A Rope
Wanted
by General William
Booth
(Transcribed by Gordon Moyles)
On the shores of the Mexican Gulf a large
city had been built, dangerously near the high-water mark.
One day a mighty tidal wave rolled over it,
drowning 10,000 people at a stroke.
A community of devoted young women, living
on the outskirts of the city, heard the shrieks of the
drowning people and rushed to the rescue, saving many of the
unfortunate creatures from their doom.
But when the lowering clouds and the growling thunders
and the moaning seas threatened another storm, they fled,
agreeing that their work for the day was done.
But one girl, specially concerned for their
children, said, "I'm going to have another go."
"No, Mary!" her comrades, replied.
"If you go again, you'll come back no more."
"But," said, Mary, "the little ones are
perishing, and if I refuse to save them, their wailing will
haunt my dying pillow."
So, with a coil of rope round her arm, Mary
went out again into the storm, but she came back no more.
And when they searched for the dead among the wreckage,
they found Mary with an infant in each arm and seven children
tied together with a rope, one end of which was fastened
around her waist.
Can't you see Mary, dragging her little
procession along, when a sudden gust of wind blows her over
and the waters drown her where she falls?
I shall meet Mary and her little flock in heaven.
The Salvation Army is out in the wild waste
waters of the world.
Her arms are full of children, and thousands of
helpless creatures are being borne along by her safety on
earth and to blessedness in heaven.
Still, she wants to do far more, but she's short of
rope, and knowing there must be a good deal of that material
unused in various parts of the world, may I ask my friends to
send a little along, and thereby earn the blessing of God,
together with the thanks of those ready to perish, and the
unfailing gratitude of the General?
(If you have heard the voice of General
Booth, which has been recorded speaking this story, you will
readily understand the pathos with which he delivered such an
appeal, as did most of his hearers.
He always had a ready story to illustrate his message.
Listen to William Booth, at:
http://armybarmy.com/library.html#Audio
)
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