The Julesburg grit-advocate., 1911-10-12
General william 0eeth.

matter Of fact. the Salvation Army has
passed through its earlier trials: 1t has
become an established institution in
our midst.
Apart from his distinctly religious
work. General Booth is chiefly inter-
esting ~ almost the only Briton of
our time who has made any distinct
impression upon any considerable
number of foreigners. No doubt Her
bert Spencer had a great influence
upon thinkers. and Darwin a still
greater; but neither Darwin nor Her
bert Spencer is . personality to any
OF those whose whole philosophy of
life has been more or less colored BY
their teachings.
anything approaching to personal in
fiuence on the continent and he was
to a certain degree an International
man. Lord Rosebery runs over to
Italy every now and then. but he
neither desires nor seeks to exert an
influence which comes from personal
contact with the people in foreign
lands.
Booths Continental Labers.
General Booth stands alone a. the
one man who addresses public meet
ings abroad. and is in active living
contact with at least some depart
ments Of the national life Of foreign
ers. Curiously enough. he is innocent
of any other language but his own. but
he has addressed vast audiences in
nearly every capital on the continent,
and In this respect General Booths DO.
sition is unique.
In all northern Europe. with the ex-
ceptton Of Russia, and not excepting
Finland. We will find men and women
banded together as organized units Of
the organization of which General
Booth is the founder and chief, but his
influence is not confined to Europe.
He has on several occasions Travelled
through the United States and Can
ada, and everywhere vast crowds gath
cred together to hear the words Of life
from his lips.
He has visited Australia and India:
In fact, he has become one of the
shuttles in the loom of the empire.
and he is probably the only British re-
ligious teacher who is equally popular
at home and In English-speaking lands.
II all mankind are brothers, as We are
supposed to believe, General Booth de-
serves credit for being probably one
who knows more members of the fam
lily to speak to than any other living
man.
The man in the street." who for
some time past has been more or less
glorying in the extent of the influence
Of Britain and the might and majesty
of the British name, may at least re-
feet profitably upon the fact that Gen
eral Booth has done more to familiar
ize the nations of the world with Brit
ish ideas and British energy than any
other living person.
Notwithstanding all his limitations,
General Booth is a great and good
man and will go down to posterity as
a great organizer of social reform,
rather than as the leader of new re-
ligious movement. He has always
caught the changing situation on the
change and he has grown with grow
ing demands.
The young man who wandered about
Mile End waste wondering what could
be done for this perverse generation
the tall, spare form Of the head Of the
army. with his hooked nose and his
hair showed by many winters-the old
man with an army of thousands BE-
hind him; commissariat, medical serv-
ice. all arrayed. the accounts in or
der: prophet philanthropist, organ
izer OF victory-we can scarcely sum
up that fiery old man in a phrase.
Not only do people recognize the gen.
eral. but accord him the tribute Of love
and respect.