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
"My heart has gone out much after Ireland of late, and ten weeks
ago I sent out there a little woman who had been much blessed, and
four of her Converts. They landed at Belfast at two o'clock in the
morning. They did not know a soul. Our pioneer (contrary to our
usual customs) had taken them a lodging. We had said to her, 'Rest
yourselves till Sunday morning'; but she was not content with this.
After a wash, a cup of tea, and a little sleep, they turned out,
found a Christian gentleman who lent them a little hall, had it
crowded at once, and now, though only ten weeks have passed away,
we have Stations in four other towns, two in Belfast, and two
others are getting ready for opening. Blessed results have
followed. The people, we are told, come in crowds--they are very
poor--they sit and listen and weep, rush out to the Penitent-Form,
and many are saved.
"Now, Mr. President, I think I may say that it is a matter for
great thankfulness to God that there is a way--a simple, ready
way--a cheap way, to get at the masses of the people.
"_Secondly. We get at these people by adapting our measures._ There
is a most bitter prejudice, amongst the lower classes, against
churches and chapels. I am sorry for this; I did not create it, but
it is the fact. They will not go into a church or chapel; but they
will go into a theatre or warehouse, and therefore we use these
places. In one of our villages we use the pawnshop, and they gave
it the name of 'The Salvation Pawnshop,' and many souls were saved
there. Let me say that I am not the inventor of all the strange
terms that are used in The Army. I did not invent the term
'_Hallelujah Lassies_.' When I first heard of it I was somewhat
shocked; but telegram after telegram brought me word that no
buildings would contain the people who came to hear the Hallelujah
Lassies. Rough, uncouth fellows liked the term. One had a lassie at
home, another went to hear them because he used to call his wife
'Lassie' before he was married. My end was gained, and I was
satisfied.
"_Thirdly. We set the Converts to work._" (Hear, hear.) "As soon as
a man gets saved we put him up to say so, and in this testimony
lies much of the power of our work. One of our lassies was holding
a Meeting in a large town the other day when a conceited fellow
came up to her saying, 'What does an ignorant girl like you know
about religion? I know more than you do. I can say the Lord's
Prayer in Latin.' 'Oh, but,' she replied, 'I can say more than
that. I can say the Lord has saved my soul in English.' (Laughter
and cheers.)
"_Lastly. We succeed by dint of hard work._ I tell my people that
hard work and Holiness will succeed anywhere."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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