Warren sheaf. [volume] (Warren, Marshall County, Minn.) 1880-current, 1912-09-12
MEMORIAL SERMON UPON
GENERAL BOOTH .
By the Rev. A. A. Myers, Of the NJ. E. church,
Warren, Mimi, Sunday morning, Aug Is, 1912

man, had within him the glorious pos
sibility of being transformed into a
Ichild OF God. What to them was West
Minister Abbey or St Paul's Cathe-
dral? What to them was the most mo-
dest church? Any such edifce might
be in their midst for fifty years and
they would have no inclination to en-
ter its portico. II such people would
go to them. Who was there to make
a break in the respectable and estab-
lished order of things and reclaim the
sinful multitudes? Failing the Bishop,
the Canon, the Arehdeacon and the
clergyman, enter the plain but power
| full William Booth. He begins the
work, he does the work, and many
rise up to call him blessed. And as
the prophet says. There went out
to him company of men whose
hearts God had touched For tho
commanded by one man, the organi-
cation was a many-sided one and
comprised officers ofahigh and low
degree as well as the rank and file.
The work thus begun in England
extended to America and all parts Of
the world. At first, scoffed at, abus-
ed and prosecuted, this Army eventu-
ally became force to be reckoned
with. Among those who otherwise,
would have been untouched, it has
wrought marvelously, and not only
that, but by it's influence it has called
into being large mission halls in great
cities under the auspices of wealthy
churches that have in turn ministered
to the masses.
Advance ground was also taken by
General Booth for the Improvement
of the social lie of the people. His
book, ''In Darkest England and the
Way Out" produced as great a sensa-
ton as that hero of the Titanic, w. T.
Stead's book, "lf Christ came to Chi
cago" The revelations there made
sent the shivers thru persons Of
wealth, and caused the loosening Of
their purse-strings in practical at
tempts to carry out the plans laid
down for the social regeneration Of
the poor, the distressed, the unfortu-
nate, and the criminal. The scheme
was a comprehensive one, and the
adoption Of such measures for general
talelief' lifted the Army into the lime
light Of publicity and popularity and
it was now patronized by titled peo-
PIE Development was rapid and the
days Of opposition and ridcule were
passed.
Official recognition by King Edward
| VIII. still further enhanced the repu-
tation in which General Booth was
held, and the aristocracy We'd with
one another in entertaining him and
! supporting the enterprises in which
he was engaged. His automobile tour
thru Great Britain reads like a ro-
nance and appears more applicable to
, some military zero, than to a leader
in the hosts of the humble Nazarene.
He was received by the Mayor and
Councillors in their robes Of office,
addresses Of welcome and eulogy
were read, elaborate banuuets were
given and in several instances, the
freedom Of the city was conferred.
Like that other aggressive arouser
Of the former century, it might be
said of Booth that "the world" was
his parish. Many parts of the cart
were visited. In most of the lessulng
cities in Canada and the United
States, multitudes met this wonder
full man, and heard the clarion call
delivered by that melodious voice Of
life. AS long as strength allowed
. he was in labors abundant anu II w al
with the utmost reluctance that he
confined himself to the house. AS
Gladstone was the grand old man in
politics, Booth was. the grand old man
in religion.
Robust in body. keen in intellect,
magnanimous Of heart, Christ-ike in
spirit, he will take his place among
the greatest men Of modern times as
an organizer and uplifter. His body
4, may not be buried in Westminster
Abbey among the illustrious dead, but
his name will be engraved upon tab
lets more enduring than marble and
4 will be held in everlasting remem
! brance among the first, the noble, the
true, and the pure.
I The life Of General Booth is anotl
er striking demonstration Of the fac
1 that the path Of the righteous is {
luminous one-high, glorious and tri