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

IN Army his eightieth birthday
A very remarkable man-on the
whole, 1 think the most remarkable
man of his times-for sixty five years
he has toiled without ceasing for the
one purpose of helping his fellow men,
as, according to his faith, they needed
help. In these labors he has created
from his own interchangeable brain the
great, wonderful worldwide, perfectly
organized, smoothly working, efficient,
ably of6cered, tireless, restless Saliva
ton Army, whose flag now flies in fif-
ty-four different countries and colo
MES, whose officers number 16,199,
whose S.35S corps and outposts carry
on a gigantic and faultless plan of
campaign in thirty-one different Ian
guages and whose converts and bene-
ficiaries, helped men and rescued wo-
men, saved children and Hghtened
lives, if any one could count them,
would mount into millions upon mil
lions.
And now he has crowned it all with
a unique beneficence-a University of
Humanity, a great, broad school he
has planned in which to train men and
women to deal with misfortune. He
begins the raising of the endowment
fund of $1,000, 900 on his birthday and
has planned branches for New York
and Chicago.
All this is the product of one mans
heart and brain. 1 do not know that,
as a matter of fact, any other man
ever stood in any such position toward
the world. Merely as an example of
the potentiality of human achievement
I doubt if it be possible to cite any
thing so extraordinary in history. With
General Booths fundamental theology
one may have no particular sympathy,
and yet one is bound to admit that
even to the wording the grandeur, the
extent and the impeccable success of
this mans life work seem on inspec-
ton something overwhelming. We test
by results.
You ought to know this man; he is
good to know; he raises the human
average. Let me see if 1 can help you
to his acquaintance.
Here is the worst region of a dread
full Slum in the heart of an English
factory city, on all sides the brood
ing darkness of poverty, dismal streets,
forlorn dwellings, hopeless people; at
a corner a crowd of the ragged and
dirty; in the center thereof on an up
turned box. a singularly handsome and
passionately earnest boy preaching.
He is sixteen years old or thereabout,
slender of frame, clear of voice, won
dercully ready of speech. His gray
eyes burn and glow. There is a kind
of apostolic flame in every word.
while he pleads the crowd, products
of the savage conditions of modern life
and debased by british toll, jeer and
laugh and offer comment of the hee-
haw order of wit. Finding these have
no effect, some ruffians hurl at the
young preacher pebbles, decayed vege-
tables, clods, two or three dead cats.
Some of the missiles hit him in the
face, some on the body. some go wide.
He shows not the least resentment; he
only smiles in a kindly, patient way,
very moving, and goes on preaching
as before. At the end he brushes from
his clothes the marks of the missiles
and cordially invites his hearers to go
with him to the chapel.
A ragged rout follows him, part Gu
rious, part defiant, part touched with
the fire and pathos of the young mans
fervent appeal So wretched and tat
tered is the appearance of these peo-
pie from the slums that at the re-
spectabIe chapel they are turned from
the front door and obliged to enter at
the rear of the building. The young
man leads them in, finds benches for
them. seats himself among them At
every opportunity he gives them words
of comfort and cheer, presses their
hands. urges upon them the hope and
security of the Christian. He goes
nzs-onE them encouraging all. AS the