Companions of the Cross of Christ
by General William
Booth
(International Staff Council Addresses 1904, General William
Booth, p144-147)
THE FUTURE - Do not limit the possibilities of the future. God
has many ways of fulfilling His purposes towards the sons and
daughters of men. Here is one, of which I dreamed a dream. The
one I am going to mention came to me when thoughtfully
wondering, as I so often do, what The Salvation Army of the
coming years was likely to be.
In this vision I beheld many things that were novel and
fascinating, but nothing that took greater hold of me at the
moment than the one I am about to describe. Perhaps the
superior interest it excited in my feelings arose out of its
intense practicality. It seemed all so natural, so possible,
so fruitful, and the results so desirable, that I came almost
to feel that the thing was not a dream, but an actual
occurrence, literally happening before my eyes.
I thought I was looking at The Salvation Army in its varied
future operations, and while I looked I thought I saw a new
body of Officers suddenly start into existence. In many
respects they strongly resembled the comrades with whom I am
familiar to day. In other respects they appeared strangely
dissimilar.
I will try to describe them, and while I do so you will be
able to judge of the probable usefulness or otherwise of such
a class, the possibility of creating it, and whether you would
or would not like to belong to it, if it were created.
As I looked at this new people, they appeared to manifest
extraordinary signs of earnestness, self-denial, and
singleness of purpose; indeed, they had every appearance of
being a reckless, daredevil set. On inquiry, I found that they
described themselves as “Brothers of Salvation” or “Companions
of the Cross of Christ.” They went forth, two and two,
strengthening each other’s hands, and comforting each other’s
hearts in all the work they had to do, and all the trials they
had to bear. They seemed to welcome privations, and to revel
in hardships, counting it all joy when they fell into diverse
persecutions, and facing opposition and difficulties with
meekness, patience, and love.
As I looked, and looked, I wondered more and more, for I
observed that they had voluntarily embraced the old-fashioned
vows of celibacy, poverty, and obedience. These vows I
observed, further, were regarded as only binding upon them for
a term of years, with the option of renewal for a further term
at the expiration of that period, or of being able at that
time to honourably return to the ordinary ranks of
Officership.
As I looked at these new comrades, who had as it were suddenly
sprung out of the ground, I saw that they wore a novel kind of
uniform of simple shape, but very pronounced, and displaying
very prominently the insignia of The Salvation Army. They were
evidently proud of their colours.
And then I saw another thing that was peculiar about this new
Order – I do not know how else to speak of it. I saw that they
refused to accept any money or gifts for themselves, or for
their friends, or, at most, not more than was necessary to
meet the very humble wants of that particular day; while I saw
that they were pledged not to own any goods of any kind, save
and except the clothes they wore.
And then I saw that they were great wanderers, continually
travelling from place to place, and that very much on foot, as
this gave them the opportunity of visiting the hamlets,
cottages, farmhouses, and mansions on the way, and speaking to
the people in the streets, market squares, or other open
spaces on week-days as well as on Sundays, as they passed
along.
I saw that they assisted at the services in The Salvation
Halls wherever they came, always working in friendly
co-operation with the Officers in Command; visiting the
Soldiers, sick or well; hunting up backsliders, and striving
to promote the interests of every Corps they visited, to the
utmost of their ability.
I saw that they visited and prayed with the people from door
to door, in the great cities as well as in the villages;
talked to them in the streets, trains, or wherever they had
opportunity, about death, judgment, eternity, repentance,
Christ, and salvation.
I saw them in my dream addressing the workmen at the dock
gates, at the entrances to public works, in the factories at
meal hours; indeed, they were talking, praying, and singing
with whomsoever they could get to listen to them, singly, or
in company wherever they came.
And as I looked, I saw their number, which was very, very
small at first, gradually increase until they reached quite a
multitude. And the educated and well-to-do, charmed with this
simple Christ like life, swelled its numbers, coming from the
universities and the moneymaking institutions and other high
places.
Do you ask me about their support? Oh! I answer, so far as I
could find out in my dream, they never lacked any really
necessary thing, having all the time what was above all and
beyond all in worth and desirability – the abundant smile of
God, and a great harvest of precious souls.
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