Army Chiefs Pause

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 564, 17 January 1929, Page 1

Army Chiefs Pause

PLAN TO DEPOSE GENERAL Many Desire a Compromise \ British Official Wireless. Reed. 11 a.m. RUGBY. Wednesday. THE High Council of the Salvation Army to-day further discussed the resolution to adjudicate General Bramwpll Booth unfit to retain leadership. The General’s refusal to accept the Council's suggestion that he should retire was discussed for more than four hours yesterday.

It was expected that to-day the Council would take the vote almost immediately after its assembly. Many members, however, were reluctant to take the final step of deposing the General. They still hoped that some sort of compromise might be reached whereby the General could continue to hold power for the term of his life, but his successor would be appointed by the High Council. Late to-day it was officially stated that no decision had been reached. It was gathered that any decision to depose the General would be challenged in the law courts by the General's supporters. DEPUTATION TO GENERAL The report of the deputation which recently waited upon General Booth to request him to resign was submitted to the High Council. It stated: The General looked frail and extremely weak. His eyes had little animation and his hands were feeble. It is evident that he has not much ability to turn and move in bed. His speech is uttered with difficulty, but is coherent. His previously thought-out remarks could, without confusion, have been expressed in 15 minutes, but his power to do this is gone. He probably will not recover until he has had a little rest. Indeed, he took nourishment twice w’hile w'e were in his room. BEGGED HIM TO RETIRE The General seemed to remember us all. He spoke tenderly to each of

us and said he realised what we were asking. He added: “Bift I must have* light to see what 1 must do and how I must do it.” The General lingered a document. • revealing his t'eeble-nerved. distressed, hand He added: “I must have a day or two to think.” After a few further remarks it was apparent that lies had said as much as he was able to say. His prayer was slow" and made* with an effort. Commissioner James Hay also prayed. We kissed the General’s hand and 1 blessed him. We begged him for his own sake to retire. We told his eldest sister, Colonel Catherine Booth, that the council would reach an adjudication vote by Monday. We begged her to get the General’s signed answer by Monday morning as she could not. and must not, expect the council to wait. WANDERED FROM SUBJECT The General read the documents handed to him. He then said he had had a great trust passed to him from the founder of the Array. Turning to Commissioner Hay he said: “The old General had a great fight for one-man control. You believed in it then.” The General wandered from the subject and spoke on other questions. For example he referred to the new building at Denmark Hill, London, and asked us if we had been there. We said we had not. The General next made some almost jocular remarks.