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 old idealist spoke for an hour and a half with the fire of
enthusiasm, throwing out every now and then some spark of his
humour amidst his stream of eloquence. He did not speak like a
dying greybeard, but like a young man ready to take up to-morrow
morning the struggle with the misery of the whole world. Out of
such material as this old man are made the great men who do great
deeds on the battle-field, in the sphere of science, in the
province of religion, of humanity, and of society."
The _Cologne Gazette_ goes more into detail, and says:--
"At his great age the Founder and Leader of The Salvation Army
hastens from continent to continent, from land to land, to awaken
in Public Meetings love for your neighbour. After a journey through
Holland he came into West Germany. In this week he speaks in great
cities from Dortmund to Carlsruhe, each day in a new place, and
often in several Meetings. Many thousands came together last Sunday
from Essen and neighbourhood, so that the great hall of the
Soldiers' Home itself was not large enough to hold them at the
various Meetings. Here yesterday evening 2,000 people wanted to
give him a warm welcome in the Emperor's Hall.
"The eighty-one-year-old philanthropist, who strides so unbendingly
along, is full of youthful enthusiasm. His tall figure, with its
gleaming eyes, long curved nose, and flowing beard, help him to
present himself to the audience, with lively gestures illuminating
his thoughts, as at once accuser of our times and gentle judge. He
is especially a gentle judge of fallen women and girls, 55,000 of
whom, from ten years of age upwards, he tells us, The Army has
rescued.
"'The fallen young men are forgiven by their fathers and mothers,'
says he. 'Why should not we also forgive the fallen girls? If
nobody else will do so, we will.' This sentiment called forth
general applause.
"'And then,' The General went on, 'The religion of The Army has
three main principles: (1) You must get right with your God. You
must be reconciled with Him, and feel the kiss of His forgiving
love. (2) You must live righteously in your own private life, in
your family, and in holiness of heart. (3) You must give yourself
up to the service of your fellow-men--must not wait to be called
upon, but must have a fire in yourself--the fire of love.'
"It took mightily hold of the audience as, following upon this
definition of the religion of The Army, he told them that he felt
himself now nearing the cold stream of death, but fully believed
that this religion, which had carried him through so much of care
and disappointment up to this day, would also carry him through the
dark valley into Paradise, where he, who for so long had known no
holiday, would at last find rest."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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