JAC Online

Souvenirs of Salvationism 6
by Commissioner Wesley Harris

AMONG my souvenirs I have a cheque dated May 11th 1912 made out to General Booth in the sum of fifty pounds - a considerable amount of money in those days. At the time the Founder was almost blind, but he sill managed to endorse the cheque with his characteristically bold signature.

According to one report, because of his sight impairment the General sometimes used a small wooden frame to enable him to write on a more or less straight line. Certainly, with or without sight he was determined to continue on his life’s mission as long as he could.

Early in 1912 he was increasingly frail but travelled in Europe, the ‘burning in his bones’ still apparent despite physical weakness and increasingly darkened vision. The old campaigner’s remaining joy was to hear one of his helpers say in a prayer meeting, ‘The fortieth, the fiftieth, the sixtieth seeker is on the way...’


In the same week that the cheque was written, on May 9th, William Booth’s last public meeting was held in the Royal Albert Hall to celebrate his eighty-third birthday. According to his official biographer, Harold Begbie, 10,000 people packed the building and his private secretary (later Commissioner) J. Evan Smith recorded extracts from the Founder’s address in his book, ‘Booth the Beloved’:

“And now, comrades and friends, I must say good-bye, I am going into dry-dock for repairs, but the Army will not be allowed to suffer, either financially or spiritually or in any other way by my absence; and in the long future I think it will be seen - I shall not be here to see but you will - that the Army will answer every doubt and banish every fear and strangle every slander, and by its marvellous success show to the world that it is the work of God and that the General has been his servant... While women weep, as they do now, I'll fight; while little children go hungry, as they do now, I’ll fight; while men go to prison, in and out, as they do now, I'll fight; while there is a drunkard left, while there is a poor lost girl upon the streets, while there remains one dark soul without the light of God, I’ll fight; I’ll fight to the very end.”

It seems that the fighting spirit of the Founder may have found expression in virtually identical words employed on more than one occasion for the passage beginning with ‘While women weep...’ appeared in the All the World magazine for April 1906 reprinted in Australia, also in the Australian War Cry April 16th, 1910.

As I hold the faded cheque in my band I am moved by the indomitable spirit of William Booth and his determination to fight to the very end and in my heart I say, 'Me, too!’

 

 

 

   

 

your shopping is guaranteed safe using SSL

eStore account - Sign Up Now! Contact Us - General. Technical Support. Sales Jesus is amazing!  If you see this image tag you should know that He is THE way... not a way!  Grace!
Home Terms of Use Privacy Policy Sitemap Contact Us
copyright ARMYBARMY
armybarmy