Passing from this subject, I asked General Booth if he had formed any forecast of the future of the Salvation Army after his own death.  He replied that there were certain factors in the present position of the Army which seemed to him to indicate its future growth and continuity.  Speaking impersonally, he said that the present General had become an important man not by his own choice or through the workings of ambition, but by the will of Providence.  He had acquired a certain standing, a great hold over his community, and an influence which helped to concentrate and keep together forces that had grown to be worldwide in their character.  It was natural, therefore, that people should wonder what would happen when he ceased to be.

His answer to these queries was that legal arrangements had been made to provide for this obvious contingency.  Under the provisions of the constitution of the Army he had selected his successor, although he had never told anybody the name of that successor, which he felt sure, when announced, was one that would command the fullest confidence and respect.  The first duty of the General of the Army on taking up his office was to choose a man to succeed him, reserving to himself the power to change that man for another, should he see good reason for such a course.  In short, his choice is secret, and being unhampered by any law of heredity or other considerations except those that appeal to his own reason and judgment, not final.  He nominates whom he will.

I asked him what would happen if this nominated General misconducted himself in any way, or proved unsuitable, or lost his reason.  He replied that in such circumstances arrangements had been made under which the heads of the Army could elect another General, and that what they decided would be law.  The organization of the Army was such that any Department of it remained independent of the ability of one individual.  If a man proved incompetent, or did not succeed, his office was changed; the square man was never left in the round hole.  Each Department had laws for its direction and guidance, and those in authority were responsible for the execution of those laws.  If for any reason whatsoever, one commander fell out of the line of action, another was always waiting to take his place.  In short, he had no fear that the removal of his own person and name would affect the Organization.  It was true, he remarked, that leaders cannot be manufactured to order, and also that the Army had made, and would continue to make, mistakes up and down the world.  But those mistakes showed them how to avoid similar errors, and how and where to improve.

As regarded a change of headship, a fresh individuality always has charms, and a new force would always strike out in some new direction.  The man needed was one who would do something.  General Booth did not fear but that he would be always forthcoming, and said that for his part he was quite happy as to the future, in which he anticipated an enlargement of their work.  The Organization existed, and with it the arrangements for filling every niche.  The discipline of to-day would continue to-morrow, and that spirit would always be ready to burst into flame when it was needed.