The San Francisco call., 1895-11-17
CONv|CTS TO MRS, BOOTH,
Letter From San Quentin tc
the Fair Salvation Army
LeAer.
What Led to the Little COMMANDERS
Dramatic Address at the State
Prison.

That was a dramatic scene within the
walls of old San Quentin when Mrs.
Ballington Booth, the pretty little COM
mandress of the Salvation Army forces Of
this country, addressed the SCARED vet
erans of sin as comrades" Nothing had
so affected the soldiers behind the bars for
many years. 1t brought back visions of q
mother, or sister, or wife-some good
woman that was the deity of her sex to
them.
The New York War Cry of yesterday
publishes this letter that led to Mrs.
Booth making the address so memorable
to the inmates of the State prison:
SAN QUENTIN, October, 1895
To Hrs. II. B. Booth, ConelGndreSs of the SdlvG-
ton Army-OUR DEAR CoMaANDREsS: AS mes
senger of God, an untiring worker for the
one whose articles in the War Cry Especially
in the Mems COlumn) have been great source
OF instruction and counsel to us, your name
has for some time been familiar to US, and has
been to us the personifcation of an angel OF
mercy, and your words encouragement in
times of trials and troubles. But since read
ing the extracts from your diary in the War
Cry, where you gave us a glance of your pri-
vate life, and unintentionally revealed to us
your character in the most lovable form-an
affec ctionate wife and mother-you have made
yourself more dear to us than ever, when we
remember our own loving mothers and our
own childhood days, so we eagerly look in
each War Cry If there is anything from your
pen, and we shall all follow with the greatest
interest the reports OF your tour through this
division, and our interest will extend incl
dentally to your sleeping partner and A. ID. c.,
Staff Captain Edith Marshall.
We (he members of the State Prison Corps
herewith extend to you and your A. D. G. a sin.
cere and hearty welcome on your safe arrival
at the Pacific Coast. We would only be too
happy to greet you personally, but God, in his
all-wise and far.seeing providence, has deemed
1T best for US to be confined behind prison bars.
AT the same time, he gives us power and
strength to serve, honor and obey him. We
are struggling amid his greatest enem1es and
have many struggle and trial with them, but
we have come out successful. We have been
sworn into the ranks of the army little over
year now, and have no cause TO regret our
enlistment under the Blood-and-Fire Banner.
We have had God and victory on our side,
thanks be to his sustaining and Keeping power,
and, although some OF us may have to give up
nevertheless, we are happy and joyful in the
Lord; for ii the Lord the Mighty is for us, who
will be against US? They may keep this, our
body, incarcerated, but we reckon that the suit
fering is not worthy to be compared with the
glory which shall be revealed in u.s..
We would be more than thankful to be
granted the opportunity of listening to the
words of encouragement from your own lips,
but that is not to be thought OF, and more than
we dare ask. We will earnestly pray that God
will give; you the power ana Strength - 10 0 40
will point to your visit as the means of sh ow-
ing them the true and right way of serving the
Master and that on that great judgment day
YOU will see many on the right hand of the
Lord and you will hear the voice: "Well done,
thou good and faithful servant; see the many
you have gathered around thy Master S
throne"
We should also be delighted to hear the ten.
thousandth auxiliary answer to the rOllcall OF
the staff captain before your return home.
We can report progress here, some souls COM
ing out to serve the Master, and some being 6
under deep conviction. We, therefore, earn
estly ask you to remember US in your prayers.
that we may prove steadfast and loyal to God
and the army, and that we may be real bless
ing and comfort to our many unfortunate COM
panions here, and that we may be able to point
out to them the Giver of all blessings and joy,
the Comforter in all sorrows and troubles; to
him who has said, "Come unto me, all ye that
labor and are neavy laden, and will give you
rest" and Though your sins be as scarlet, they
shall be made whittier than snow"
Praying that your visit will result in large
numbers of souls saved, and all your future
undertakings be abundantly blessed, also ask
ing you to have the kindness, on your safe re-
turn home to remember us to our beloved
commander, and that Gods grace and richest
blessings may abide with you, our dear COM
mandress, the commander, your children and
your A. D. c., forever and ever, is the dearest
wish of the San Quentin State Prison Saliva
tion Army Corps. ERNST WIN. WEBER. :.