The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-03-26

ices were like and looked in. Some
thing about the ardent fervor of the
worshipers aroused his interest. He
remained until the close of the meet
ing and returned to the next The more
he saw the more he was impressed.
In the end he underwent what is call
ed conversion, and, with his mothers
full consent, became a member of the
Methodist church.
At once he asked for work that he
might share with others the peculiar
satisfaction and joy that he felt in his
new relation-a characteristic desire,
since he has all his life craved en-
ployment as other men crave repose
and has all his life held the first OBJ
ject of his industry to be his fellow
man. They gave him work in the
Slums, particularly a place called the
Narrow Meadows-most inappropri-
ately, since nothing like meadows ex
lists within miles, and the terrible re-
gion is closely packed with the grimy
and forbidding house5 of the poorest
people in Nottingham. 1t was here, a
beardless boy, without experience or
training, lifting up his voice to some of
the most melancholy wrecks on the
human tide, that he began his career
as a preacher, stoned and derided and
reviled for his pains, Offering a heart
of his kind and taking with unruffled
submission the buffets in his face.
He was employed as a clerk in the
daytime; it was only in the evening
after o'clock that he was free to
preach. He must be at his work early
in the morning, and his health was so
frail that his friends often deSpaired
of him, and physician solemnly warn
ed him against exposure or overexer-
he resolutely put aside. pursuing with
out hesitation the course he had chart
ed for himself and looking calmly upon
his life or his death if he could win
men to what he was convinced was the
state of salvation. A young friend and
coworker fell at his side, stricken
dead in the prayer meeting. If all ac-
counts were true it should be Booths
own turn next With unconcern he
viewed that imminent probability; he
would go when the Lord called him;
meantime he would rest not, but save
souls.
These were the days, from sixteen to
twenty when, still earning his living
in his commercial employment he was
devQting his nights to street preaching
in the byways and purlieus of the Not
tingham slums. At the end of his ad-
dress he would at first invite his
tage meeting was in progress. Soon
his followers became too numerous to
be contained in any house, and he led
them to the chapel, where rude benches
were procured for their separate oc-
cupation and where he sat among
them. Even then, so young he was
filled to the brim with one magnificent
thought above all others-to wit, that
the least fortunate most needed help
and that as there was no depth of deg
radiation that could separate man
from the love of God there was none
that could separate any man from the
love and care of his brother 1 do not
know that it is possible for the human
mind to entertain a nobler conception,
and this man was all on fire with it.
Discerning persons, taking note of
the moving eloquence and power of
this young man, urged him to enter
the ministry. His physician examined
him and told him that with such a
physique he could not for twelve
months endure a minister's life. Thus