THE SALVATION ARMY.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3335, 29 September 1911, Page 3

THE SALVATION ARMY.

SELF-DENIAL FUND. A LETTER FROM GENERAL BOOTH Mr James Douglas, assistant Editor of the “Star,” London : —“I regard General Booth as the greatest moral and spiritual figure of our time. No man since John Wesley has performed such wonders in regenerative organisation. In the Salvation Army lie has created a titanic engine of faith, enthusiasm and self sacrifice. He has bridged the gulf between God and the gutter, between the saint and the sot, between the pulpit and tile slum. He hi; forced Christendom to face the duty of rescuing its own dregs from damnation. His career has been utterly selfless, utterly ascetic, utterly single minded. He lias worn out his body and soul in the service, of humanity. His labors are unparalleled. Yet, for ten years he has been a Traill old man, with both feet in the grave, and both arms round the world. He is a living miracle, and the longer he lives the more miraculous he becomes. W e are too near him to know him. We are too familiar with his work to grasp its full sweep and scope. Mankind is his debtor. May he live for ever.” Self-Denial letter from the General, Comrades, and friends : —“We are once more face to face with the Self-Denial struggle. Perhaps here and there objector may be found, but some people will object to anything that calls for their self-denying co-operation. For myself I am proud of the effort, and so* must evrv sensible man bo who cares for the woes of mankind and believes in Salvation methods for removing them.” Self-Denial Week commands the attention of the whole civilised world—proclaims to high and low the value of the Army exhibits, the generosity of our people, and generally speaking stir our Soldiers up to a sense of the obligation they are under to assist God in His efforts to save a perishing world. Self-Denial calls for liard work and genuine sacrifice, but the of .Jesus Christ in reality is impossible without suffering. But wliatever the sacrifice called for may be it will be forthcoming. Retrogression is impossible in the Salvation Army. We are made to go forward, and forward we will go, and this Self-Denial Week will once more finish on the top. Thank God I am here to help 3-0 u with it, and Jesus is here, and you are here. We have fought our, way through together to many a victory, and, with banners waving, bands playing, Soldiers shouting, and friends rejoicing, we are going to march together this year to win the greatest Self-Denial victory tb" Army lias ever known. lam sure 3-ou will not disappoint, your affectionate General, WILLIAM BOOTH.