CENTENARY CELEBRATION

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 609, 11 March 1929, Page 14

CENTENARY CELEBRATION

birth of salvation army FOUNDERS The Salvation Army this year ppi P . .UU cente nary of tils birth of its founders, William and Catherine Booth. Mrs. Booth was three months l ’ l l er than first General of the fealvation Army, being born on Januand Wllliam Booth on April

While the influence of both these people upon tlie World is incalculable it has been claimed that the predommating stimulus emanated from Mrs Booth, affectionately called “the Army Mother.” The dawning of her “day” took place in a little chapel. Conference was in session, and the future work of William Booth was being discussed. There appeared no chance for appointment to evangelical opportunities, and a pulpit and restrictions moreover loomed in the immediate possibility. Catherine Booth was at that time in delicate health, and she had a family of four young children. Her husband was not enjoying good health at the timp, and he was afraid, thinking of his wife and children and of what they would suffer if he broke with the Church and launched out as an independent evangelist. No invitations to conduct revival meetings had reached them because of the veto placed upon William Booth by the conference. At the conference William Booth questioned his wife with a glance as to whether he should accept a miserable compromise. She rose immediately, and in a determined voice, which startled the business-like gentlemen, exclaimed, “Never!” Amid shouts of “Order, Order!” William Booth went out to face the consequences of his act.