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
"I remember hearing a gentleman relate the following incident in a
large meeting: 'Some time back,' he said, 'I was passing through
the streets of Liverpool. It was a cold, raw, wintry day. The
streets were ankle-deep in an unpleasant mixture of mud and ice,
and battling through it all, the came along a little procession of
ragged, haggard, hungry looking boys. Splash, splash, on they went,
through freezing slush, at every step making the onlookers
shudddered as they stood by in their warm, comfortable coats and
furs." In the front rank was a little fellow, who was scarcely more
than a bag of bones, half-naked, barefooted, his whole frame
shivering every time he put his foot down on the melting snow.
"'All at once, a big boy came forward, and, stooping down, bade the
lad put his arms round his neck, and, lifting him up on his back,
took his perished feet one in each hand and jogged along with his
burden.
"'I was moved,' said the speaker, 'at the sight; and going up to
the boy, commended him for his kindness. In his Lancashire brogue
the lad replied, "Aye, aye, sir; two feet in the cold slush are
not so bad as four." After a while,' said the speaker, 'I offered
to carry the little chap myself" but the honest fellow shook his
head, and said, "Nay, nay,' Mister; I winna part with him. I can
carry him; and he's a-warming o' my back."'
"And so, if seeking the good of others may not bring as much
worldly gain as a selfish course of action, it does ensure that
joyful warmth of heart which all loving service brings, and which
is among the most valuable of all the treasures of earth or Heaven.
Every man who acts on this principle is adding to the general sum
of human happiness. What is the sum of celestial happiness, the
happiness of God, the happiness of the angels, the happiness of the
Blood-washed spirits who are safely landed there? In what does this
happiness chiefly consist?
"I reply, Not in the golden streets, the unfading flowers, the
marvellous music, nor all the other wonders of the Celestial Land
put together, but in Love. Love is the essence of the bliss of
Heaven, for 'Love is Heaven, and Heaven is Love.' This happiness we
can have below. It is not the love others bear to us that makes our
felicity, but the love we bear to them; and, thank God, we can as
truly love on earth as we can in Heaven.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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