GENERAL BOOTH.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LV, Issue 84, 26 August 1912, Page 5

GENERAL BOOTH.

THE FINAL RITES. By Cable—Press Association—Copjrigkt. Received 26, 12.25 a.m. London, August 25. Vjeneral Booth's bodv lav in state at Clapton yesterday, and streams of visitors viewed It. A great service will be held at Olympia on Wednesday, and the procession will march through London on ThureUf,

THE LYING-IN-STATE. . London, August 23. There is a continuous stream of peopie viewing General Booth's body lying in state at Clapton. Six men and six women are guarding the coffin, holding flags. A WREATH FROM THE KAISER. London, August 23. The Kaiser sent a wreath to be placed •n the coffin of the late General Booth. SERVICE IN CHRISTCHURCH. By Telegraph.— Press Association. Christchurch, Last Night. A public service in memory of General Booth was held in Victoria Square this afternoon, and was very largely attended. The Mayor piesided, and other ipeakers were the Revs. C. H. Laws (Methodist), T. Tait (Presbyterian), I. Bernstein (Jewish), S. Henderson (Primitive Methodist), and Brigadier Gist (Salvation Army). Tributes were paid tc the late leader of the Salvation Army, and special hymns were sung. MR. BRAMWELL BOOTH. BRJEF AOOOUNFOF THE NEW GENERAL'S CAREER. Born in 1856 at Halifax, the eldest ■on of the founder of the Salvation Army came into life before the organisation had been thought of. His father aras then a Minister of the Methodist New Connexion, and nine years elapsed after the time of his birth before the evangelistic work at Mile End prefaced the establishment of the Christian Mission. Apparently he did not enjoy robust health as a hoy. At thirteen years of age he suffered an attack of rheumatic fever, which left its mark for a long time afterwards. Before entering manhood he spent some months in Scotland for the benefit of his health, until eventually he grew out of his early weakness.

During those early formative years his mother's influence was strong upon him. Readers of her life are aware of the yearning she manifested first (o bring him to the penitent form and then to awaken his aspirations for whole-hearted Christian service. No greater joy was experienced by both his parents—but especially the mother—when she knew he had abandoned the thought of othei callings for that of the Christian worker. This important decision proved no light or easy matter for the young man. He had unmistakable leanings for a medical career, and there were influential possibilities of the desire being gratified. That he decided for the less remunerative but blessed ministry of preaching and working for salvation affords us an indication of the strength of his convictions.

A YOUNG MAN'S ENTHUSIASM. He threw himself into the army with all a young man's enthusiasm. In the open air y he preached to large crowds, which were sometimes hostile, and m the arduous days of the commencement of the new organisation, which had to win its way by sheer conquest and defiaite achievement, became his father's chief lieutenant. Behind the scenes lie was initiated to a severe office routine, and learnt those business habits and precise methods which have since proved of such priceless worth to the army. He has said that one of his first duties was to clean out inkwells, and to do that which the junior clerk ot a large business establishment usually finds irksome and unpleasant. Still his father never intended to bring up even his eldest son on a bed of roses. As the army grew so also increased his work and responsibility until by the very fitness of things he became chief of the staff.

Mr. Brain-well Booth's public and private record express the chivalrous treatment of women. As is well known he was willing even to suffer imprisonment as seemed inevitable on a famous occasion—in order to uplift womanhood. He had done no wrong, but the law sought to make him a culprit. He escaped Holloway after some harrowing experiences, yet to-day, as then, the years have not tempered his detestation of any customs or practices that accord woman an inferior place in the esteem of mankind. HOME LIFE.

His home life is ideal. Wife and children—sons and daughters—are linked together in one happy self-denying ordinance to foster and extend the army Work. Marriage brought him a partner who had distinguished herself in Paris when the French people were much excited concerning the zealous methoas of the army. Captain Florence Soper, as •he was then, had volunteered for service in France after a remarkable religious awakening as the result of the ■ervices of Mrs. Catherine Booth.

The daughter of a west country physician, Florence Soper came out of a home quite unused to Salvation Army doctrines or methods. She admits the task of serving in the army at the start was a heavy one, but by divine grace •he stood by her post and has since done noble work for God, for her sisters, and for the organisation of which her husband is now head . She is in charge of the women's social work of Great Britain, which has been signally blessed, not only in its treatment of poor, fallen women, but of drunkards of her own sex, and in the rescue of children from evil and vicious environments. At home social workers of all ranks have acknowledged the real worth and influence of her gracious ministry. Mr. and Mrs. Bramwell Booth have experienced great blessing and joy, aa they themselves declare, and now in "the midst of further responsibilities they face the future with the courage and hope derived from their strong faith in the mercy and wisdom of God.