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
If all that The General has done for the attainment of a larger liberty
by the peoples of every land were recorded, one might easily make him
appear as a great political reformer. But whilst consistently aiming at
the one great purpose of all his journeys and Meetings, the Salvation of
souls, he has, incidentally, done more to stir the humblest and least
capable to great nation-rousing efforts than any mere political reformer
can hope to do.
During this first visit of twelve days to Sweden, he travelled by rail
over 3,000 kilometres (say 2,000 miles), held twenty-eight public
Meetings, besides a number of private ones with press interviews, and
wayside gatherings at railway stations. Five nights were spent in the
trains, mostly in crowded compartments, for the days of comfortable
"sleepers" on all lines had not yet come. He had, besides his
interpreter, a young English companion, who paid his own expenses, and
he could seldom be persuaded to take any refreshment whilst travelling
that could not be got in the carriage. It must not be forgotten that in
winning and retaining the enthusiastic affection of such multitudes of
persons, The General has had to face the difficulty of only being able
to speak through an interpreter, and that he has had to endure campaigns
of opposition and slander, of which we can say very little, but which,
founded so largely as they have been upon his being "a foreigner," have
had so good a chance to build up walls of difficulty before him.
After this tremendous journey and reception, The General continues:--
"In the night Meeting I felt a little nervous. The Riding School
was nearly full, another 100 persons would have filled every seat,
although a charge had been made for admission, in order to help
with the heavy expenses.
"Many had stayed away for fear of the crush. The audience, which
was most respectable, included the Police Master. I was very tired,
and no particular topic had been announced. However, I spoke an
hour and a half, and all seemed intensely interested.
"Sunday.--The Riding School was full for the morning Holiness
Meeting. Much power. About 100 stood up to make a full surrender of
themselves to God.
"In the afternoon the Hall was again full. The police, of whom
there were twenty present, would only allow persons to stand in the
end aisles. Spoke an hour or more.
"Night. Full an hour before the time. Many convicted. About twelve
pressed forward.
"Monday.--Inspected new Hall and Training Home--building to cost
£5,000. Also visited present Training Home and attended to
correspondence.
"At night the Riding School was full long before we arrived. Spoke
two hours. Immense impression seemed to be produced.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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