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William Booth (1829 – 1912)
William Booth founded the Salvation Army and maybe you’ve heard of the Salvation Army and it does not make you think of an extreme, life transforming group living on the edge, BUT let me tell you about its founder who was definitely all of these things!
William was born in Nottingham in 1829 and for the first 13 years of his life things were fine, but at 13 years of age his parents went bankrupt and he was taken out of school and sent to work as an apprentice at a pawnbrokers. At 15 his dad died and he became head of the house.
As he searched for meaning in his life he heard these words at a Wesleyan Chapel he attended and it changed his life:
“A soul dies every minute!”
Destiny & Early Days
William eventually left the pawnbrokers as his heart was for the lost and he became a minister. However, he left traditional church aged 32 to follow his destiny after they would not release him to pursue what God had burned on his heart.
Booth started preaching and in Cornwall saw 7,000 men converted in a revival. He was then invited to hold tent meetings in London and it was when he wandered the Mile End Road he discovered his calling.
He saw homeless orphans searching for rotten fruit in gutters, five year old children passed out on bar room floors drunk from drinking gin, mothers forcing beer down babies throats, alcoholics, prostitutes, gamblers, savage men fighting and much more...
He returned home and told Catherine, his wife, “Darling I’ve found my destiny.”
They started out by showing God’s love –
Opposition
It wasn’t easy in the beginning and William would often return home bruised, bleeding and his clothes torn.
William’s motto was ‘Go for souls and go for the worst’
When he was spat on he would not let anyone wipe it off and called it his medal of honour along with his cuts and bruises!
In the early days the Salvation Army would suffer all kinds of abuse and attacks from those they were trying to help and tell the ‘good news’ to. However, Booth gained a personal bodyguard when a big tough Irish prize-fighter named Peter Monk got saved. Crowds would silence when Monk walked to the front and stood with arms folded. Many knew of his exploits as a prize-fighter and knew better than to upset him!
Due to the success of the Salvation Army the Skeleton Army was formed. This was an opposition group hired by bar and brothel owners who were losing money as the Salvation Army won souls. They would attend meetings and attack the Salvation Army members with clubs and beat them severely.
Susannah Beaty
Susannah Beaty – was the first Salvation Army martyr when she had rocks thrown at her and was kicked and left to die – this happened in the UK!
To begin with the police would not even help or protect the Salvation Army, but as people saw that the Salvation Army continued regardless and did not fight back public opinion changed and got behind them and the police started to protect them!
New Converts & The Bands
You can well imagine the kind of response from most respectable churches when William tried to get his new converts, who were less than respectable, bedded into the local churches... The doors were closed!
The Salvation Army is known for its brass bands nowadays, but it all started as a way to get a crowd, so that the gospel could be preached. William even had the bands learn and play the popular tunes of the day, but with Christian lyrics!
He said: “Why should the Devil have all the best tunes!”
Catherine Booth
Catherine Booth was a power house of a woman too. Read this extract from Roberts Liardon’s book God’s Generals – The Revivalists:
“With a heart full of gratitude and eyes full of tears, I was thinking where I should go next, when I observed a woman standing on an adjoining doorstep with a jug in her hand. My divine teacher said, “Speak to that woman.” Satan suggested, “Perhaps she is intoxicated” but after a momentary struggle I introduced myself to her by saying, “Are the people out who live on this floor?” observing that the lower part of the house was closed. “Yes,” she said, “they are gone to chapel.” I thought I perceived a weary sadness in her voice and manner. I said, “Oh, I am so glad to hear that; how is it that you are not gone to a place of worship?” “Me,” she said, looking down upon her forlorn appearance; “I can’t go to chapel, I am kept at home by a drunken husband. I have to stop with him to keep him from the public house, and I have just been fetching him some drink.” I expressed my sorrow for her, and asked if I might come in and see her husband. “No,” she said, “he is drunk; you could do nothing with him now.” I replied, “I do not mind his being drunk, if you will let me come in; I am not afraid; he will not hurt me.” “Well,” said the woman, “you can come in if you like; but he will only abuse you.” I said, “Never mind that,” and followed her up the stairs.
I felt strong now in the Lord and in the power of His might, and as safe as a babe in the arms of its mother. I realized that I was in the path of obedience, and I feared no evil.
The woman led me to a small room on the first floor, where I found a fine, intelligent man, about forty, sitting almost double in a chair, with a jug by his side, out of which he had been drinking. I leaned on my Heavenly Guide for strength and wisdom, love and power, and He gave me all I needed. He silenced the demon, strong drink, and quickened the man’s perceptions to receive my words. As I began to talk to him, with my heart full of sympathy, he gradually raised himself in his chair, and listened with a surprised and half-vacant stare. I spoke to him of his present deplorable condition, of the folly and wickedness of his course, of the interest of his wife and children, until he was fully aroused from the stupor in which I found him. I read to him the parable of the Prodigal Son, while the tears ran down his face like rain. I then prayed with him as the Spirit gave me utterance, and left, promising to call the next day with a pledge book, which he agreed to sign.
I now felt that my work was done. Exhausted in body but happy in soul, I wended my way to the sanctuary, just in time for the conclusion of the service and to lend a helping hand in the prayer meeting.
On the following day I visited this man again. He signed my pledge, and listened attentively to all I said. Full of hope I left him, to find another similarly lost and fallen. From that time I commenced a systematic course of house-to-house visitation, devoting two evenings per week to the work. The Lord so blessed my efforts that in a few weeks I succeeded in getting ten drunkards to abandon their soul-destroying habits, and to meet me once a week for reading Scriptures and for prayer.” (Page 410 – 412)
Gone to Glory
Before William Booth died he had travelled 5 million miles and launched the Salvation Army in 58 countries aside from all he had done in East London and the UK!
William Booth averaged 23 converts a day!
More than 150,000 people filed past his casket to pay their respects and 40,000 people attended his service including Queen Mary who snuck in and sat next to a woman who had been a prostitute before being rescued by the Salvation Army!
