The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation ArmyRailton, George S. (George Scott)
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The Authoritative Life of General William Booth, Founder of the Salvation Army
Railton, George S. (George Scott)
Booth, William, 1829-1912; Salvation Army
"He made a tremendous demand. Towards the end of his life he sometimes
wondered, very sadly and pitifully, whether he had not asked too much of
his followers. I think, to mention only one particular, that he was
wavering as to his ban upon tobacco. He was so certain of the happiness
and joy which come from Salvation, that he had no patience with the
trivial weaknesses of human flesh, which do not really matter. Let us
remember that he had seen thousands of men and women all over the world
literally transformed by his method from the most miserable animals into
radiant and intelligent creatures conscious of immortality and filled
with the spirit of unselfish devotion to humanity. Is it to be wondered
at that The General of this enormous Army should scarcely doubt the
wisdom of his first terms of service?
"But towards the end he suffered greatly in his own personal life, and
suffering loosens the rigidity of the mind. Those of his own household
broke away from him, the dearest of his children died, trusted Officers
forsook him, some of those whose sins he had forgiven again and again
deserted his Flag, and whispered scandal and tittle-tattle into the ears
of degraded journalism. He was attacked, vilified, and denounced by the
vilest of men in the vilest of manners. Sometimes, sitting alone by
himself, blind and powerless, very battleworn and sad, this old man at
the end of his life must have suffered in the solitude of his soul a
grief almost intolerable. But he became more human and more lovable in
these last years of distress.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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