When Higgins was 42 years of age, Commissioner and Chief of the Staff Bramwell Booth gave him the oversight of the evangelistic work in the United Kingdom.

By this time, Higgins was a great speaker, and had a lot of leadership skills which was needed in this role.

However, 1929 was a real test for Higgins and a critical time in the history of The Salvation Army, the calling of the first High Council to elect a new General.

[1] As leader of the International Salvation Army, General Higgins still had his personal touch and warmth towards others.

He also presided over a gathering in the Royal Albert Hall, and among those taking part was then Prime Minister, The Rt Hon.

He continued to prove himself a true "son of the Army" by maintaining as much interest in the relatively small corps around them as he had done in the greater issues when in office.