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
Of course, every day's march forward brought with it lessons that were
learned and utilised. Not long could The General continue to interview
Candidates himself, and then forms of application were evolved. The
Candidate must have every opportunity to understand what would be
required of him, and to express his agreement or otherwise with the
teachings and principles of The Army. It was made clear to him or her
that, whilst called upon to offer up a life-long service to this work
for Christ's sake, he must expect no guarantee of salary whatever, and
no engagement even to continue to employ him, should he at any time
cease to act up to his promises, or show himself to be inefficient in
the work.
As for the Soldiers, it was soon required of them that they should sign
"Articles of War" before they could be enrolled. These Articles formed
so simple and clear an expression of The Army's teachings and system,
that the most illiterate in every land could at once take in their
practical effect.
The Articles simply required every one to give up the use of
intoxicants; to keep from any resorts, habits, company, or language that
would be harmful; and to devote all the leisure time, spare energy and
money to the War.
As time went on The General published _Orders and Regulations for
Soldiers_, a booklet of 164 pages, and perhaps as complete a handbook
for the direction of every department of life, public and private, as
was ever written; _Orders and Regulations for Field Officers_,
containing 626 pages of the minutest directions for every branch of the
Work; and _Orders and Regulation's for Staff Officers, _ the most
extraordinary directory for the management of missionaries and
missionary affairs that could well be packed in 357 pages. At later
dates he issued _Orders and Regulations for Territorial Commissioners
and Chief Secretaries_, containing 176 pages, and _Orders and
Regulation's for Social Officers_, the latter a complete explanation of
his thoughts and wishes for the conduct of every form of effort for the
elevation of the homeless and workless and fallen; and _Orders and
Regulations for Local Officers_, containing precise details as to the
duties of all the various non-commissioned or lay Officers, whether
engaged in work for old or young. Smaller handbooks of _Orders and
Regulations for Bands and Songster Brigades_, and for almost every other
class of agents were also issued from time to time.
Thus, step by step, The General not merely led those who gave themselves
up to follow him in the ever-extending War; but furnished them with such
simple and clear directions in print as would enable them at any
distance from him to study his thoughts, principles, and practices, and
sock God's help to do for the people around them all that had been shown
to be possible elsewhere.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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