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Rhondda Leader Maesteg Garw and Ogmore Telegraph

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General Booth III

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General Booth III Visit to Tonypandy Cancelled. Renewed Eye Trouble. General Booth, the Grand Old Man of the Salvation Army, has had a return of his old trouble affecting his eyes. The General was to have addressed a meeting in Jerusalem Chapel, Llwynypia, this (Thursday) evening, but owing to his in- ability this has been cancelled, along with the rest of his Welsh tour.. So abrupt a termination came about at Newport on Tuesday, where, after ad- dressing a large audience at the Temper- ance Hall, he was taken ill, and forbidden by his medical attendants to continue his journey. Previous to this disappointing contretemps, the General carried his 80 years as jauntily as a youth of 16, and his voice was vigorous, infusing some of the old fire which characterised his earlier career. WHAT HE SAID TO HIS HOUSE- KEEPER, At a-recent meeting, the General gave an address with a striking and impressive account, pointed with antithetical phrases, of the change of attitude which has come over the public mind with re- gard to the Army and with regard to himself; and it was easy to see that. though they have not embittered him nor shaken his resolve, the accusations which have been made against him in times paist, suggesting on his part a want of candour, sincerity, and disinterestedness, have touched him to the quick. It was, therefore, with just and natural pride that he was able to dwell on the universal congratulations which had been showered upon him by high and low, rich and poor by Governments, and Presidents, and Cabinet Ministers," by high dignitaries in the Church, by Conferences and Con- ventions, and by the Press of the world —on the occasion of his 80th birthday. In fact," he laughingly declared, the General has been so mixed up with royalties during the last few months, that lie found himself saying Your Ma- jesty to his housekeeper." He had been told, he added, that 10,000' newspapers, in the United States alone had published photographs, like and unlike him, and columns upon columns of his history and that of the Salvation Army. But what pleased him most were the congratula- tions of the masses of the people, and no uttered sentiment gave him more real joy than that of a dear old woman who said, ae he entered the hall when he was pre- sented with the freedom of his native city of Nottingham, Ah, he's been a Sweet William to me and my. old man." These congratulations, lie pointed out, were not for himself. He was not a great inventor, or a great discoverer, or a great traveller. He was not a genius in any shape or form. He was not even a multi-millionaire. But they were for what he represented—the Salvation Army. That led him easily into the heart of his discourse, and ardent and effective effort, to show that the Army has deserved well of the neople among whom her flag flies." He described long and feelingly her devotion to the cause of the friendless, the poor and the out- cast-tlie, great masses largely outside the pale of religious and philanthropic or governmental effort—and claimed that she would have deserved well of the com- munity even if her efforts had not been successful. But by their fruits ve shall know them," and for the fruits of the Salvation Army's labours he gave chapter and verse for great enterprises achieved through her agency in all parts of the world. A MIGHTY ORGANISATION. Dealing with the organisation itself, he pointed out that the Salvation Army had created herself out of the waste humanity of the world, that her flag now flew over fifty countries, that she had established about 8,000 separate societies, that she had 25 newspapers in 17 different lan- guages, and that her musicians were 25,000 strong:. There had been a, lot of talk about the Germaiis coming: over to invade this country. He cordially in- vited the Government, in that eventual- ity, to call out the Salvation Army, whose discipline was perfect, and whose officers were nearly 100,000 strong. Commenting1 on the ridicule heaped upon the methods of the Army in the early days of the existence of the organi- sation, he said many of those who ridi- culed were now very glad to adopt the -=- very methods that they had ridiculed, The General became especially enthusi- astic in an account of his proposals for the establishment of labour colonies—and of work already done, 'particularly in conjunction with the New Zealand Gov- ernment in that direction for vagrants who won't work, and in his account of the purchase by the Army of an estate near Colchester for the benefit of men who want work and can find none, and whose only chance, he said, lies in going back to the cultivation of the land. He said it was hoped by September to show a scheme to the public in connection with their estate by which." fifty lovely little cottages," each with five acres of land, were to be provided for the purpose by way of a beginning. People were laugh- ing at him and saying it could not be done, but they had been laughing at him for so many years that it remained to be seen who laughs last. As for' the Army methods of dealing with the unem- ployed, lie said lie should be glad to face, his Maker on that question. Whatever the world might say, he was sure his Heavenly Father would approve of the efforts made to help the struggling out- of-work." Having dwelt upon the work of the Army in Australia, the United States, Japan, and Europe, he called as wit- nesses to its success the verdict of pub- lic opinion and the work of the Salvation Army itself. Then he spoke of their work among fallen women, demanding, with all his fervour, to know, .Vhy not, why not, why not, Mr. Chairman, forgive the women who repent as you for- give the men, provide them with happy, comfortable homes, and restore to them their self-respect." That was the work which the Salvation Army had been suc- cessfully engaged in for years. VICTIMS OF THE CRUEL LUST OF MEN. Is there any hope for these down- trodden, despised outcasts of society, the victims of the cruel lust of men you re- spect and honour?" lie thundered in an accusing voice. Then he halted, and, lifting up his hands reverently in the deep silence which followed, he replied dramatically, Thank God, there is the Salvation Army." Thunderous applause followed as he described how 50,000 girls had been saved and now occupied honour- able positions as happy wives and the honoured mothers of bonny bairns. ANTI-SUICIDE BUREAU. Then he spoke of the Anti-Suicide Bureau—a wonderful institution, which in three years had been the means of saving 4,000 people from self-destruc- tion. These came to the bureau with poison in their, pockets, razors at hand, with revolvers ready to blow out their brains, or with their eyes fixed on the spot in the river where v they intended to end their earthly career. But they were led to give up the idea of self-murder and to change the course of life which had led them to the desperate condition.

Porth.

Funeral of Mrs. M. Rees, Tonypandy.

A VISIT FROM LINCOLN.

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Pentre.

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