Manila, Luzon Island – Entry made in parlor of No. 2 Calle Santa Elena, Tondo
Dry weather; a God-send it is too to our troops. The Filipinos are keeping them busy – little “scraps” and skirmishes. The train had trouble. The Filipinos slipped in to the rail road at Guiguinto between Manila and Malolos and tore up the rails of the Dagupan line. A fight followed. Several of our boys of the 2d Oregon Vols. And 13th Minnesota Vols. were killed and quite a few wounded. The natives suffered severely. Much killing was done over at Santa Cruz on Laguna de Bay of Filipinos.
Rev. Owens & I went to the post office where a letter was handed me of more than ordinary interest. Is from Major Ashley Pebbles, Washington D. C. dated Feb. 21st 1899. Mr. Geo F. [Connery] the post master, volunteered the gift of some old Filipino stamps. Accepted the offer.
On the Escolta met one of the sailors confined in Bilibid. Asked me for money; gave him one paseta. Said Frank [Carson], who professed conversion in prison Sunday, April 2d is all right, and is talking to the men in prison about salvation night & day.
Major Pebbles’ letter brought me astonishing news. Himself & wife are appointed to the Texas and Arkansas Division, a new division just formed for him, with headquarters at Dallas, but may move it to Houston. I feel that this move is on a line with preceding anti-American moves. The plan as I understand it is to send American officers away, lift them out of important field commands and put them into departments or relegate them into small divisions. But aside from this appointment of which Pebbles makes no complaint, I will quote from his letter re other matters of national importance:
“There is an awful feeling of dissatisfaction at National Headquarters & several have left; among them Mc Larren, Russell, Irwin & others. I understand that the Consul was jealous of Elizabeth Clark, Adjutant, & froze her out & she has resigned. Clark got into a great many places where the Consul tried and failed. The Consul especially has become odious; she has asserted here authority over the commander & others very much of later. She does not allow the Com. to pass anything for the Cry, & she overrules his decisions often. The spirit of dissatisfaction has spread from National H.Q. to all parts of the field in proportion to distance & resignations are so common that we do not pass a remark when we hear of them; in fact it is getting hard to officer the corps’ & I fear we are rapidly on the decrease in corps & officers. x x The [Cry] is down. The building (Headquarters) has three mortgages & Col. Brewer told me that $100,000 would not begin to clear the National Headquarters of debt. About $10,000 was lost on the General’s last visit. x x I learned that there is a secret plan on foot among the C.D.O’s (Chief Divisional Officer) to petition the General to send [ ______ ] to save the concern. xx Col. Higgins has just returned from International Headquarters. No one seems to know what he went there for; however he started an Insurance Department in this country in connection with the “Metropolitan Insurance Co”, & Brigadier (W. H.) Cox has charge of that department. Brewer is Editor in Chief. I think they are crucifying him, for he is very dissatisfied. He told me that he did not think he could hold out much longer, unless something was done to give the thing a more hopeful appearance.”
So the chief officer of the Salvation Army in the United States have grown weary of the Booth-Tucker. This feeling has been growing some time. Am tired of the whole Booth tribe; [____} seems to be no end of them. We had Ballington Booth & wife of years, then Eva Booth & now Booth – Tucker & wife. I hope the country will not be afflicted with another Booth. I shall await news from home with great interest. If the C.D.O.’s demand the recall of the Booth-Tuckers, the S.A world will be astonished & the London Booths will be (I fear) paralyzed, for such a request strikes at the family, & threatens their position.
I answered the foregoing letter immediately. Wrote 9 pages. Did not say a word in defense of the Booths for I can not, but urged Pebbles to do all he can to hold the Salvation Army together for God & humanity’s sake & for the sake of the many years we have toiled in its ranks. We must not permit our labors to be destroyed. I ardently hope & pray that the Booths will step down & give the Army a chance to become something.
Private D.G. Hines called. Is in from the front suffering from sunstroke. Asked him to rest himself. He did so. I fried ham, bought bread & made lemonade for the two of us from dinner. Prayed with him when he departed for his quarter.