Cannot See Brother

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 598, 26 February 1929, Page 9

Cannot See Brother

EVA BOOTH'S POIGNANT LETTER Reply From General’s Wife “WILL YOU NOT LEAVE HIM IN PEACE?" THE same division as threatened to rend the Salvation Army seems to have turned the Booth women one against the other. Commander Evangeline Booth made a last appeal to the General’s wife to allow her to see her brother. The reply she received contained the words: "For the time being, at any rate, you have attained your end. Will you not now leave him in peace?” (United J *.A. —Bi/ Telegraph — Copyright) (Australian \ind N.Z. Press Association)

Reed. 11.17 a.m. LONDON, Monday. “Although, you have refused my repeated requests to see Bramwell, now, with that stretch of 3,000 miles of sea before me, ana with all the uncertainties that time brings, I cannot refrain from making another plea, which surely you will not deny,” wrote Commander Evangeline Booth, addressing the general's wife. The correspondence was published on the eve of the commander’s return to America, where she leads the Salvation Army. She adds: “Whether Bramwell is worse or better, whether he is con-

with our flesh-aud-blood relationship, and my heart's unfaltering love, is my indisputable claim.

'•lf he recovers, I am confident he will be pleased that I did not go home without our having a few words together. If he does not recover, how can we meet our father and mother in heaven if he refuses to see me, if only to kiss good-bye and pray together.

“If you are not consulting Bramwell in the matter, 1 must ask you to consider the gravity of the responsibility you are assuming.” Mrs. Booth replied, enclosing a doctor’s letter of February 22 and adding that Dr. Milne was most emphatic that it was absolutely necessary to prevent any disquieting business or interviews. “You must surely realise,” she wrote, “how painful the interview would be for Bramwell. He is in deep sorrow and is greatly anxious concerning the welfare of our beloved Salvation Army. “For the time being, at any rate, you have attained your end. Wilt you not now leave him in peace?” Commander Evangeline Booth replied inquiring whether the general knows of her request or whether Dr. Milne had seen her letter, adding: “It is only fair that Dr. Milne should know, because I am positively mystified as to how he could refer to my desire to put a kiss on my brother’s face as a business interview. I am not yet told that Bramwell refused to see me. Indeed, I have heard several times to the contrary. I will leave the matter in the hands of the Great Shepherd, who unerringly protects his flock, and who also is the judge of all the earth.”