The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-02-28
ADDRESSED BY
THEIR FOUNDER
General Booth Leads q
Day With God in
Oakland.
Uses the Maine Incident to
Close Forcible
Argument.
Enormous Crowds Gather at the
Theater on All These
Occasions.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
sos Broadway. Feb. u.

Oakland Office San Francisco Call,
90S Broadway, Feb. q.
In the middle of the platform in the
Macdonough Theater, three times to-
day, prayed and spoke the most unique
Individual that has ever been seen in
Oakland's playhouse.
Surrounded on the stage by four hun
dred Of his officers and facing an au-
dience that filed every seat and corner
from floor to dome, General Booth
conducted a day with God and gave
three addresses in his usual dramatic,
logical and convincing language.
The Macdonough Theater has never
contained such an audience. Not even
Steve Brodie or 1.-The Girl From Paris"
is as strong an attraction as General
Booth AS the white-haired old man
stands erect 1t is impossible to look at
him without letting the mind go back
to that little hall in Mile-end Road,
London, where less than thirty years
ago the Salvation Army had It's birth.
The scope Of its present work was
shown to some extent by the procession
which for several blocks, accompanied
by two brass bands, passed through the
streets of Oakland twice during the
day There were colored faces, some
Chinese officers. others who spoke with
a strong Yankee accent, while few
were so English in their language that
one almost expected to see hackney
cabs and tramcars bowling along be-
side them.
The orchestra was filled with must
clans such as the Macdonough hitherto
knew not of. Every player, from the
cornetist to the bass drum operator,
wore a red shirt with an army crest
upon it. with the exception of one lady
who handled an alto horn.
The big audience was composed Of
ministers and judges, attorneys, men
about town and of many classes that
are not usually seen at religious gath
erings. During the whole of the day
there was not single vacant seat and
not soul moved during the adj
dresses.
General Booth Is a dramatic speaker.
He has a tremendous command Of his
voice, which permits him to shout or
whisper with equal distinctness. AT
times during his impassioned moments
he falls on his knees and pleads with
remarkable force. Another instant he
will be jumping around, his long arms
raised toward the ceiling. while h
forces some special point.
In the morning he took for his SUBJ
ject, "All things are possible to them
that believe" and his discourse was
largely along the lines Of personal holt
ness.
This afternoon he drew some power
full pictures from the old story of Ana
Mas and Sapphire.
Whether you like it or not" said he.
II want to tell you some truths. There
may be ministers in Oakland and Sal
walton officers, too, for all are Gods
servants, who believe they can bring
about practical results in the hearts OF
mankind by relying upon themselves
entirely. l have had over half CEN
fury Of experience along these lines,
and 1 can truthfully say that I have
not accomplished anything except
through the working of God in me-"
After reciting the story of the two
ancient liars, and making special ref
erence to the keeping back" part of
the price, the general drew the follow
ing dramatic word picture. suiting his
gestures to the different phases of his
story:
"A man and a woman are united in
wedlock. On their knees they promise
God that the outcome of their mar
riage shall be dedicated solely to his
honor and glory. BY and by an an
gelic-faced bright-eyed little babe
comes along-a gift from the Almighty,
sacred trust. 1t is clasped by it's pa
rents in their arms, and falling on
their knees they return thanks to the
Almighty for his gift and again renew
their vows. AS the little one grows it's
intellect develops, one friend after an
other sees something to praise about it.
suggests this and proposes that and
there arises an element Of vanity in
the parents for their child This in
creases as 1t grows up, they decide to
train 1T this way and that way any
way but that which they had promised
it should follow. 1t Is educated along
certain lines, great attention is paid
to special subjects, and what for? To
make a success in the world: eventu-
ally, to become servant Of the devil
and ultimately to perish eternally.
This is the result Of keeping back a
part Of the price"
A few minutes later the general had
gone from pathos to sentiment.
Whoever gained anything by going
back on the Lord?" shouted the gem
eral with his arms extended when
we make q bargain with our fellow
man we intend to keep it, and as a rule
we do keep it. 1t is just as criminal
and wicked to repudiate bargain be-
tween the conscience and God as be-
tween man and man.
@ God is not Knocked You can q
g not mock your fellow man; you 9
o cannot mock the Government OF O
@ the United States; you cannot o
@ take advantage of anybody be- 6
g cause they will seek redress. o
@ God Is not Knocked any more O
@ than this country can be 8
o Knocked. The Government of the y
Q United States Is at this very in o
g slant proclaiming to the world o
Q in no uncertain tones, and to one o
@ country especially, that 1t will o
@ not be Knocked, and If it shall o
O be found that ii has been Knocked @
Q you all know the result that will Q
. follow. 1t is SO with God. Com o
o pacts cannot be broken with i'm o
Q punity." o
@ @ |
''Fifty-two years ago I became a
Christian, and from that day to this
have never been content with Keeping
my religion to myself. l always want |
ed some one else to share it, knowing |