Seven More Men by Eric Metaxas

Author:Eric Metaxas
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Zondervan
Published: 2020-02-19T00:00:00+00:00

Both William and Catherine suffered from various illnesses during these years, including, for William, nervous exhaustion and depression. When he was ill, Catherine preached on his behalf and also kept the books for the Mission.

The Mission continued to grow in 1869, and its workers—there were now sixty William could depend on—found their way to the most derelict parts of London. New converts were immediately put to work, helping with services and other activities. That Christmas, the Booth family made 150 plum puddings and delivered them to the poor. Even today, a hundred fifty years later, the Salvation Army continues to make holiday puddings, selling them to provide the less fortunate with meals.

William and Catherine brought in additional income by selling a songbook William had put together and a pamphlet Catherine wrote titled Female Ministry; or, Woman’s Right to Preach the Gospel. They also took in lodgers.

At home, the children were encouraged to keep animals as pets. As one biographer put it, “Caring for animals, moreover, was training in that thoughtfulness for others which is the very essence of Salvationist principles.”28 When he was at home, William enjoyed playing with his children. Booth child number seven, Evelyne,29was born in 1865 on Christmas Day, and their eighth and last child, Lucy, came along in 1868.

With everything else she was doing, Catherine somehow also managed to homeschool her children and encouraged them in outdoor games such as tennis and cricket. When Catherine wasn’t busy with the children, she preached to the wealthy in London’s West End, bringing in income the family badly needed, since East Enders obviously couldn’t afford to pay for William’s preaching. Over time, some notable figures saw the tremendous effects of what the Booths were doing. Among the most prominent was Samuel Morley, a wealthy member of Parliament who supported the Booths’ work until his death.

The poor continued to be converted in large numbers, thanks to William’s inspired preaching. As one biographer noted, “The spirit of The Christian Mission was a reflection of the character of William Booth himself.” That spirit “preached the most arresting form of the Christian Gospel, but prescribed an extreme tenderness with the broken-hearted. It denounced sin with an energy that was almost violent, but sought the sinner with a loving-kindness that was entirely beautiful.”30

By 1870 the number of “preaching stations” had jumped to fifty-seven. The Booth children were put to work rather early in life, leading meetings, preaching, giving testimonies, and visiting the poor.

The Booths eventually tamped down on religious emotionalism, preferring instead to judge whether someone’s conversion was genuine by their subsequent actions. William urged people to “go and do something,” believing that “true godliness is practical benevolence.” As for his fellow preachers, he wanted them to preach simply, not allowing themselves to become overly theological. Their message must be understood by the simplest people, with the goal being to “convert the sinner, raise up the saint, and put the saint to work.”31

Thanks to Catherine’s influence, increasing numbers of women were now preaching too—or “Hallelujah Lassies,” as they were sometimes called.

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