On April 9,1865, Lee met Grant in the parlor of a private home at Appomattox
Court House. He surrendered his army and brought an end to four long years of
death and devastation called the Civil War. In the same year a 36 year old
Englishman by the name of William Booth declared war on the powers of darkness
by founding the Salvation Army.
One of the most effective weapons in General Booth's arsenal was fervent prayer.
It was not unusual for Booth to hold "an all night of prayer" when he came to
preach the Word of God. People would flood the altars every where he went. "The
power of God was wonderfully manifest in the meetings . . . People were
frequently, struck down, overwhelmed with a sense of the presence and power of
God."
The Salvation Army's success at freeing the captives was uncanny, especially
when one considers those who it strived to reach. General Booth's battle cry was
"Go for souls and go for the worst." The worst of sinners were saved, saloons
were closed and entire cities were shaken.
Booth's success attracted not only supporters but also enemies. Those who served
in the Army were pelted with hot coals, sprayed with tar and burning sulphur,
beat, stoned and even kicked to death in the streets. The Salvation Army
resisted their enemies with a cheerful "God bless you", and a prayer. General
Booth, himself was often in the thick of it. When spit on during the Midlands
tour, Booth encouraged his fellow soldiers, "Don't rub it off - it's a medal!"
Night after night Booth would come home bleeding and bruised after being
attacked for preaching in the slums of England. After such nights of testing he
would take his wife's hand and say, "Kate, let me pray with you." After praying
with Catherine he would rise from his knees armed with fresh courage and hope.
Booth needed all the valor his wife Catherine could inspire in him. She
encouraged him, "if we get tired we had better go and be done with, anything is
better than a dead church." Despite the grinding pressures of the ministry the
Booths had a happily united family. The General had nine children and loved to
play and romp with them, especially in their favorite game of "Fox and Geese."
Once while traveling, General Booth's car was detained. He took advantage of the
opportunity and exhorted some idle factory workers. He said, "some of you men
never pray, you gave up praying long ago. But I'm going to say to you, won't you
pray for your children that they may be different?" Within minutes 700 men knelt
in silent prayer.
At another time, two Salvation Army officers set out to found a new work, only
to meet with failure and opposition. Frustrated and tired they appealed to the
General to close the rescue mission. General Booth sent back a telegram with two
words on it, "TRY TEARS." They followed his advice and they witnessed a mighty
revival.
During the course of William Booths ministry he traveled 5,000,000 miles and
preached 60,000 sermons. God help us in this desperate and distracted day in
which we live to heed the General's advice. "Work as if everything depended upon
your work, and pray as if everything depended upon your prayer."
With permission from Job Anbalagan
gloryofhiscross@yahoo.co.in
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