- Original name:
- Eva Cory Booth
- Born:
- Dec. 25, 1865, London, Eng.
- Died:
- July 17, 1950, Hartsdale, N.Y., U.S. (aged 84)
Evangeline Cory Booth
-
Who was Evangeline Cory Booth?
Evangeline Cory Booth (1865–1950) was an Anglo-American leader in the Salvation Army, daughter of its founder, William Booth. Growing up in London, she became known as the "White Angel of the Slums" for her striking looks and musical talent.
Booth took charge of the Salvation Army's International Training College at 23. Later, she took command of the Salvation Army in Canada and then in the United States, where she implemented new social services such as hospitals for unwed mothers and residences for working women.
She improved fundraising, gaining support from wealthy figures, and led disaster relief efforts, such as after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. In 1934, Booth became the fourth general of the Salvation Army and the last of the Booth family to hold that position before retiring in 1939.
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What religious organization did Evangeline Cory Booth lead?
Evangeline Cory Booth was a leader in the Salvation Army, an international Christian religious and charitable movement organized and operated on a military pattern. Evangeline's dynamic leadership within the Salvation Army led to her becoming its fourth general. She took command of the Salvation Army in Canada and then in the United States, where she instituted new forms of social service, including hospitals, residences for working women, and homes for the aged. In 1934, she became the fourth general of the Salvation Army, the last member of the Booth family to hold world command.
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What was her role in The Salvation Army?
Evangeline Cory Booth expanded the Salvation Army's services and funding and eventually became its fourth general. At 23, she took charge of the Salvation Army’s International Training College and commanded forces in London. In the U.S., as commander in 1904, she introduced new social services such as hospitals for unwed mothers and homes for the aged. Following the San Francisco earthquake in 1906, she developed disaster relief services and replaced street begging with efficient fundraising. In 1934, Booth became the fourth general of the Salvation Army and the last member of the Booth family to hold world command. She retired five years later.
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How did she contribute to The Salvation Army in the United States?
Evangeline Cory Booth expanded the Salvation Army's services and funding in the United States. Upon arriving in the U.S., she adopted the name Evangeline and took command of the Salvation Army in 1904. During her time in command, she introduced new social services such as hospitals for unwed mothers, "Evangeline Residences" for working women, and homes for the aged. She also developed disaster relief services, notably after the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Booth discontinued street begging, established an efficient fundraising system, and gained support from wealthy public figures, raising $16 million in the first national drive in 1919.
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What were some challenges she faced as a religious leader?
Evangeline Cory Booth, an Anglo-American Salvation Army leader, expanded the organization's services and funding, becoming its fourth general. When her brother threatened to break away from Salvation Army rule, she took command of the shaken organization. As commander of the Salvation Army in the United States, Booth instituted new forms of social service and developed disaster relief services. She abandoned street begging, set up an efficient fund-raising system, and enlisted support from public figures. Booth supported prohibition, and in 1934, she became the fourth general of the Salvation Army.
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How is Evangeline Cory Booth remembered today?
Evangeline Cory Booth is remembered as a dynamic leader who greatly expanded the Salvation Army's services and funding. As the fourth general of the Salvation Army, she was the last of the Booth family to have world command. During her time as commander of the Salvation Army in the United States, she established new social services such as hospitals for unwed mothers and homes for the aged. Booth also developed disaster relief services and set up an efficient fundraising system, enlisting support from wealthy public figures. Her services to the war effort during World War I earned her a Distinguished Service Medal in 1919.
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Evangeline Cory Booth (born Dec. 25, 1865, London, Eng.—died July 17, 1950, Hartsdale, N.Y., U.S.) was an Anglo-American Salvation Army leader whose dynamic administration expanded that organization’s services and funding and who became its fourth general.
Born in the South Hackney section of London, Eva Booth was the daughter of William Booth, soon afterward founder of the Salvation Army. She was educated at home and grew up doing the work of the Salvation Army, assuming a position of responsibility in the Marylebone district of London at age 17. Known for both her musical talent and her striking personal appearance, she soon received the byname “White Angel of the Slums.”
In 1889, at the age of 23, she was given charge of the Salvation Army’s International Training College in Clapton and put in command of all Salvation Army forces in the home counties (London and the surrounding area). She became the Salvation Army’s principal troubleshooter as well, and in 1896, when her older brother Ballington Booth and his wife, Maud, threatened to break away from rule, Eva effectively took over command of the shaken organization.
It was on her arrival in the United States that she adopted the name Evangeline as more dignified. She then proceeded to Toronto, where she took command of the Salvation Army in Canada. In 1904 Booth became commander of the Salvation Army in the United States. In that post her administrative skills flourished. New forms of social service were instituted, including hospitals for unwed mothers, a chain of “Evangeline Residences” for working women, homes for the aged, and, during World War I, canteens featuring “doughnuts for doughboys.” (Her services to the war effort won her a Distinguished Service Medal in 1919.)
Under her personal supervision the Salvation Army quickly developed disaster relief services following the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906. She abandoned the organization’s tradition of street begging and set up instead an efficient system of fund-raising. Booth was successful in enlisting the open support of a great many distinguished and wealthy public figures, and the first national drive in 1919 raised $16 million. The rapid growth of the Salvation Army and the proliferation of its services and facilities necessitated the establishment of four regional commands, but she remained in clear control from her New York headquarters. Booth’s only political involvement was to throw the weight of the Salvation Army behind the movement for prohibition and against the later movement for repeal. Her popularity was such that in 1922 the general of the Salvation Army, her eldest brother, Bramwell Booth, abandoned the policy of rotation and allowed her to remain in charge in the United States. In 1923 she became a naturalized citizen. In 1934 she became the fourth general of the Salvation Army and the last member of the Booth family to hold world command. She retired five years later. Among her published works are The War Romance of the Salvation Army (1919), with Grace Livingston Hill; Songs of the Evangel (1927), a collection of hymns she composed; Toward a Better World (1928); and Woman (1930).