.,back the majority of the people in Germany could not read. Their religious fervour had been kept alive by the leading of hymns from church towers. Now that they could read, the process was changed. In the Salvation Army from time to time they had made deed polls, polls which had become laws of the land. If the general at the head of the Army should be unfit for a variety of reasons it was deemed that he should be looked at by a certain process, by the High Council of Commissioners. For the 25 years the deed poll had been in existence there had been no reason why the Salvation Army should remember it. The commissioners had a great responsibility, as they had been commanded by law to judge and decide whether the General was fit or not. If the commissioners did not do their duty the law would want to know why. The Salvation Army had millions of pounds’ worth of property with no stable background, no rock to rest On. General Bramwell Booth, a decayed man, had been the sole trustee. In his failing health and decaying power he feared the commissioners. In this fear he had dismissed, many- officers of high rank. The fear was caused through a decayed mind,. At this Commissioner Hay remarked in reference to General Bramwell; Booth : “Poor old General, poor/i old fellow !” The speaker went on to tell how a high officer in the Salvation; Army had been told by a man in the street that they ought to let the pooi’

old General be, whereat the high

officer asked : “Look here, my man, - what are you ?” “I’m a plumber,” replied the man. “Well, I attend to my work rand don’t tell a plumber how to do his,” retorted the officer. The High Council had been held by bonds- of affection on one hand, and

yet on the other realised that the good of the Salvation Army was imby a man whom all the leaders in the Army knew to he in decay, and who was. not capable of doing the work. William Booth had been at

duty in his 83rd year, and knew the import of every document placed before him. Bramwell Booth at 72 was decayed and unfit, and for the past year had no concept whatever of any documents placed before him. Commissioner Hay stated that he had known Bramwell Booth for 46J years, and knew what he was speaking about. - He was at the head of the seven calling at the General’s bed to announce the unanimous decision of the Army. At this juncture, no sizzle took place (this being the Commissioner’s way of stating no schism had occurred). The Salvation Army had embraced Salvation amazingly. Referring to Evangeline Booth, the Commissioner said she had been in the United States of America a long time, and was making the States a good Salvation place. There was not the slightest idea of the American body separating from the parent one. What was needed was strong central government and a vigorous leader. Bramwell Booth was decayed, and, besides that, a general, in perfect health or not, should retire at 70, as a commissioner did. It had nearly broken the hearts of many to do so, but the law had forced it. Bramwell Booth was 72, and theer was no law in the Army to say that he should remain General in command all his life. The matter required a special system. The General had been trustee for all moneys. As a decayed man confidence in financial matters could not be placed in him. A new system of trusteeship was necessary. Through decay in Bramwell Booth, law of England or not, he had no intention of making a change. The reformers who wanted these things adjusted in the, Ariny,;vvho were they ? <-The‘-van-guard of the early Army. These reformers had not been seeking anything for themselves. Fourteen days before the;election of a new General Evangeline Booth had told the speaker that she seeked neither nomination ‘nor election as the head of the Army. She was not out for self advancement. Commissioner' Hay said that in London he had heard he was proposed for a high position there, and he had '.quashed the proposal immediately. The Army consisted of self-effacing people. If a, leader was unfit he ought to admit it. The Archbishop of Canterbury had done so. The poor old General did not want to do so, and changes of commissioners throughout the world had been held up through that. The poor old : General would have risked legal or other -trouble to save his position. Affairs got to such a pass that something had to be done. The High Council had to decide,, and the members were summoned to London on January 8. After five weeks of deliberation, during which time every day they had prayers, song, and Bible reading, the decision was arrived at. It had been a gathering of calm judgment, every member schooled to' think in the light of God. From the onset the speaker had said that all must be carefully looked into, the family side too. It was decided to get the General to voluntarily retire. The Council did not wapt to drive the poor old General, he could scarcely tell one, thing frbm .another. The resulting interview with ■ the General was unfortunate and without result. He was decayed,'riot of distinct mind, hedged ’round with fear, and suffering froin loss of nerves.

With the Press protesting/ vehemently against the; course, legal, action was taken. A high' English legal luminary handed down that “It is not for this Court to say the; High Council is not a judicial body.” The members of the Booth family on the High Council were disqualified froin judging, for being advocates they cqtild not act in the foriner capacity. In due course one of the highest K.C.’s in England carefully examined the evidence. Everything was carefully examined. As a result, and in spite of what the doctors and nurses said, the High Council had no choice but to declare the General unfit, and that decision was legally effective. Forthwith the election of a new was proceeded with, as. was providfed for in ;the re-drift of a deed poll. Edward John Higgins was elected; There was nothing romantic about the name Higgins. The work was the thing, not the individual. Commissioner Hay and < General Higgins had beeh iri training college ... together, he a bugler and the’ Goneral tally clerk in charge of the linen store. Napoleon had said that every soldier carried a baton in his knapsack. Was this not true of the Salvatiofi Army ? It had been Commissioner Hay’s duty to inform'General Higgins, of his promotion, according to deed poll. In the future no general could appoint his own successor. What was all right for a small army was not so for a large one.

As for the poor old General, the High Council would treat him kindly. He would, if short of money, be allowed the usual half retired pay, and had also been allowed to retain his rank on retirement.

Reverting again to the Press, Commissioher Hay said they had been persistent in their efforts. to obtain admittance to the High Council. It even looked as though the photographers would jump the wall of the grounds. One actually did gain admittance and had taken a flashlight photograph before anyone had time to fully realise his presence. The Commissioner said that, on several occasions he had been offered large sums for a few words, and more than once was told-to make 'his .own price. Commissioner Hay remarked : “Oh, the papers, the papers, aren’t the Press unreasonable. The poor,, silly things, the poor silly fellows ”

In conclusion the commissioner said that as to the future, the Salvation Army would be true to its origin, and stated that he knew more than-most people present,'find kfteW the .future was assured. The Army would continue in the Gospel, continue true to its doctrine and faith, and to its policy of serving the poor. .There would be more and more fair and delightful women in the Army. Referring to his presence in Auckland shortly before coming to Paeroa, the speaker alluded to the numbers who had been

snatched from peril and brought to God on that occasion. One man in particular he was so glad to see come forward that he shook hands with him and said a word to him. The Rev. J. Lowden, in proposing votes of thanks to Mr Marshall and Commissioner Hay, spoke of the wonderful work accomplished by the Army throughout the world. Referring to General Bramwell Booth, he said he had seen and heard him in Auckland some eight years ago. Even at that time he thought him too old and incapable of his task. He was of the opinion that the High Council had acted very wisely. He himself had been converted by the Salvation Army and had made' his first speech in a Salvation Army hall within 48 hours of conversion.

Commissioner Hay, in suitably replying, counselled that people should not pay heed to the stupid things in the Press. Lately reports had been cablet) to the newspapers that General Bramwell Booth was climbing up to strength. This was quite untrue ; unhappily he knew it was not so. The Press statements were fallacious, and their statements of personal subjects should be treated'very carefully.