 Section 15. Children Conquerors in Holland and Elsewhere. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Tom Hirsch. The General's own personal experience, as well as numberless instances that came under his observation in his own and other families, gave him the same assurance as to the need and possibility of the salvation of children as he had with regard to adults. If human beings cannot hope to please God until they are born again of his spirit, what folly it would be to give up the best years of life to mere outside instruction, instead of aiming first of all at this first and greatest need? This law he always laid down as the guiding line with regard to all work amongst children, instead of the ordinary Sunday school idea, first teach and then try to lead the children to Christ. In his first publication, How to Reach the Masses with the Gospel, he wrote in 1871, Great pains are taken, we know, to make the children acquainted with the history and theory of Christianity, but their conversion, which is the main thing, seems to us to be sadly and sorely overlooked, that the immediate gathering of the children to Christ is the teacher's work is recognized, we fear, in very few schools. It is not the aim of the present moment, and consequently little effort is made to bring it about. Feeling all this, we resolved that if ever opportunity offered, we would try services as much adapted for the conversion and instruction of children as our other services are for adults. On the first Sunday afternoon in April, 1869, we held our first Children's Salvation Service in our late hall in the old Bethnal Green Room, and five children professed to find the Savior. But of all the general's revolutionary tasks, this has perhaps proved to be the toughest. His eldest son, now General Bramwell Booth, made the children's work his earliest care, and in later years held annually councils for all officers engaged in it in England. But although God has wrought wonders amongst the children in every land, so that we have now thousands of officers who have been one in their early years by that junior work, the specter of the Sunday school ever and on rises to threaten with a peaceful death this divine undertaking. Only the most persistent watchfulness can prevent the narrow idea of instruction and unbelief as to children's salvation, which is its foundation from gaining the upper hand. It is so easy to get a thousand children drilled into pretty attention, pretty performances, pretty recitations and singing, and even into some degree of knowledge of the killing letter, but so hard to get any one child really to submit to the one great teacher of mankind and be saved. Therefore we take special pleasure in dwelling upon the fact that the general's theory has been proved on trial to result in producing heroes and heroines capable almost in infancy of daring battle for God and becoming, before they reach their majority, thoroughly experienced and intelligent conquerors. In that earliest record we read, although the services are strictly for children, it is not an unusual thing to see adults sitting by the side of the little ones, and sometimes to see parent and child kneeling together seeking to know him whom to know is life eternal. One Sunday evening a woman brought her young son, who a short time previously had been detected in an act of dishonesty. During the service God's spirit strove with both. The mother saw that she would have to give an account of her doings, as well as the boy, and so side by side they knelt, sought, and professed to find pardon. A young lad who had been a source of great annoyance at our meetings and a dreadful swearer, a short time ago died triumphant in the faith. When lying in the London hospital, evidently dying, he sent a request that I would tell the children that he was going home, but tell them I'm not afraid, and oh, tell them not to swear. Many of our leading officers of today were truly converted before they were ten years old, so that at thirty they were already veterans in the fight. Two colonels, who were later most frequently seen closely associated with the general's campaigns, like him, were converted at fifteen, and one of them, being at that time almost overlooked by the sergeant who was counting the penitence. Captain said he, there are seventy-one, or seventy-two, if you count this lad, the general has not only counted his young lads and lasses wherever they were true penitents, but has dared to set them at once to work to bring others to Christ, and that with such effect that whole countries have felt the result. Our first Dutch officer was a young teacher, dismissed from his employment because he would persist in seeking the salvation, as well as the instruction of his young pupils. After spending a few months in England in order to be able to translate for us, he became the lieutenant and general helper of our pioneer officer there. The way had been prepared before us by a retired major of the Dutch army, who had for some time been carrying on mission work in the city of Amsterdam, and who, having seen something of the army in England, turned over his mission hall to us and gave us all possible help. He was rewarded by seeing all his own children converted. Holland has suffered perhaps more than any country in the world from the substitution of head knowledge for real heart acquaintance with God, the refuge of true believers in days of terrible persecution. It has seen its churches either paralyzed with the narrowest and coldest orthodoxy, proclaiming the impossibility of salvation for anybody but the few elect, or the natural reaction, a wild liberalism, which doubts everything. How far the two million Catholics of the country hold fast to their faith is doubtful, but it is admitted that very few of the other four millions profess to be born again. But the general never sought to trim his sails to catch any modern breeze. Upon his every visit to the country he spoke out with the same simple liberty as in England. Of the fisherman leader he sent to represent him in Holland, knowing only a handful of Dutch words a lady said, he praised just like a man who is drowning. Such praying and corresponding effort for the perishing soon brought thousands to kneel in penitence before God. The general has visited the country repeatedly, presiding over the annual reviews, which have generally been held on some great land proprietors' estate, or holding days with God in its largest theaters. Of one such visit in 1906 he writes, I have just had a wonderful campaign in Holland. Meetings, enthusiasm, collections, and souls far beyond anything that has preceded it in my experience. Praise the dear Lord. The simple old gospel that any child can understand has indeed made the army triumphant all over Holland. And the following extracts from the general's diary during his visit of 1908 will show how childlike a faith and devotion are people there have. Rotterdam, Saturday, March 14th. Soldiers and ex-soldiers meeting fine, three-fourths men, a great improvement on anything I have seen in the way of soldiers' meetings in this place. I got the truth out, and thirty-seven of them fell at the penitent form to seek power to walk in its light. Sunday, the Doken Hall, one of the largest auditoriums in the city, full in the morning and crowds shut out afternoon and night. People hired at first, but twenty-two came to the penitent form in the morning and fifty-eight at night. Never saw men weep more freely. Two hundred twelve pounds given during the day. Monday came on to Amsterdam and commenced officers' councils. Tuesday, a tired, restless night for some reason or other, sleep flew, occupied with many matters, but not very anxious. Still, did not get much refreshment or invigoration for the day's work and felt accordingly. On the whole the three meetings were interesting, and I think useful to the officers present, although nothing remarkable. Wednesday, what I said at the councils yesterday may be repeated today. I had a great deal more material than I could possibly introduce into two days, and on leaving out some topics on the spur of the moment, some were left out that might have been of great benefit. However, everybody was pleased, and I think profited. The only question in my mind, similar to the one that haunts me in every officer's council, is whether I am making the most of the opportunity. There is no doubt that we have here a powerful body of men and women, good, devoted, and loyal to the principles of the army, proud to be connected with it, and ready to receive instructions and to carry them out. The great lack appears to be a want of energy, enterprise, and daring. The being content with a little success instead of reaching out to all that is possible and promising. However, they are wonderfully improved, and I hope the present commissioner's health will allow of his carrying them a long way farther in the direction of enthusiasm than they have reached before. Lieutenant Colonel Schach, our original friend before referred to, was with us at all the meetings. He is very cordial, and in making the closing speech described his oneness with the army in every direction. My correspondence with London is somewhat heavy. Thursday. Fair night's sleep, but feeling rather tired, which must be expected. We are away to Den Helder at 9.42 a.m., so must be stirring. Den Helder is a naval port, the headquarters of the Dutch navy. We were billeted with rear admiral van de Bosch, who is in command of the port, fleet, dockyards, and many other things. We were received at the station in a formal but hearty manner by the leading people of the town, in the large waiting room decorated for the occasion by the minister of the state church, who made a really eloquent address. The great point of his speech was the work of the Holy Spirit, God working through us to the benefit of mankind. As he stood there talking in that circle of sixty or seventy of the leading inhabitants of the place, including naval officers of rank, professionals of various classes and prominent people, I could not help feeling, as I often feel now, what a change has come over the people, not only with respect to the army, but towards myself. I answered in a few words that I trust were useful and beneficial to all present. The whole thing from the moment of my being received at the door of my railway carriage, until I left next morning, had been prearranged through the instrumentality of one of our local officers, to his great credit and to the credit of his town and to the satisfaction of his general. The mail brought me a request to take over a certain county council's lodging-house for poor men, on which they are losing a large sum, also another to take over in inebriate's home, which cost forty thousand pounds and is an utter failure. In such exploits people will not have the Salvation Army at the outset, otherwise they might save a good deal of expense, etc. Friday arriving at Amsterdam the mail brought confirmation of my agreement of yesterday to postpone my South African visit in September, and to begin my motor tour at Dundee and finish at the Crystal Palace. In all these things the maxim is ever present to my mind. Man proposes, but God disposes. Closed the night at the desk which is becoming more and more a difficult task from the failure of my eyes. Saturday, good night's sleep. But for me, anyway, a great improvement on recent nights. So now for a good day's work of which there is plenty lying before me. 7.30 p.m. soldiers meeting. We have always been crowded out before, so this time the Palace Theatre was taken as an experiment, and it justified my reckonings for several years gone by. Namely, that we could fill any reasonable place on Saturday night here, and yet keep the meeting select, that is, confine it to soldiers and ex-soldiers, adherents, and those concerned about religion. We were more than full, and the place holds fifteen hundred. I had much liberty in speaking. The after meeting went with a swing seldom known on the continent or elsewhere, and we had eighty-four at the Penitent Forum, some of them remarkable cases. No wonder this octogenarian leader finds his young Dutchman wanting an enterprise. Sunday the theatre again in the morning at ten, an excellent plan, all that it could be adopted the world over. The senseless system of beginning at eleven makes you feel it is time to close, almost before you have had time to get well started. We were crowded, large numbers outside clamoring for admission, so much so that the police called out their reserves, and fifty men guarded the entrance. We had an excellent service inside, and forty at the Mercy Seat. It was a beautiful meeting, and made a mark forever on my heart, and on the hearts of many more. Afternoon, the large hall of the People's Palace had been arranged for this as well as the night meeting. We were full, and many were turned away. I lectured on the duty of the community, great satisfaction among my own people, and a good impression made upon the minds of a good many of the leading people of the city. Night, seven-thirty, again full. It is a building erected for an exhibition, and made suitable for a meeting only by putting up a great screen across the center. I suppose we could have filled the entire space, but whether my interpreter could then have been heard, I'm not sure. I preached with point and power, more breathless attention I never had in my life. I reckoned on an easy conquest, but we had one of the hardest fights I ever remember before we got us soul out. I left at ten-thirty, completely played out. A wall of policemen on either side kept the people back while I got into the carriage, the crowd having waited a long time to catch a glimpse of me, had long restless and sleepless spells during the night, but still I have not done amiss on the whole. I must now prepare myself for the coming Berlin Staff Congress. So much for the general effect upon a largely unbelieving people of simple, childlike faith. But the general was, of course, always just as earnest about instructing all who came to him, old or young, in the way of life as about getting them into it. In the midst of these tremendous campaigns, he repeatedly prepared lesson books for both children and adults, to a lady who had tried to help him by sending him a number of catechisms for children on such an occasion, he wrote, Thank you for your letter and your catechisms sent here. The particular catechisms you send, I already had. Not that the church affair could be of any advantage to me, and I should imagine it would not be of much use to anyone else, especially to children. I am trying to produce something that will be a boon to the army by being blessed to hundreds of thousands of children for years to come. You do not seem to think it is a very important task. I counted the most important work I have had my hands on for years. I had a proper day at Blank. I got at the peasantry for once, although I have often had that privilege before, and we had a mighty day. O the joy of leading those simple souls into the light and power and freedom of the kingdom. I am keeping better. Praise the Lord. Whether the general's hopes for the use of his writings to the good of children will be fully realized remains to be seen, but it is a great thing to have established even the purpose of making the way to heaven plain enough for the youngest feet to find. The other day I heard a captain explaining how he was conscripted into the army at ten years of age. He was standing outside the door of one of our halls on an evening when children were not admitted. He had tried in vain, boylike, to dodge through the doorkeeper's legs, but a drunken woman came up and not only insisted on getting in, but on dragging him in to keep her company. Once inside she went right up to the penitent form with her prisoner and made him kneel with her there. He had never seen so many grown-up people kneeling before, and as they prayed he felt what a naughty boy he had been, and began both to weep and pray. However little any older people might think of him that night, God heard and saved him, and he is now fighting under our flag in the West Indies, and others who in their early years came to Christ are now occupying leading positions all over the world. One of them remembers when a lad of fifteen hearing the general say, whilst giving out the verse, sure I must fight if I would reign, increase my courage, Lord. I would like to alter it to sure I will fight and I shall reign. The lad shouted, hallelujah, and as he was on the front seat in the theater, the general both heard and noticed him and remarked, I hope you will make as good a fighter as you are a shouter. Thirty-three years of faithful warfare have replied to the general's encouraging challenge, and we have no means as yet of calculating how many such youthful disciples have been equally helped by the general into a conquering life. May this record help to multiply the number, for it is the will of God to make all his children strong in the power of his might. It is indeed this bringing all, whether old or young, forward in the development of all their powers for God, which constitutes everywhere a great part of the army's work. The enlarging influence of a close contact with Christ has hardly yet been fully realized even by ourselves. The peasant, whose whole circle of thought was so limited and stereotyped that his life only rose by a few degrees above that of the animals he drove before him, is taught by the army to pray and sing to the maker and saviour of the world. Give me a heart like thine, by thy wonderful power, by thy grace every hour give me a heart like thine. In a few years time you will find that man capable of directing the war over a wide stretch of country, dealing not merely with as many meetings in a week as some men would be content to hold in a year, and with the diversified needs of thousands of souls, but taking his share in any business transactions or councils with civic authorities, as ably as any city-born man. What has so enlarged his capacity broadened his sympathies and turned him into the polite and valued associate of anyone, high or low, with whom he comes in contact? His library, if indeed he has any, beyond the few army publications he needs for his work, is still scanty enough to make his removal at a few hours notice remarkably easy, and he will not be found much in public reading rooms, either. He has very little time for fellowship with any of the intelligent friends who, for the army's sake, might now be willing to help him on. He has simply had that oft-repeated prayer answered, and with the heart of a saviour of all men comes an interest in men's thoughts and ways, which leads the man ever onward, overcoming all his own ignorance and incapacities for the sake of helping on the war. Thus the General's declaration at an early moment that he would get his preachers out of the public houses has not merely been justified with regard to the first elementary lines of recruiting, but the grace of God has proved capable of developing out of the most limited and despoiled human material the most able and large-hearted of organizers and leaders without building up any artificial or educational barriers between them and their former associates. How indeed could it be otherwise? Those who are ignorant of God may well doubt the possibility of any mental improvement by means of prayer, but those who believe that it is possible for the poorest to dwell on Earth with their saviour, and to hold continual intercourse with him will perfectly understand how enlightening, how elevating, how inspiring such fellowship must ever be. Alas, how few there are yet in the world who can truly say, Our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son, Jesus Christ. End of Section 15 Recording by Tom Hirsch Section 16 India and Devotees This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Recording by Tom Hirsch. Nowhere has the army shown its marvelous power to unite men of all races and classes, so rapidly and completely as in India. With its headquarters in Simla and its leader, formerly a magistrate under the Indian government, looked upon almost as a felon and imprisoned when he first began leading open-air meetings in Bombay, but now honoured by the highest both of British and Indian rulers, and by the lowest of its outcasts equally, the army has become the fully recognized friend of governors and governed alike. When the general decided upon issuing a weekly paper called The War Cry, it was to be, as nearly as possible, the Salvation Army in print. And Mr. Booth Tucker, then an Indian official, at once got the idea from the copy he read that such a force as it described was exactly what was wanted in that country. A set of Christians determined to fight for the establishment of Christ's kingdom by every method love could devise. But loving especially the poorest and weakest, and proving their love by working continually amongst them. After visiting England to see the army and its leaders for himself, he had no hesitation in abandoning his government appointment and giving himself up for life to this war. Such was the devotion of our officers and especially of the first Indians they won that the general, far from having to urge them forward, had rather to check the tendency needlessly to sacrifice health and life. He gladly gave at later dates two of his own daughters to the work, and perfectly informed by his own repeated visits to the country and by what he learned from the actualities of the war. He was the better able to correct mistakes and so to utilize to the uttermost the forces that were raised in various parts of the vast peninsula. Nobody would hesitate to acknowledge how much his councils helped to prevent an excessive zeal from sacrificing precious lives. He divided the country into six territories, each under a separate commander, realizing that India could not be treated as one country, but that its diverse people must be dealt with according to their several needs and that unless those using different languages were trained to act independently enough of each other, they could never form strong enough forces to cope with the vast enterprises required. But the following account written to his children of his first visit to the country gives a photographic view, both of his own activities and successes, and of the attitude of the high and mighty generally towards him at that remote date. He writes from Benares, January 13, 1892, just ten years after our beginning in India. Benares, January 13, 1892. My dear children, Wednesday and Thursday, 6th and 7th were consumed in traveling to Calcutta, and all things considered, I got through the journey very well. Nevertheless, I was exceedingly weary on being roused at 5 o'clock to prepare for the arrival. It was early, 5.35 a.m., and Colonel Ajit Singh did not expect any reception beyond that of our own officers. To our surprise, however, we found the platform crowded with our own enthusiastic little party, who raised some music from a scratch band, some native Christians, and a very large number of Hindu gentlemen. I was taken by surprise, and unaware of the extent of the demonstration allowed them to leave by only shaking hands. Interview upon interview followed during the morning, but in the afternoon I was down for the town hall meeting. I scarcely ever remember in my life feeling more thoroughly weary than on that day. Three times I lay down to try to sleep, and each time failed to get a wink, and my brain was benumbed and bewildered when I entered that immense building and was called upon by General Merrill, the American Council who presided, to address that crowd. I don't know whether Commissioner Ruth Ducker ever had a meeting in the town hall. It is a long building, 120 feet long, with the most clumsy pillars down the sides, chatting out almost the side seats from view. There was quite as large an audience as I expected, although it was not what it might have been. There were a few Europeans present and a few native Christians, and the remainder were composed of the non-Christian element. Amongst others who interviewed me during the day, or were introduced to me before the meeting, was the successor to Chander Singh, and the two most prominent teachers of the Brahmo Samaj, and a number of other leading people. On the platform was the judge of the Supreme Court and Vice Chancellor of the University, and one of the few Hindus who are strict observers of every principle and usage of their sect. Near to me was the noel Abdul Lutif, Mohammedan, and just behind me was a boy of about fourteen, a son and heir of a Maharaja, whose father had intended to have been at the meeting, but was prevented and so sent his son, a bright-eyed youth who paid every attention to what was said. General Merrill had consented to preside at the last moment, being induced to do so very largely from the fact that every one of the English of any note had refused. Bombay, January 16th. I broke off at the beginning of my Calcutta campaign as above, not having had a moment's space to resume. Never had I such a crush of engagements before, and it was really all I could possibly do to keep pace with them, and that I only did to some extent in a purish way. The detail of them I must leave to another day. I may say, however, that Calcutta in interest exceeded anything I have seen since I left England. From the rush of welcome at the railway station at six in the morning, to the pack who came to say farewell, in which the papers say there were two thousand people, it was one series of surprises. Although the town hall meeting was stiff, and the Europeans were conspicuous by their absence, still there was sufficient indication of the high esteem in which the army was held in general, and myself in particular, to make it a matter of great interest and encouragement. Of the welcomes that followed from individuals of note, such as Mr. Banerjee and Mr. Bows, representing the Bahamo Samaj, and the successor of Chaturessing, Mr. Cicavirati, the lay reader of the Yodel Samaj, His Highness the Maharaja, Sir Jattendaro Mayun of Tranjore, one of the most princely men of the city, the Nawab Abdul-Lutif, the most distinguished leader of the Mohammedans, etc., and of the several missionaries who came up, all was really complementary and respectful, nay, affectionate. Then there were the crowds, perhaps the greatest in the Emerald Theater, in which there must have been nearly three thousand people inside and out listening through the doorways. It was certainly the most remarkable audience and exclusively native. I only saw one white face in the crowd beyond our own people. Nothing more hearty could have been conceived. Then came meeting upon meeting, but the circus on Sunday night outdid almost anything, in some respects, that I have ever witnessed in my life. It came upon me quite by surprise. The hour fixed was the same as the churches, and it had been predicted that we should not get an audience. It was right away outside the city in a park in the swellest part of the suburbs. Consequently, it was not at all attractive to the native, who doesn't like to get outside his own quarter. The Emerald Theater had been a great success because it was in the midst of his quarter. The Europeans would not come there, and now it was fair to assume native would not come to the European Center. As to any attendance of English people, that was hardly to be expected. They had cold-shouldered me at the town hall. The Lieutenant Governor had even refused to see one of our officers when she called, although he had the reputation of being a Christian man. The viceroy had been civil to me. He could not have been otherwise. In fact, he verged kindness before we parted. But that was all. His military secretary had been as stiff as military etiquette could possibly make him. There seemed to be, therefore, nothing much to expect as an audience from them. Then I was tired out. A more worrying morning and afternoon I had seldom experienced. And I bargained in my own mind, and even mentioned it to Ajit Singh, that if there was not much of an audience, I should leave them to bear the brunt of the burden. As we drove up, the appearance of things seemed to confirm my anticipations. Everything was silent. They had been afraid of the roaring of the wild beast disturbing the meetings. But there was not a growl to be heard, nor a carriage to be seen, nor even a pedestrian. It is true we were at the back part of the circus. Ho came to meet us, however, at the gates, and when asked about the audience very coolly announced, to our amazement, that they were full. Without delay, therefore, I mounted the platform, and the sight that met me certainly was sufficiently surprising to be actually bewildering. They say the place seated thirty-five hundred. Yet appeared to be full. It was a simple circle with a ring set in the center. At one end was a little platform seating myself and my staff. Opposite me was the entrance for the horses, which was packed by the crowd. While the remaining space, on circle upon circle, tier upon tier, the audience was to be seen. On the right hand, we had row after row of queen soldiers in their red jackets. Lower down the Eurasian and middle-class Europeans, with a few natives. In the center we had a very fair proportion of the elite of Calcutta. There was the lieutenant governor, the chief commissioner of police, the council of America and two or three other countries, some great native swells, ladies bespangled with jewelry and finery, while on the left was one mass of dark faces reaching right up to the canvas sky. It was the most picturesque audience I ever addressed, to say the least of it. Our singing of races flowing like a river was very weak. Still, everybody listened. Nobody more so than the swell Europeans. The solo on Calvary was sung with good effect, and then I rose to do my best. The opportunity put new life into me. I was announced to speak on the religion of humanity, but this did not seem to me to be the hour for argument of any description. There was no time for dissertation. I felt I must have something that went straight to the point. I had been talking to these Brahmasamaj and other people upon social work, I luring them on afterwards by indirect arguments long enough. Now I felt that I must go as straight to the point as it was possible to do. So I took what must I do with Jesus, and made it fit into the religion of humanity as best I could. I never hid out straighter in my life, and was never listened to with more breathless attention, except for the few wretched natives in the top seats who would go out, I guessed, because they did not know the language. And came perhaps expecting I should be translated, and after sitting an hour felt that was enough. However, they soon cleared out the audience taking no notice of the process. Once done, however, a general movement took place. A prayer meeting was held, and the history had been gained so far. I cannot stop here to speak of the meetings at which the Brahmasamaj presented me with an address of welcome the next day. All I know is that nothing surprised me more than to hear some of the priests and laymen declare that they had gone with me in every word I had said the night before. Other meetings followed, with the natives and with blessings without stint poured upon my head, and handshaking that almost threatened to lame me. The train tore me away from the packed platform, and I left Calcutta with unfaigned regret. I stayed a night at Panaras, and had the town hall crowded with a leading Hindu in the chair. Quiet meeting. I spent six this morning with a hearty welcome, and I think with the promise of good meetings, although anything equal to Calcutta is not to be expected, and the news of the death of the Prince has come in our way, the news of which we have only just received. This will be my last letter, I presume, and I send it with, as ever, my undiminished affection to you all. Thank you. 3 p.m. Interview with Indian Judge 6 p.m. Meeting in Pandal Monday 10 a.m. Visit to our institutions 3 p.m. Visit to General Assembly Institute 5 30 p.m. Drawing Room Meeting 8 45 p.m. Meeting of Gentlemen in Town Hall, the Bombay Program further included. 7 a.m. Visit to the Leopard Asylum Midday, Visit to the Gekwur of Borada 3 p.m. Meeting in a Pandal Evening, Meeting with Native Christians Wednesday, 8 a.m. an Assembly at the Institute 8 15 a.m. Interview with a Solicitor 8 30 a.m. Interview with a Parsey Engineer 9 30 a.m. Interview with Pressman who took him to see the Hospital for Animals 2 p.m. Interview with Gentlemen who took him to see the Victoria Jubilee Technical Institute 4 30 p.m. Reception at Mr. Jamesetje Tatas 5 30 p.m. Meeting in the Pandal 9 p.m. Lecture in the Framji Kawazaje Institute to Indian Gentlemen Thursday 5 30 p.m. Meeting in the Pandal Friday 8 a.m. Staff Council 5 p.m. Reception at Mr. Kawazaje Genharje This was however abandoned on account of Prince Albert Victor's death. Saturday Sailed for Europe Remembering that the General was already nearly 63 years old such programs in India might well fatigue him but these were easy days compared with many country ones of this journey during which he traversed Salon visited South India spoke to some 8000 Syrian Christians and calling it Madras and Calcutta went on to the Punjab in Gujarat His final days in Bombay were as we have seen clouded by a bereavement of the Royal House but to his telegram to the Prince and Princess of Wales now King George and Queen Mary he got the cable to reply Their Royal Highnesses thanks for your prayers and sympathy It had thus already been seen that the General's plans were answering their purpose It became possible first to march large parties through various tracks of country so impressing thousands in a few days more than the isolated labors of the best individuals could have done in the course of years and then it came to learn later from officers placed amongst them All this the General knew could not mean all that it would have meant amongst peoples would more perfectly our teachings but he saw no reason for not making the most of such incidents Why not abandon so far as such people were concerned our system elsewhere and recognize them as adherents leaving them to learn after from officers placed amongst them all that was necessary for them to become salvation soldiers By this plan we avoided any watering down of our teachings or requirements and yet those who were not fit to be enrolled in our ranks were able, so far as they chose to abandon idolatry and every evil practice to get the advantages of Christians schooling for their children and generally to improve themselves under our influence Famines, epidemics of cholera and plague and other general calamities really helped us to increase our influence in various districts We gathered many orphans and abandoned children and brought them up as our own whilst over wide tracks of country the people learned to look upon us as a family of brothers born for adversity whose help could be relied upon not merely with regard to heavenly but to earthly things The barriers of caste bind Indians to treat each other to so large an extent as if they were enemies are naturally a constant and serious hindrance to us especially as most of our people naturally belong to the lower castes or are even outcasts and our plan of organization has helped us wonderfully in this matter for the villager of Ghazarat or Ceylon very greatly hampered amongst his own natural surroundings may be placed in an infinitely better position in some other part of the country Indians are marvelously quick at learning languages so we need seldom hesitate about their usefulness in any new appointment on account of differences of language and thus it has come about that we have already after some 30 years work nearly 2,000 Indian officers as absolutely devoted to the service of Christ as any of their comrades of any other land and the forces under their command have shown already that they can deal effectively with peoples utterly inaccessible to the ordinary Europeans the beheels when we first went amongst them were all armed with bows and arrows living entirely by the chase and so terrified at any sign of officialism that our officers had to avoid taking a scrap of paper with them when visiting their districts but we have now many beheel villages entirely under our teaching and quite a number of beheel officers who have learned to read their own language and to lead their countrymen as fully to follow Christ as they do themselves many of our people in Gujarat were weavers that one officer set himself especially to the task of improving their loom he was soon able to make one with which they could double their daily product the making of these looms created a new industry also so that we have been able thus to help many in India we have also commenced in three of our territories making it after first cost of buildings, equipment and staff largely self supporting as we found that the people really appreciated help more for which they were called upon to make ever so small a return in the same way respecting all our work the general has always urged the importance of applying as far as possible our general rule of self support for though the people may have very little to give the very least they can do helps to protect us from the prejudice created by the term Rice Christians applied to those who are believed to have made professions of Christianity for the sake of the food they hope to receive and now the government having seen the practical effect of our work is beginning to give us opportunities such as we never had before the Dom's a tribe systematically trained to live by thieving were placed under our special care and the result was such as to lead to our having other unmanageables likewise given over to us in fact we are barely now beginning to reap in India what in 28 arduous years had been sown does someone ask where does the general's own hand appear in much of this is it not all rather due to his having from the beginning had so able a helper acquainted with the languages and mental habits of the country and other exceptionally able officers both here and there even if it were so I should ask how all these people of ability placed themselves so absolutely at the general's disposal as to wish to spend all their lives under his direction in the greatest poverty in that far away land and I should inquire further how it came to pass that British, French, American Swedish, Swiss Dutch and others could be got to submit not only to work in union under the same iron regulations but often under the leadership of women and often under that of Indian staff officers who else but general Booth has ever attempted to place under command of a woman a missionary work carried on largely by men over a territory larger and more populace than that of the United Kingdom yet undoubtedly nothing has more contributed to the success of our work in a country where women have been so largely repressed as the fact that the army has thus demonstrated its confidence in God's power to lift up the weakest to the uttermost degree nobody who reflects on these things will dispute that whatever the army has done for India has been do most of all to its first general and so surely as the knowledge of what is already done grows shall we be allowed to do more and more to show India what Christ really desires and so to capture it for him in connection with all our Indian work one vastly important part of the general's work comes ever before us whether we think of Commissioner Booth Tucker or of one of his humblest native helpers commonly enough in recent times the general was honored because he had won from the path of vice to that of virtue some notorious sinner but did he not even more remarkably earn the general gratitude by changing the comparatively helpless and uninfluential though well-meaning into enterprising and widely useful leaders in good work how many millions of people he has taught or urged to sing where the whole realm of nature mine that were a present far too small love so amazing so divine demands my soul my life my all that grand verse was well known in this country and widely sung of course long before he was born but alas how many sing it even now with the understanding how many thousands of choice spirits first learned under the general's direction to look fairly at the immensity of their responsibility to God as they sang that in similar verses and how many only found out as ever widening responsibilities were pressed upon them how great their all really could become the humble laborer without any great speaking ability and often involved in a struggle to earn the barest livelihood himself and family was taught how to share in seeking the salvation of men today he has become a well known benefactor in one way or another to thousands of his fellow townsmen and his children in the far east or west are helping to realize his grandest thoughts of winning the whole world for God this result would never have come about simply by reading and singing of the most beautiful words but the man who was first of all made responsible perhaps only for the keeping of a hall door learned with astonishing rapidity how much our common life could accomplish for God and went on expanding in thought and purpose as his responsibilities were increased until he became not merely a local leader in every form and salvationist effort but a foreman or tradesman exercising a widespread influence amongst his fellow townsmen for all that is good and urging thousands of a younger generation forward in every way to the glory of God in the advancement of their country such development when it comes to be applied say to an educated lady produces one of those wise mothers of mankind whose practical counsels and help are being sought by the greatest cities in these days when men have found out what largeness of both heart and understanding are often to be found under a Salvation Army bonnet End of Section 16 Recording by Tom Hirsch Section 17 The General visited South Africa three times in 1891, 1895, and 1908. His visits were very largely dominated as will be seen by the idea that in South Africa good and abundant space could be found for a long time. The general visited South Africa three times and the abundant space could be found for overseas colonies. Enough space, in fact, to accommodate all the surplus population of England. The following extract from the record of his first journey is taken in the main from one of his letters to my children dated from Kimberley. The afternoon meeting was a select gathering with the mayor in the chair. The meetings of the district were present. I talked with freedom. Questions were proposed and I carried the audience with me. At night we had a social meeting in the amphitheater which was well filled. The ex-mayor presided. I do not know how long I talked, but they say two hours. Everybody was much interested. The doctor with whom I was staying and a brother physician came into the house and thanked me for my magnificent speech, giving five pounds to the fund for which we were collecting. I was very glad to get to bed and to find that I had not taken a serious cold, for everything was open behind me in the theater and the night was personally cold whilst I perspired with the exertion of speaking and felt the wind blowing at my back striking me like a wet blanket. I was very tired. Tuesday officers' meetings all day. If I had been pleased with what I saw of the officers before, I was more so today. Their eagerness to hear and quickness to understand, the readiness with which they assented to every call and everything laid before them was delightful. Nobody of men more simple or apparently ready for action ever sat before me. At night I endeavored to deal with their hearts making clear what a full consecration to the war included and appealing to them for it. I don't think I ever gave a more heart-searching address and it awoke a solemn feeling almost amounting to gloom which settled down upon every soul. You could see it in their faces. The knife of conviction pierced them through and through as I called up the particulars in which they came short of that life of love, sacrifice, and service which the war demanded. We then cleared the decks inviting those who felt condemned in regard to the past and who were willing to make the surrender to come out. The first to roll up was about as handsome a fellow as I ever saw a Cornishman who fell down and began to cry out aloud to God. Others followed and before we finished I suppose we should have nearly seventy down row after row sincere, beautiful cases. Some of the testimonies that followed were delightful. He was one of the first to come out and he confessed down to the ground and wept like a child the whole audience being much moved. It was ten o'clock when I got home having talked nearly seven hours and I was glad to get to bed. Wednesday officers meetings in the morning a very precious time on matters of detail which I believe helped the officers very much. Only those who thoroughly take in the meaning of these officers meetings can hope to understand the generals hold upon the army or the value of his various journeys. For such meetings had far more to do with the success of his work than any of his great public gatherings. He frequently uses the word simple in describing officers, meaning men who have not got so much puffed up by applause as to be incapable of seeing their defects and learning how to do better. Can it be necessary to remind the reader that in the army no distinctions of race, country, age or color exist so far as officers are concerned? When it is inevitable to have together in one officers meeting groups who do not speak the language chiefly employed someone of their number is so placed amongst the group as to be able to translate to them the generals addresses. Here we have a gathering of men and women from near and far most of whom must need to carry on their work amidst small communities living very widely apart and where they could very rarely see another officer or be visited by any leader. To bring all these up before the tribunal of their own consciousness as to the extent to which they had discharged all the obligations they took upon them when they first engaged to form and lead on the forces whose duties in so vast a territory must be too varied and too difficult to prescribe by any fixed routine could not but be of priceless value. Would to God that all persons engaged in missionary work were periodically passed through such examinations by fire? How easily may anyone in such solitary spheres yield to discouragement or to some ill-feeling towards a predecessor in the same appointment or towards some leader who has not seemed sympathetic enough? Remembering that each of these has to go back to some position of lonely toil with no guarantee of salary and no prospect of improving circumstances in a country whose large towns could be counted on the fingers of one hand, you can understand the supreme importance and the after effect of such meetings. The letter goes on. On this and the previous day my host, the doctor, had invited guests to meet me at luncheon. Yesterday we had the ministers who were mostly very friendly and sympathetic. As the doctor put it today we had the sinners who he reckoned were by far the most enjoyable judges, commissioners of crown lands, etc. All were very respectful and to say the least of it were in sympathy with my social scheme if not actually having strong faith in its success. I had some further conversation with a member of the South African cabinet who said he was on the most intimate terms both with leaders of the Africonder Bund and with Mr. Rhodes. He was quite sure that however anyone from political motives might disguise their feelings they were equally in sympathy with me. We had some conversation as to the cooperation of the authorities supposing lazy people turned out unwilling to carry out the engagements they might sign in England. He said he felt sure if anything were wanting in present law to ensure authority being respected that it would readily be remedied. This has reference to the scheme of an overseas colony in South Africa with which the general had been occupied ever since 1890. He of course always foresaw the risk that persons who were sent out in connection with such a plan might see in the colonies an easier career than that of the cultivation of land and that there must needs be some assurance of their being held to their agreement in any such case. He goes on, to the late farewell meeting in the amphitheater. It was a considerable strain on me as I hadn't a minute to prepare. I had promised myself a couple of hours in the afternoon when some Dutch ministers came down upon me to open a YWCA building that they had just converted from a low public house at Beaconsfield, a suburb of Kimberley. If I would only go for half an hour they would be so grateful. I couldn't refuse so my bed of leisure was seized upon. However we had a very good meeting. We were nearly full. I made a new speech which went I thought with considerable power and then commissioned separate detachments for operations amongst the Zulus and Swazis, outriders for the Orange Free State and officers for various branches of social work. The leaders of each detachment spoke very well indeed. Promising fellows, all of them. At the close of the public meeting I had to have another for soldiers, officers and exiliaries. This I was compelled to conclude earlier than I should otherwise have done by the announcement that the electric light would soon give out. However we had a very nice finish and I got to bed about eleven thirty. Thursday breakfast with the staff officers at eight an hour and three quarters good straight talk afterwards with beautiful influence everybody so tender. At the close I said now let us kneel down and after a little prayer asked them to link hands with me and let us give ourselves up again to Jesus in the service of God and the army. Such tender-hearted linkings together of those who have the leadership of the army's various departments have alone prevented the separations of heart that must inevitably be threatened whenever a number of very strong-willed men and women are engaged in labors into which they throw their whole soul and in which they cannot perhaps should not avoid the feeling that their own department is, after all the most important in the world. But anyone who thinks will understand how men and women so blended together in fellowship with God and each other have been able to override all contrary influences in every country. E. the leader of our work in South Africa then turned to me the letter goes on and made a few appropriate remarks about his own devotion to the army and on behalf of every officer present and absent assured me that they loved the army as it was and did not want any alterations in orders or regulations and were prepared to live and die in the war. I don't remember anything more tender and affecting on the conclusion of a council. I shook hands all round and we parted. God bless them. I made a hasty call to the rescue home and was very pleased with it a really nice little place. The platform at the station was crowded a passage was made for me but I readily reached the compartment and having five minutes or so made a little speech which was received with volley after volley and cheer after cheer there was a good deal of handshaking any number of God bless you and the train bore me away from the people with whom I have certainly had a really hearty and happy fellowship. I should have said that by request of my host I went through a kind of board school in a very comodious and suitable building I saw room after room so far as I could judge of the happiest, healthiest and I might say most beautiful lot of children it was ever my privilege to see they ought to make a splendid body of men and women for the future. Friday I did not get on very well last night with the plank bed or shelf which was dignified with the name of a sleeping berth there was very little spring and no cushion moreover I had heartburn it was a cold night and all together I was glad when daylight came the sun came out and it was just as hot by noon as it had been cold at night we stopped at Craddock a little time where a gentleman interviewed me with regard to 80,000 acres of land possessed by some syndicate of the town at Presca beyond Kimberley this kind of thing happens almost every day at a station a little further on quite a crowd of salvationists and others had gathered I could not see any sign of a town beyond two or three shanties I used to think some of the places that had been dignified by the name of cities in Canada were rather grotesque but here it is carried to a greater extreme however they must have some method of distinguishing the place of ingress and egress from the train and perhaps they are named in the hope of becoming what they are said to be things that are spoken of as if they were well on the platform was as picturesque and motley a crowd as well could be imagined I only wished at the moment the pencil of some artist had been there to have painted the kafirs in their showy turbans and half naked bodies the women with babies on their backs and the whites of various ranks and conditions all mixed up with salvationists among others was a salvationist old woman half cast who had trudged over the mountain 14 miles from Somerset east with a big drum over her shoulders traveling during the night in order to get a glimpse of the general all at once whilst people stared she struck up a lively chorus beating the singing and beating the drum most vigorously then followed the choruses no we never never never will give in never say die and steadily keep advancing etc I beckoned to her shook hands with her wrote her name in the copy of aggressive Christianity in the presence of the crowd and gave it to her all of which was interpreted to her as she spoke only Dutch then she wound up in good English with victory for me through the blood of Christ my savior the little scene altogether was very striking yes surely that scene was striking for everyone and forever more that union of races and languages to the glory of Christ and for the highest well-being of the whole world that valuing of the humblest true soldier of the cross above all the great ones of this world accounts for the creation maintenance and spread of the army wherever they are seen the following report of one of his meetings with the natives fairly represents one of them the room could not contain the people who wished to listen to the general dark faces were to be seen at every window the general did not talk at them but he talked into them and their close attention and many amen showed that he was well understood no sooner had he ceased talking than the mercy seat was filled and at least a hundred came to Christ to seek deliverance from sin and the supplying of their hearts needs among the number were eight or nine women from central Africa they had been brought down for immoral purposes but the army had got hold of them and rescued them ere the general turned away he gave them still further advice as follows the heart is drawn out to you I am going a long way off but I want you to think of me and when you think of me I want you to pray for me be decided to fight for Jesus God will be on your side go in and get all your people saved and be the friends of all before I go I should like to know who have made up their minds to trust God and up went a hundred hands that's right now all who have made up their minds to meet me in heaven raise their hands again and once more every hand went up this time accompanied by a tremendous shout these journeys to south Africa were indeed taken together amongst the most painful lessons of the general's life as to the smallness of hope from the great ones of this world the first visit paid on the swell of the first admiration for the darkest England scheme filled him with great expectations and no wonder for everywhere at that time governments municipalities and wealthy magnets talked as if they were ready to assist him immediately to place the deserving though poor crowds of the old country the innocent tracks of land he saw everywhere unoccupied or very slightly used but governments of the elected type come and go making the most lavish promises and denouncing the other party who on turning them out do ditto and so it came to pass that the general made his third journey to south Africa in 1908 when 79 years of age his life ran serious risk because his going to Rhodesia himself was considered indispensable in order so to impress some British or South African statesmen that they might give him the needed help to establish an overseas colony there and then all the statesmen denounced to Colonel Kitching by one of themselves a set of blank blank fools say that nothing can be done at present and the old man returns to die with his great dream unrealized end of section 17 part 1 recording by Tom Hirsch section 18 South Africa and colonization part 2 this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Tom Hirsch the following account of one journey taken by Colonel Kitching alone who was not only his secretary but his representative in many directions throughout his latest years shows the loving willingness of an army secretary to do and bear anything for Christ's sake and what our staff officers generally understand by the words indefatigable and unconquerable after a long journey of 30 hours I reached blank railway station expecting in the virgin simplicity of my youthful mind to find his place within sight perhaps across a couple of styles instead of which I found that it was 36 miles or more 4 hours drive in a Cape Cart the only boy at the station was engaged so I bade him come back again for me as soon as he had got rid of his fare which he did in something over an hour although he had said he should be back in a second when he did come he was unwilling to take me without his bosses leave so we set off to find the boss he was not at his house nor at his stable he might be a church I went and routed him with his devotion finally bargaining with him to take me there and back for three pounds now Mr. Blanks farm comprises some 18 or 20 different farms of which about 160,000 acres are in one block and some 80,000 acres are more in three or four separate pieces each of these farms is managed by a farmer who is responsible to the top manager who also has charge of one of the individual farms my destination was a farm where Mr. Blank was believed by the railway people to be that day the first half of the ride we were cooked in the sun then darkness came on black darkness then some ominous drops of rain which were soon sheets instead of drops thunder and lightning as I never want to hear or see again in this life I was afraid we should get lost in the dark for although it was called a main road it was in reality merely a track not that in many places with any amount of one foot two foot, three foot and four foot holes now I draw the line at three foot holes upon consideration but my driver who dignified himself with the title of male contractor was sure that his horses could find the way in the darkest darkness as they do the journey each way twice every week but when the darkness got so dense that we could not even see the horses except when it lightened even he grew doubtful remembered that he himself had not driven them along that road for more than eight months though his boy had done and he thought that we had better stand still where we were till the storm was over and the moon rose but I knew the moon would not rise till 1030 and we were already about 18 miles from anywhere my entreaties that he should proceed met with success and the result that we lost the road twice got into a deep hole and oversized the whole caboose when at last we reached the farm it was to be met with the announcement that Mr. Blank had left there the previous day and was believed now to be about 26 miles three hours nearly further on I was soaked to the skin as hungry as a hunter and dead beat into the bargain the farm manager insisted that I must stay the night it was impossible to go on in that storm and go on in the morning this is a little world Mr. Blank had mentioned my name in speaking to him of the general's visit to Johannesburg and he had remembered it as that of the only Salvation Army officer from whom he had ever received a letter ten years ago or more he had addressed some inquiry or other to headquarters and I had written him in reply the next morning I drove on to Blank and found Mr. Blank in his orchard he had not received the general's wire saying I was coming for the simple reason that not wanting to be bothered with mails or telegrams for a couple of days he had instructed the post office people to forward all his dispatches to a place which he did not intend to go until the next day if public receptions at railway stations, speeches and addresses by governors mayors and ministers and press eulogies could have satisfied him the general could not but have been delighted with South Africa as the following extracts may show in the Lady Smith Gazette we read general Booth has flashed past like a meteor but I'm inclined to think he has left a trail of light behind him it is fifteen years since I last saw the leader of the Salvation Army those fifteen years have made but little alteration in the man there is the same old Saxon profile the same storm defying weather beaten almost eagle-eyed features and the same slightly rasping but intensely interesting in its earnestness voice there is plenty of strength still in that patriarchal figure and with the exception of a slight stoop the general is as vigorous as he was fifteen years ago in appearance the general reminded myself of canon Kingsley they have the same Anglo-Saxon falcon-like features and the same indomitable energy and courage canon Kingsley was not so well provided with hair as the general but on the contrary he could boast of a more prominent nasal organ both men had flashing eyes deeply set and overhanging eyebrows giving force and determination to the face both the late canon and general Booth were equally sturdy with Saxon descent and both worked for the masses canon Kingsley as he would admit today was before his time and in aiding the Charterist movement made a fatal mistake canon Kingsley as shown in Alton Locke endeavored to raise the masses to heights attainable only by men of education and men of thought and today the recoil of that pernicious doctrine is being felt general Booth places a man in the position God intended him to occupy and if the man can raise himself higher by strenuous effort then well and good the salvation of general Booth is the true salvation the salvation of regeneration and the world's thinkers are surely recognizing the fact the salvation army is a factor to be reckoned with general Booth and his people have succeeded when all others have failed the Rhodesia Herald of Salisbury said general Booth has well been called the grand old man of the salvation army for undoubtedly it is his remarkable personality and fierce energy which has made the army an artist today and has enabled it to do a work which no other religious organization has attempted to do on anything like the same scale and to reach a section of the people who remained untouched by the more orthodox methods of other bodies it is not so very many years ago that branches of the army in many towns in the United Kingdom were striving to make headway to the most most determined opposition opposition employing methods of which the authors soon became heartily ashamed yet today the different branches of the army are doing their work not only unmolested but helped and encouraged by all classes of the community and this because the army has rung recognition by transparent honesty and unceasing efforts to help those most in need of help and encouragement as the age of general put it on his arrival in Johannesburg the organization of which he is the mainspring has set before itself the task of giving a helping hand to the very poor those who are without friends and those who have fallen in the battle of life the members of the Cape Town and district evangelical church council in their address to general William Booth DCL said we have been deeply touched by the energy, the wisdom and the consecration with which you carry on your work at a period of life when most men have retired from active service we would join with our brethren of the Christian churches throughout the world in assuring you of our admiration mixed with our wonder at the success which has attended your labors for the salvation of the most helpless and degraded members of our race hand in hand with your efforts for the salvation of the souls of the fallen have gone a true Christ like care for the bodies of the unfortunate and an attempt to extend the current of social evil and degeneracy we are deeply interested in your experiments in colonizing those parts of our empire which are at present sparsely populated and thus relieving the tension of social problems in the larger cities of Great Britain and that congestion of population which is a fruitful source of individual and social education we trust your visit to South Africa may result in the settlement in the rich lands now untilled of a population which by its industry thrift and character will compare with those of Canada, New Zealand and Australia we rejoice that the great captain of salvation continues to lead the organization of which you are the head and heart in one to great victories over the forces of evil and assure you that in this land we recognize the Salvation Army as a powerful force for the spiritual and social uplift of the people it is always a pleasure for the churches we represent to render any aid in our power to an organization for whose members and whose work we have the regard it is the earnest prayer of the council that your visit may be full of blessing to your community that it may result in a fresh infusion of hope and enthusiasm into the hearts of your fellow workers and that God may abundantly fill you with spiritual and physical energy in the fulfillment of the great enterprise on which you have entered in 1936 and 1908 the address of the Blomfontein Town Council very carefully avoids any reference to the proposed overseas colony perhaps the whole secret of South Africa's indifference to it is revealed in the following extract from a paper whose name we omit lest any appearance of hostility to any locality or any element of enormous country should seem to have crept into our feelings here. After half a column of compliments as to his good work and intentions the editorial gentleman not of Blomfontein goes on with his great but as follows but the social elevation or the spiritual conversion of the boozy scum of a European nation may not be advanced at the cost of the well-being of our own people we protest most earnestly against that at once it does not matter whether he has fixed his eye upon Rhodesia or the Kalahari desert these lands belong geographically to South Africa and we need it for its own peoples true we have plenty of territory even for others who may wish to come and settle this and wish to be of us but we have no room for the submerged 10th of any other nation whatever in vain did the general keep explaining in every land he visited that he had never thought of or made any plan for dumping crowds of wasterls on any country but only such people as had been tested improved fit for such an opportunity as they could not get in overcrowded countries there was always the same loud and continued applause for his noble work and then almost everywhere not often with the honest outspokenness of that newspaper the same I pray thee have me my country excused from receiving this colony and then the old man would have the tiny handfuls who thanks to insane constitutionalism have been left to monopolize vast areas of the earth warnings of the future that may be remembered by generations to come whilst in South Africa he was gladdened by receiving the following report as to the multitudes he was sending out to Canada emigrated from October 1908 36,308 of whom were assisted by loan 9,400 total amounts advanced 38,375 pounds total amounts repaid within first five years already 5,112 pounds but as to South Africa he grasped the main feature of the situation there in words that may be remembered not only in that country when for the British Empire it is forever too late the more I see of this country the more I am convinced of the folly of the controversy that prevails in some minds and of the fears that are entertained about the predominance of the Dutch element before many years have passed the question will not be as to what nation of whites will have the mastery but whether the whites will have any mastery at all not whether it shall be Dutch land or British land but whether it shall be a white man's land the undisputed growth and intelligence of the African and Indian combined will soon give them so great a preponderance that they will capture the agriculture and trade generally them from the capture of the mineral production and the mastery of the country in general there is only one way for the white man and that is to add to his numbers such as will join him in the struggle and to convert the colored element to righteousness and truth and honesty and industry I want to help them but they cannot see far enough these are the sentiments that ought to be pressed upon the attention of our government here is another letter which is valuable especially for the light it gives with regard to the general's careful examination during his journeys into all that concerned the efficiency of the army and of every leading officer in it I have not said much about the character and condition of the work generally having reserved my ideas for the closing of my correspondence in the general way however I will make a few observations one, the territory must certainly be in better form than it has ever been before this considering the havoc made by the war is saying a good deal there are more corps more officers, more soldiers plenty of money to meet their requirements and as much favorable public opinion as is good for them perhaps a little more two, so far as we have had opportunity for observation the officers and soldiers appear to be in good spirits three some important advances are under consideration or in progress in the direction of properties both social and spiritual four several very remarkable revivals have taken place five the commissioner appears to be much improved six the more I see of blank the more I like him and my impression is confirmed that he is a long way the best man in the country for dealing with the natives seven the commissioner thinks that what there is to be known as to cattle land, products etc is known to blank I love him very much eight the same applies very largely to blank when he does know he may know better than blank though I'm not sure whether his knowledge is so extensive nine I have seen little of blank but he is said to be very successful in his present appointment two gentlemen who have been inspecting his place say they could not have believed that such wonderful results could have been achieved in so unlikely a place ten this man blank has sat on the platform and prayed when he has been called upon to pray but he has done nothing more I shall instruct K I think to ask him a few questions one of which will be whether he is willing to take a position in another part of the world of course I am only snatching such sentences as convey the main ideas without their fuller development which would risk indicating the persons referred to will it be believed that whilst this octogenarian was toiling in the heat to prepare if he could a brighter future for some of the poor a syndicate of slanderers in London some well educated some of the Trafalgar square brawler type were seeking to bless the British public by enlightening them as to his selfish and foolish designs upon them according to their theories his every new scheme was only brought forth to turn aside attention from his entire failure and to ensure a continuous flow of money into his coffers perhaps the best feature of all about his dreams was that they never became less cheery for all that and their continuously increasing infection of the world despite every attack the general writes after his great meeting with some of our native comrades as reported in connection with his final congress I have been much occupied as I have already told you I expected to be with the native question and I am satisfied that one of the greatest things ever done in the history of the world can be done here and I am determined to make an attempt to do it I do not say that our chance is greater than it is in India though I am not sure whether it does not equal it in many ways anyway it appears to me that it is open to us to realize a mighty success end of section 18 recording by Tom Hirsch section 19 Japanese heroism this LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by Tom Hirsch Japan, amidst all the records of its modern progress must certainly count the honor of having properly recognized the value of the general in his army before the old Christian countries of Europe did so the army's beginning in Japan was almost laughable in its feebleness the little company of officers sent out by the general in 1895 were indeed truly devoted and in their anxiety to be from the first as Japanese to the Japanese were so taken in whilst holding in Hong Kong that they landed in the most extraordinary garments and it was a long time before they seemed likely to make any impression upon the non-Christian Japanese but upon the Christians they undoubtedly made from the first an excellent mark with all their lack of knowledge of the language there could be no mistake about their willingness to learn and to be the servants it was clear that they possessed those two great qualifications for apostolic success an unlimited readiness for hard work and an unbounded faith in the will and power of Christ to save their first interpreter a student anxious to do his uttermost for Christ and his country was speedily won over completely to their side and as he was already known amongst the pressmen this became a very great help to the progress of their work generally yet under several successive leaders they toiled on for some years with but little prospect the language is one of the most difficult imaginable for foreigners to learn and although there was from the first great liberty as to the open-air meetings and congregations were gathered at the doors and into the little halls that were contrived out of shops and dwelling houses it seemed likely to prove slow work to raise a Japanese force but all at once in 1902 God gave the little company a great opportunity for years already some faithful Japanese under missionary influences had been lamenting the position of the girls given over to immorality and had cared for life from the rest of the community and kept under police supervision in a special quarter called the yushiara of each city as well as cut off from all hopes of the gospel a law had indeed been passed allowing such girls as might wish to abandon their awful calling to do so but it was so administered as practically to remain a dead letter thought our leaders should we not issue a special edition of our war cry explaining Christ's love and power to save the deepest sunken in sin and our rescue work and then go and sell it in the yushiara the idea was carried out and to all appearance the first day with wonderful success the great companies of pleasure seekers saw in the paper a novelty of interest and bought and read it eagerly but it was far too great a success to please the brothel keepers who at once hired men to attack the war cry sellers should they repeat their invasion when it became known that our officers had thus been attacked reporters of the Tokyo and Yokohama papers hurried to see the for Japan unusual sight and then the whole press of the country came out strongly on our side we were fully recognized as the loving friends of the friendless and oppressed and from that day our standing in the country was assured not many girls were gathered into our little rescue home but thousands learned the way of escape from their houses of bondage and within a few years many thousands returned to their old homes all over the country it should be explained that the brothels were really supplied as a result of the heroic devotion of the girls to their parents and homes it was common for a girl in any time of extra want or destitution to suggest or consent to her sale to one of the bad houses for the relief of her family this fact however of course increased both the national sympathy for the victims and the high appreciation of our care for them but the main thing after all in all this action was the revelation of an army unable as yet to make itself well understood in words but capable of thus manifesting its resolution to fight for the liberation of all men from the power of sin we had issued already a common people's gospel written by our chief secretary colonel vama moro which gave a very clear explanation of our teachings and system this book was not only a sort of harmony of the gospels but explained how we understand and teach the salvation Christ bought for all of us this gospel came to be appreciated and utilized by almost all the missions in the country and greatly helped us also in making clear our meaning to the nation by its sale as well as that of the war cry throughout the country very many even those who were too far off for it to be possible for them to attend any of our meetings were led to Christ and thus steadily though slowly we made our way until we had cores in most of the great cities and became known generally where there were thinking and reading people our halls were and still are very small it being almost impossible to find either large ones hireable or large spaces available for building upon in the great cities yet marvelous were the displays of God's power to save in the little rooms which were packed to the doors night after night and in the open air meetings our leaders in the country for several years were officers who amidst the multitudes of India or of the slums of London had seen how souls could be won in spite of every outward disadvantage by the irresistible power of the Holy Ghost and thus the numbers of our Japanese soldiers and officers steadily grew just as in England men who had been notorious in sin became equally notorious witnesses for Jesus Japan is a great country for holiday festivals when all the streets are by day be flagged and by night illuminated with Chinese lanterns almost the whole population turning out on such occasions our troops naturally made the most of such days and it became a common thing to see men and even women kneeling in the open air meeting to seek salvation so when it was announced in 1907 that the General was coming Japan resolved to give him a welcome such as he had never had before that a man should undertake at 78 years of age such a journey was felt to be a tribute both to the country and to the man himself and there was a desire if anything more in non-Christian than Christian circles and do him honor tell him said a Tokyo editor that he is coming to a country such as he has never before visited which can appreciate self-sacrifice as we have shown in the late war and from the moment when his steamer entered Yokohama Harbour to that of his departure nothing was omitted that could open his way to the ears and hearts of the entire nation I had the pleasure myself to witness those unforgettable scenes and to notice the General's own astonishment at the universal interest of the people in each city he found the railway station decorated a platform was erected generally in some public space whence he could address the multitudes who came out to hear him the largest public buildings were crowded for his indoor services and hundreds came out publicly in reply to his appeals for their surrender to Christ not only was he received by the late Emperor in his palace and welcomed to every provincial centre by the governors of the provinces and the mayors of the cities but again and again the most eminent men gave him opportunities to plead with them for Christ what a sight it was the platform crowded with all the chief men of a city singing like the rest of the audience stand up, stand up for Jesus the General was accepted by almost unanimous consent as representing a life of entire self-abandonment to the glory of God and the salvation of the lost and far beyond anything even that at the moment appeared was his campaign a general victory for the Saviour there could be no mistake as to the message he delivered for even to the vast crowds of students gathered in the quadrangle of the University or in and around the theatre of Kobe to hear him he stood and cried in no new terms although with due adaptation to their ways of thought just as he might have cried to any English audience that God demanded and deserved a wholehearted life long service from everyone what asked the ambassador of a great power do you really want me to come out onto the stage and confess my sins before everybody when a woman officer invited him to one of the general's last meetings had his excellency done so no Japanese would have thought anything beneath the highest human dignity for they all recognized the value of that courage for Christ and his war which the general personified to them we are still few in number in struggling hard for victory in Japan for the very appreciation of all that is excellent tends to create in the people a self satisfaction that fortifies them against all appeals for repentance but one of the leading officials of the Japanese home office has recently paid a tribute to the general's helpfulness to every people Mr. Tomioka says in his society and humanity after having studied the army in England and America as well as in Japan that he considers it to be the greatest and most successful organization in the world for dealing with and helping the poor and unfortunate classes of society it's our success to the following reasons the great personality of the general whose character greatly resembled that of his divine master the founder of Christianity our aggressive spirit ever marching on like the Japanese soldiers in the last war with Russia our adaptation to the circumstances of every country our straightforward and practical way of preaching salvation our principle of self support teaching men and women to help themselves our scientific and business like methods as distinct from mere sentimentality some day surely men equally eminent in other countries will begin to speak as heartily and thoughtfully of the general's life work that the great Mikado to whose wisdom and energy Japan owed so much of its great renewal and entry amongst the civilized nations should have passed into eternity only a few months before the founder of a wider and grander because spiritual empire is an interesting fact the Mikado received our general in spite of every court usage that might have hindered because he found that all the great leaders and heroes of Japan like their press saw in him the personification of the highest and noblest purpose for every land and every people the Japanese government gave our officers women as well as men a liberty of access to their prisoners greater than we as yet possess in this and most other Christian countries because they saw the value of our love for the victims of sin and our power by God's grace to inspire them with hope for themselves how many more years I wonder will it take other nations to follow this common sense example end of section 19 recording by Tom Hirsch