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
It was upon foundations of this character that our Social
Operations in New Zealand, France, South Africa, and several other
countries were subsequently built up.
For years past our Officers, men and women, both in the United
Kingdom and elsewhere, had carried on what may be spoken of as an
unorganised form of Slum Work; but it fell to the hands of my
glorified daughter, the Consul, to institute, in London, what was
then and for some time afterwards known as "the Cellar, Gutter,
and Garret Brigade"--the forerunner of scores of Slum Posts, which
are now such a recognised feature of our operations all over the
world.
Our first Men's Shelter was opened in Limehouse, London, during the
winter of 1887-8, and was soon followed by the opening of similar
Institutions in other countries, far-off and near at hand.
From our earliest days drunkenness had been one of the many foes of
God and man against which we had specially taken our stand, and
thousands of its slaves had been rescued from its grip, and become
valiant Soldiers in our ranks. Our first Inebriates' Home,
conducted in the interest of women, was not, however, opened until
1887. This was in Toronto, Canada.
The Social Work in the United States had its birth in 1885, in an
effort made on behalf of prisoners at Hartford, Connecticut.
Similar efforts followed in other cities, and Rescue and Industrial
Homes, Shelters, and Farm Colonies followed on in due course.
All these enterprises and many others, to which I have not time now
to refer, were prior to the publication of "In Darkest England and
the Way Out," and had, no doubt, a powerful influence in inspiring
that volume.
Since then one branch or other of Social Work has been commenced in
every country in which our Flag is flying.
Notwithstanding the satisfaction produced by these and kindred
efforts in my own mind, and in the minds of those immediately
associated with me, and although the results were truly remarkable,
and the possibilities seemed to be still more wonderful, the
beginnings of these Social enterprises attracted comparatively
little notice.
The New Movement--for thus I may describe it--which, with half an
eye, thoughtful men might have seen to be pregnant with blessings
for the whole world, was almost unnoticed by either the Authorities
or the Press; while our supplies of men and money for its conduct
and extension were very limited.
Suddenly, however, the scene was changed, and, all at once,
everybody was asking, "What is The Salvation Army?" "Who is General
Booth?" and "What is this Social Scheme?"
This change was largely brought about by the publication of "In
Darkest England and the Way Out," together with the notices of the
Scheme in the Press which it brought about.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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