In Berlin for a number of years the General held Meetings in the great Circus Busch on the National Buss-tag, Repentance Day; and, as the way in which his name is pronounced by most Germans comes very near one of the two words, it has almost become a Booth Day in the thoughts of many.

“It was evident,” says one paper, “again in the two Meetings held yesterday that the personality of the Founder and Leader of The Army still exercises its charm.  Both Meetings were crowded; the Circus was filled from arena up to gallery with a pressing multitude.  At the close of the evening address there was the call to the Penitent-Form, and 158 men and women, out of the most differing circles of society, obeyed the call.  Mr. Booth spoke in both Meetings with the freshest energy and youthful fire, and to-day he travels to Denmark.”

The Frankfort Gazette, and other papers, having the opportunity for the first time to report The General’s Meetings on a whole Sunday, a little later, gave a much completer description of his preaching:—­

“The Founder of The Army,” says the Gazette, “bears his eighty-one years lightly.  He is still equal to all the toils of the agitation, and spoke for over five hours in three Meetings in the great hall of the Merchants’ Union.  The old gentleman keeps up his good humour, and perfectly understands how to intersperse interesting anecdotes in his addresses.”

“Last Sunday,” says another paper, “was a Booth Day, and certainly a Repentance Day.  The General came to win Soldiers for his Army, and ammunition for it, too; but there was plenty of opportunity for repentance given.  Everybody knows now the why and wherefore of The Army’s Meetings.  There is music—­then prayer with closed eyes, and then a little sister sings a religious song to a worldly tune.  That was so yesterday; but then The General came as chief speaker.  He had no need of any other influence; his mere appearance works upon every one.

     “The public was composed of all sorts of people.  Politicians,
     Socialists, as well as clergymen and leaders in Church work were
     there, together with officials and working-men and women.”

Nothing could be more impressive as to the ever-widening circles who crowded to listen to The General than the following description of his Meeting in Potsdam, the German Windsor, where the Emperor generally resides.  Says the local paper:—­

“One could not cease to marvel at the crowded state of the auditorium.  The intelligent public, which generally keeps away from popular demonstrations, was there in force.  Jurists, state officials, officers in uniform, doctors, and many ladies were amongst the hearers of The General.”

But some of the papers in smaller but not less striking reports gave us a far fuller description of what The General’s appeals brought home to the hearts of his hearers everywhere.