Religion: Salvation Army Ltd.

Evangeline Cory Booth and her niece Catherine Bramwell Booth met amiably last fortnight in London, where they had foregathered with 40 other Salvation Army commissioners from all over the world. Their comity, and a democratization of the Army which was worked out at their conference, were significant for all people who contribute to the Army’s charitable work.

Some two years ago aunt and niece were at loggerheads because Evangeline wanted the late William Bramwell Booth, her brother and Catherine’s father, ousted from his autocratic generalship of the Army. General Booth “resigned”; Edward John Higgins was elected his successor, with just as broad autocratic authority (TIME, Feb. 25, 1929).

To modify that autocracy was the aim of last week’s London conference. General Higgins himself wanted restrictions. Hence, although there was much emotional debate, as Evangeline Booth’s argument that the Salvation Army General had heretofore been “more infallible than the Pope or an emperor,” the commissioners decided by majority:

1) The next Army general will be elected by the Army High Council, instead of inheriting his job according to the Booth family rule.

2) Generals, male or female, must retire at the age of 70. This gives General Higgins command until 1932. Evangeline Booth, 64, Commander of the Army in the U. S. & Possessions, has in possible prospect four years of succession. Catherine Booth, whom her father, Salvationists believe, planned to succeed himself, is now 47.

3) The General’s power remains as autocratic as ever over his 35,074 subalterns in 82 countries. But—

4) A trust company of limited financial responsibility will be formed at once to control the $10,000,000 worth of Army property in Great Britain, Australia, France and other Continental countries. At present General Higgins is sole trustee of that property. Seven trustees will manage the new corporation, just as five trustees manage the $40,000,000 worth of Army property in the U. S.

5) A court of appeals will be called whenever an Army commissioner or commander has “differences, misunderstandings or grievances. . . .”