Rensselaer Republican, Volume 27, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 12 March 1896 — THE FIRST GUN. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

THE FIRST GUN.

Ballington Booth laaogaratae His \ Hew Movement An Imneau Hcetlnr at C*op«r Daloa la Wow York—Hr. Booth Makes a Statement of Hta Intentions. J:*' 1 J i ____ New York, March 9. —Mr. and Mrs. Ballington Booth addressed an iihmenqe audience at Cooper Union Sunday night. It was one of the largest gatherings ever held in the historic building. A few minutes after the doors were opened there was not an unoccupied seat in the hall and it is estimated that 3,000 men, women and children were turned away. At precisely eight o’clock Mr. and Mrs. Booth appeared on the stage, and the immense audience fairly went wild with enthusiasm, Hats, handkerchiefs, flags, eanes and bonnets were wared.

and those present cheered and shouted for fully 13 minutes without ceasing. During this time Mr. Booth stood with bowed head, while Mrs. Booth knelt jn. prayer. Some one shouted: “Three cheers for our American commanderl” The eheers were given, and for anothar interval of ten minutes the crowd went fairly wild with enthusiasm. Cheer nfter cheer was given for Mr. and Mrs. Sooth. AfHSr leadings wr prayer s 'Mr. Sooth addressed the audienceas follows: "Mrs. Booth and myself have n«t eom* to this fathering for the purpose of alluding to the recent sad events to our -experience. It is true that after deliberate thought, we have decided to Inaugurate .a new movement. Could It have been Avoided, It would not have been thought es. Mrs. Booth and 1 received assurances from ihetpeopte of the United States, lighting on behalf of Jesus Christ, that we had done a work for which they wore grateful and would not quietly submit that we should vetire to private life and relinquish a field which is the largest of any on the globe; Where there Is not only work for one Bal--vatlon Army but for a hundred. We have rt solved to the best of our ability to do something to bring over the middle or artisan classes to God. We do not intend to enter into any battle or. strife with the Salvation Army. We want no , fight, neither ritual nor verbal. We want to have a mission to reach the masses. We have resolved that the consecration we shall ,makeshall be lasting.” Mrs; Booth spoke briefly and was cheered enthusiastically. She made no reference to the troubles in the ranks of the army.

RALLINGTON BOOTH.