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
"In settling how much work he will do, a man must have due regard
to the claims of his own health. If he rushes at his work without
due discretion, and does more than his strength will reasonably
allow, he will probably break down, and so prevent his working
altogether, or for a season, at least. Whereas, if he exhausts no
more energy than he can recover by sleep and food and rest, at the
time he can go steadily forward, and by doing so, accomplish a
great deal more, in the long run, than he would by temporary
extravagant exertion. When speaking on this subject, I sometimes
say that I use my body as I should use a horse, if I had one--that
is, I should not seek to get the most labour out of him for a week,
regardless of the future, but I should feed and manage him with a
view to getting the most I could get out of him all the year round.
That is, doubtless, the way a man should use his body, and to do
this he should take as much time for his food and daily rest as is
necessary to replace the energies he has used up by his work.
"In the leisure taken for this purpose, it will be necessary to
have specified hours, as otherwise, those who are without principle
will take advantage of the weak, and anything like system will be
impossible.
"Then, again, when the proper performance of a particular task
depends upon the united labour of a number of individuals, who have
agreed to work in co-operation, it will be necessary, in the
interests of the whole, that each should conform to the regulations
laid down, always supposing that such rules are in harmony with
truth and righteousness.
"The wishes and interests of employers have also to be taken into
consideration. But, in every case, the principle is equally
obligatory upon all.
"These duties will demand, and must have devoted to them, a
measure of the time at our control. What that amount of time shall
be, must be determined by the relative importance of those duties.
For instance:--
"There is the work a man can do for his earthly employers, over and
above the amount that is considered to be a strict and just return
for his wages. Here, again, he must be guided by Jesus Christ's
rule, and to do unto his master as he would that his master should
do unto him.
"There is the work that he ought to do for his family, apart and
beyond the bare earnings of their daily bread. This is work which
no one else can do so well, and which, if it be neglected by him,
will probably not be done at all.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account