The Maréchale (Catherine Booth-Clibborn)Strahan, James
Religion
The Maréchale (Catherine Booth-Clibborn)
Strahan, James
Booth-Clibborn, Catherine, 1860-1955
The greatest service anyone could render the Maréchale was to bid her go
on, fulfil her destiny, believe that God would again mightily use and
bless her. It might seem a small thing to say, "Be of good cheer," yet
it was one of those "little nothings" for which she was ever afterwards
profoundly grateful. I remember her coming one evening into my Chelsea
study in a mood of depression, baffled by life’s insoluble mysteries.
Wondering what would lighten for her the burden and the weary weight, I
took down Browning and began to read "Rabbi ben Ezra," which was new to
her. From the opening words—
The best is yet to be,
The last of life, for which the first was planned—
to the magnificent close, that inspired _Sursum Corda_ thrilled her as a
message direct from the great Heart of God. Only in one thing did she
venture to differ from the poet. "He sees his heaven beyond," she said;
"I want mine down here in the salvation of souls."
As soon as she resumed her work, she had her reward in signs following
everywhere. Doors opened to her, first in England, then in Scotland,
Ireland and Wales. She brought the breath of life into many churches,
rekindled the zeal of many workers for Christ, and broke the chains
which had bound multitudes of souls to an evil past.
Her own experience had given her, as a physician of souls, perhaps a
deeper sympathy, a surer insight, a greater power to grapple with every
form of evil than ever she had before. It became her mission to save
people from themselves by convincing them that only one thing is
entirely worth doing—living like Christ by letting Christ live in them.
There are certainly few evangelists who have changed the whole current
of so many lives in our country. Young ladies about to pass within
convent walls have found a more excellent way by receiving the living
Christ into their hearts. Actors and singers have consecrated their
gifts to Christ and His kingdom. Young men of the world have heard the
call of God and resolved to enter the ministry or go to the
mission-field. God’s gift of life has revealed to many questioning eyes
its glorious possibilities. Multitudes who had no faith have heard
another say that she has faith for them—a faith which has somehow
dispelled the mists of doubt and error and brought them into the
sunlight of Divine love.
At the same time her ever-deepening knowledge of her two books, the
Bible and the Heart of Man, have made her a unique preacher to
preachers. One night at Keswick, in the summer of 1907, a brilliant
young Scottish minister, who was a member of a large house-party of
clergymen attending the annual Convention, came home late for supper.
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