Evangeline Booth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
General
Evangeline Booth
OF
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Booth in 1907
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| 4th General of The Salvation Army | |
| In office 11 November 1934 – 1 November 1939 |
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| Preceded by | Edward Higgins |
| Succeeded by | George Carpenter |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Evelyne Cory Booth
December 25, 1865 South Hackney, London, England |
| Died | 17 July 1950 (aged 84) Hartsdale, New York, United States |
| Parents | William Booth Catherine Mumford |
Evangeline Cory Booth (OF) was born on December 25, 1865, and passed away on July 17, 1950. She was a British evangelist, meaning she shared religious messages. Evangeline became the 4th General of The Salvation Army from 1934 to 1939. She was the first woman ever to lead this worldwide organization.
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Evangeline's Early Life
Evangeline was born in South Hackney, London, England. She was the seventh of eight children. Her parents were William Booth and Catherine Mumford. They had started The Christian Mission, which later became The Salvation Army in 1878.
Catherine Booth loved the book Uncle Tom's Cabin. She wanted to name her new baby 'Evangeline'. However, William Booth preferred 'Evelyne' and wrote that on her birth certificate. Years later, while in the United States, Evelyne met Frances Willard. Frances was the founder of the Woman's Christian Temperance Union. She convinced Evelyne to use the name 'Evangeline'. She felt it sounded more important for the leader of The Salvation Army in America.
When she was 15, Evangeline worked as a Sergeant. She sold The Salvation Army's newspaper, The War Cry, in the poor areas of east London. At 21, in 1887, she became an officer. She led the corps (a local church) in Marylebone. This area had strong opposition to The Salvation Army. Whenever there was trouble, General Booth always said, "Send Eva!"
Leading The Salvation Army
From 1888 to 1891, Booth was a Field Commissioner across Great Britain. She bravely faced angry crowds. From 1891 to 1896, she was in charge of training new officers.
In 1896, her brother Ballington Booth and his wife Maud Ballington Booth started a new group. They tried to get American Salvation Army members to join their group, called Volunteers of America. General Booth sent Evangeline to New York to help. When she arrived, the doors to the Army headquarters were locked against her. But Evangeline was determined. She climbed the fire escape and entered through a back window. The people inside booed her. So, she grabbed an American flag and wrapped herself in it. She then challenged them, "Hiss that, if you dare!" Everyone became silent. She then played her concertina and sang a song. This helped stop her brother's rebellion.
Evangeline became the temporary leader of The Salvation Army in the United States. Later, she led the Army in Canada. In 1904, she returned to lead the United States branch. She held this important role until 1934.
After the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, she helped raise money. She led a large meeting in New York. She collected over $12,000 for The Salvation Army's relief work. During this time, she also became a US citizen.
Helping During World War I
In August 1917, the first of 250 Salvation Army members went to France. They went to the front lines of the Great War. They quickly earned the trust of the soldiers. They offered cheerful support every day of the week. Evangeline said, "The Salvation Army has had no new success; we have only done an old thing in an old way." But the American people disagreed. They donated an amazing $13 million. This money helped pay for canteens, hostels, and rest rooms. These were provided by the Army during and after the war. For her work supporting the American troops, Booth received a special award. It was the Distinguished Service Medal from the U.S. Army. She was one of the few civilian women to get this honor for her service during World War I.
Changing Leadership Rules
In 1927, Booth visited her brother, General Bramwell Booth. She brought a plan to change how The Salvation Army chose its General. At first, Bramwell refused to talk to her. He insisted that he would choose his successor, just as their father had done.
However, in January 1929, the first High Council of The Salvation Army met. They decided that the General should be elected. Since then, the General has been chosen by the High Council. This was based on Evangeline Booth's original idea.
Becoming the Fourth General
Evangeline Booth was elected General by the second High Council in 1934. She brought a lot of experience to the role. She was known as 'The Musician General' because she loved music. She was very interested in how music helped people connect with The Salvation Army.
Like her father, the Founder, Booth traveled widely. After becoming General, she toured Great Britain. In 1935, she visited India, Ceylon, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and the United States. Soon after, she went to Norway and Sweden. By the end of 1935, she took a "motorcade" trip. This covered the entire East Coast of England. The next year, she went on another motorcade from Land's End to John o' Groats. She also visited Canada, the United States, and France. She was over seventy years old by this time!
The Salvation Army grew a lot under Evangeline Booth's leadership. New activities started in places like Singapore, Algeria, Egypt, French Equatorial Africa, the Philippines, Mexico, and Penang (Malaya).
Later Years and Legacy
Evangeline's term as General ended on October 31, 1939. Commissioner George Lyndon Carpenter was then elected as the Army's fifth General. In November, Evangeline left Britain. She moved to her home in upstate New York. She spent the rest of her life there.
She wrote several books, including Toward a Better World and Songs of the Evangel. The Salvation Army Evangeline Booth College in Atlanta, Georgia is named after her. Also, 'The Evangeline Booth Lodge' in Chicago helps families and individuals who suddenly become homeless.
General Evangeline Booth lived in Hartsdale, New York, until she passed away at age 84. She is buried in Kensico Cemetery, in Valhalla, New York. Her former home, the Evangeline Booth House, is now known as St. Andrew's Episcopal Church. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2011.
Images for kids
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The monument of Evangeline C. Booth
