The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation ArmyRailton, George S. (George Scott)
History
The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army
Railton, George S. (George Scott)
Booth, William, 1829-1912; Salvation Army
The General has visited the country repeatedly, presiding over the
Annual Reviews, which have generally been held on some great land
proprietor's estate, or holding "Days with God" in its largest theatres.
Of one such visit, in 1906, he writes:--
"I have just had a wonderful campaign in Holland--Meetings,
enthusiasm, collections, and souls far beyond anything that has
preceded it in my experience. Praise the dear Lord."
The simple old Gospel that any child can understand, has indeed made The
Army triumphant all over Holland, and the following extracts from The
General's diary, during his visit of 1908, will show how childlike a
faith and devotion our people there have:--
"Rotterdam, Saturday, _March 14th_.--Soldiers' and ex-Soldiers'
Meeting fine--three-fourths men. A great improvement on anything I
have seen in the way of Soldiers' Meetings in this place. I got the
truth out, and thirty-seven of them fell at the Penitent-Form to
seek power to walk in its light.
"Sunday.--The Doelen Hall (one of the largest auditoriums in the
city) full in the morning, and crowds shut out afternoon and night.
People hard at first; but twenty-two came to the Penitent-Form in
the morning, and fifty-eight at night. Never saw men weep more
freely. £212 given during the day.
"Monday.--Came on to Amsterdam and commenced Officers' Councils.
"Tuesday.--A tired, restless night for some reason or other. Sleep
flew. Occupied with many matters, but not very anxious. Still, did
not get much refreshment or invigoration for the day's work, and
felt accordingly. On the whole, the three Meetings were
interesting, and, I think, useful to the Officers present, although
nothing remarkable.
"Wednesday.--What I said of the Councils yesterday may be repeated
to-day. I had a great deal more material than I could possibly
introduce into two days, and on leaving out some topics, on the
spur of the moment, some were left out that might have been of
great benefit. However, everybody was pleased, and, I think,
profited. The only question in my mind, similar to the one that
haunts me in every Officers' Council, is whether I am making the
most of the opportunity.
"There is no doubt that we have here a powerful body of men and
women, good, devoted, and loyal to the principles of The Army,
proud to be connected with it, and ready to receive instructions,
and to carry them out. The great lack appears to be a want of
energy, enterprise, and daring, the being content with a little
success instead of reaching out to all that is possible and
promising. However, they are wonderfully improved, and I hope the
present Commissioner's health will allow of his carrying them a
long way farther in the direction of enthusiasm than they have
reached before.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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