The Washington herald., 1909-04-11

weakness and sins OF the drunkard. the
criminal. the pauper. and the woald-be
suicide"
William Booth was bora In Noting
ham. England. His fsthe- was a mer-
chant for q time fairly well 70 do: his
mother a sanity woman OF unusual mind.
The family WIS earnestly Episcopalian
When he was only nfteen years old
young Booth wandered purposelessly one
night into a Methodist chapel Being
deeply impressed with the feeling and
sincerity Of the worshipers there. ne
went again. with the result that he ey-
perienced what is called conversion. and
with the fun consent or his mother (his
father had died some years before he
became a member OF the Methodist
church, says the Chicago Record Herald
From the beginning he accepted the
Bible literally. With an his heart anc
soul and mind he believed that the pun
ishment OF sin was eternal, that the
atonement OF Christ offered the only sal
walton. Having been saved himself he
was all anre with the conviction that he
must save other men.
To this end he started out. a boy, fif-
teen or sixteen years old. as field or lay
preacher. holding services in the slum
streets Of Nottingham. standing on
chair or a box al a corner while he
preached and pleaded Although so young
and inexperienced he had a wonderful
gift Of oratory. Always he led a crowd
from his street services 10 some cottage
or chapel meeting. and was thrilled ~
see the penitents knsel in prayer Ruf-
fans tried 10 break up his meetings. Pelt-
inG him with stones and fifth, sconers
were wont 10 bomhsrd him with jeers
and clumsy wiz He recented nothing.
defended himself against nothing. but.
smiling quietly while the verbal and ma
tcrial missiles few pleaded on for souls.
His mothers circumstances had be
come reduced: ne must work for his
bread in an occupation that kept him
busy until clock in the evening Yet
every night be was IaborinG somewhere
in the cause that he esteemed the only
important thing in the world. and on sun
day he walked into The country and
preached IN local chaDels or in the fields.
When he was twenty the exigencies Of
earning his bread took him 20 London.
where. without q pause. he threw himself
INFO tue work in the great slums Of the
East End. In cew months he was
favorite and well-knoWn preacher On
Nav -. 1855, he was regularly ordained a
minister Of the Methodist church.
Before that he added 20 his life one OF
the most profound and helpful Influences.
Cne Sunday William Booth. preaching in
a Clapham chapel had among his audi
tors Catherine Mumford a young wou~
an as jealous. as earnest. as much the
primitive Cc-istian as himself. She was
deeply Impressed with the sermon; she
thought ii the greatest sermon she had
ever heard When, a short time aTter-
ward, they were introduced they fell in
love with each other. Two years later
they were married. II was an ideal
UniCn Catherine MUmford was Of extra
ordinary force Of character. strong. res0-
lutte. wise executive and yet gentle She
and her husband worked together alb
sorbed I'm one am, oblivOus 20 everything
else always poor and usually penniless.
but. according 10 invariable testimony,
always happy.
The young minister began his career as
an evangelist. After a few years the
Methodist conference wished 10 change
his work and make him pastor He
believed his call was TO evangelical work.
and. on point Of conscience. he left the
denomination and lsbored unattached in
the revival field
From the beginning his sympathies had
been wholly with the poorest: he believed
that his mission vas TO the least fortu-
nate and most neglected of MS fellow
crestures and his preference was always