The GOSPEL TRUTH
LIFE of

WILLIAM BOOTH

FOUNDER and FIRST GENERAL

of the SALVATION ARMY

 by

Harold Begbie

1920

In Two Volumes

Volume 2

Chapter 15

 

GOING BACK TO FIRST CAUSES

1893

 

DURING the three years in which he was absorbed by the Darkest England Scheme there were moments when he found himself haunted by the call of the world evangelist; and after these three years of absorbing labour, of almost unbroken obsession, he left the business of social reform very largely in the hands of others and returned to his work as preacher of salvation.

Social reform seemed to him an important business; he acknowledged it, indeed, as a wing of Salvation Army activity; to the end of his life he was proud of the Darkest England Scheme and interested in its welfare; but from 1893-1894 onwards he himself turned more and more to the centre of his Army, and with as much ardour as in his earliest years, but with more breadth and profounder sympathy, preached the great gospel of the changed heart.

Extracts from his letters and diaries are now full of this central cause. We read but seldom of match manufactories, patent coffee, tea plantations, and colonies in Rhodesia. Instead we come across constant cries for more faith, more power to convert the world, more strength to drive his blundering forces straight at the main position of iniquity--indifference to God.

The following extracts from his correspondence for 1893 will give the reader a faithful and authentic impression of his turbulent, troubled, and yet deeply affectionate character:

. . . he never had much tenderness or tact in getting at the hearts. Heart Work is what we seem to want everywhere. HEART WORK!

. . . I love you and miss you very much .... It is foolish not to find a little more time for the practice and culture of affection--human affection--sanctified human affection. It must be of God. Anyway, I finished up as I began without any intention of doing so with the observation that what the S.A. needs is HEART WORK! HEART WORK!

I expect a good night. But--7 o'clock is too early for the town.--We don't get the working men! And we must!

But I have not learnt how to preach yet. I am much down on my work to-day. It is not straight or simple enough, and I lack the tenderness that breaks the heart.

But the stinking, unventilated hall I have been in is certainly enough to poison the devil!

If the parsons came and helped us it would be something. It is a great query whether it would not be better to try and secure the co-operation of the churches if they are to reap so largely of the results. But I suppose they would only cripple us.

We had a swell veterinary surgeon out in the morning--with great practice. Already wants to throw up and come in as an Officer. Also a parson who testified this afternoon to getting a clean heart.

I cannot see through that Anti-Liquor League Meeting at Exeter Hall. I have no heart for it. I am much exercised about mixing up in any way with those who are not for my Lord.

You cannot imagine the early Xtians going to Caesar to ask for help in rectifying the sins and miseries of the world. They said Jesus Christ was the Saviour. "None other Name."

I am going back to the faith of my early days. Not a philanthropist or a parson shook hands with me at Liverpool. Not one!!!

I do want to learn how to save souls. I feel there is yet much to learn--some secret. I know I am wanting in faith. I expect that is my weak spot.

The Holy Ghost convicting people of sin, making them saints and soldiers--sacrificing, weeping, tolling to save men from sin and hell--there is our power in a nutshell.

I am awfully alone! and I must own with some little shame that little things try me not a little. Still I am struggling to "keep believing."

 

Speaking about the Darkest England Scheme and his inability to answer critics about the results because of his ignorance of statistics, he writes to Bramwell:

You see--I don't know enough! No one will be at the trouble to teach me! Or else I won't find time to be taught. I want some one with me who won't fuss me but fix me!

This "gadding about" is not such a "pleasant Sunday afternoon" as you imagine.

We must shake the world in some way. Oh that I knew how!

I have read Mrs. Butler's letter. My dear boy, I cannot go in for any more "campaigns" against evils. My hands and heart are full enough. And, moreover, these . . . reformers of Society have no sympathy with the S.A. nor with Salvation from worldliness and sin. Our campaign is against Sin! And our great difficulties lie in the direction of a lot of professed followers of Jesus Christ who are all full of humanitarian pleasant Sunday afternoon Moodyism or the like. The Christ people who are not for a religion of deliverance from sinning are God's great enemies.

All except two or three silly students very attentive. I snubbed these fellows, and they were quiet until the middle of the Prayer-Meeting, when one of them fired off a cracker, which made a terrible row in the gallery. Our "Salvation Roughs" --as they call them--collared him and frightened him out of his wits. It didn't affect the Prayer-Meeting ....

The follies big and little of the S.A. make a perpetual marvel to me as to its survival!

I get so sad when I go away sometimes. I cannot get my bit of food. I shall have to give up the diet. And I hate Hotels of any sort!

Speak plainly to them. Tell them they must take their commands or say so! I will tell ---- as plainly to mind her own business when I see her.

. . . I am not strong enough and am too nervous now for the heavy cattle I have to deal with.

I quite agree with you about bringing expenditure and income to the same level. Thought we had done this; if not, the sooner it is done the better. You know my views about begging from the rich.

Why don't you look into things? A general oversight is what is wanted and leave a lot of the details to other people. Excuse me, but that is the one great error of your management and mine, spending our energies on details and leaving greater things to take care of themselves.

I see from a Westminster just arrived that you have had rain. I like to know something about secular affairs--that is very different to devouring 2 daily secular papers and 3 or 4 religious weeklies ....

The Victoria, another Ironclad, gone. They will continue building these "death-traps" whatever occurs. Poor fellows. I saw Tryon once. He was a fine intelligent-looking fellow.

 

Of Mrs. Bramwell Booth, whose work for the rescue of fallen women had developed in a most wonderful fashion since 1885, he writes to Bramwell, asking:

Why does she not write a book on How our girls are damned? . . . or, if she does not like swearing in her title, put it blasted, blighted, ruined, only it should be a good expletive!

 

Speaking of the bad arrangements for one campaign, posters wrong, meetings on market-days, etc.:

No room for my comet in this concern simply because there is nobody to describe my orbit.

Your letter to ---- is excellent and must do good .... I have spent the day so far over mine to ---- and a few other unimportant epistles.

Oh the time spent over these wretched misunderstandings. The Devil knows. He understands how to waste time and stop progress.

 

You can please feel perfectly safe in any intimations of affection you make to me. My objection is not to expressions of love and sympathy when they are real--perhaps few prize such terms more highly or regard them as more sacred--but I certainly do object to extravagant phrases which are not borne out by the evidences of every-day life. I know you care for me, and the knowledge of it is one of the chief human sustaining influences of my life. My love for you is more than I can tell.

 

. . . I did not write to Mr. ---- when it came to it. I hardly knew how to do it. I cannot play the toady or appear to have feelings which I do not entertain, and I hardly know what to say. I won't ask him for money, and I hardly know how otherwise to approach him. He has not answered my last and has evidently made up his mind to cut us--and he will do so until God brings him round again, or takes him home.

I am either so occupied or so weary, or sleeping or trying to sleep most of the time! Not that I am quite content that it should be so. I could welcome a little leisure--ever so little, but it seems to be denied to me. But I don't repine or complain. I go forward. I certainly would like a Comrade to travel with me . . . who understood me and my little fads--without my having to plead for every one--over and over again. John Wesley allowed himself this from the beginning, and I do think it might be allowed me.

 

I wonder how you are? How little time we have for the amenities of life. I suppose we shall have time up yonder.

Send me Tolstoi's article in New Review, with no expectation that I shall answer. Once and for all let ---- and all else know that I don't write about Jesus Christ and Salvation or anything else simply to sell people's Reviews or newspapers or anything else. I don't hold my pen and my opinions so cheap myself, if other people do.

I don't understand how it is I go so poorly at times, and no one seems to take any notice of me. They think it is Wolf! Wolf! But it is not. I wish I had a doctor whom I could talk to who would have patience with me. But what good are they? I am quite willing to endure all, only these low weak helpless fits hinder me so much.

The aside which he had uttered in 1891, "We must have some more spiritual work up and down the country," had now become the ground-swell of his soul. "We must shake the world in some way," he cries in 1893, and adds, "Oh, that I knew how!" But he knew at least the secret of Salvation Army power--"The Holy Ghost convicting people of sin, making them saints and soldiers--sacrificing, weeping, toiling to save men from sin and hell." And when he finds fault with bad arrangements or stupid excuses, when he says, "I want some one with me who won't fuss me but fix me!" he is groping his way through the temporal and material exigencies of his tempestuous career only that he may clutch the inviolable shade, only that the unconquerable hope of his soul may achieve the salvation of men.

 

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