for a field of greater usefulness, in the future,
than the one he already occupies. Under
such circumstances, it must be the duty of that youth
to take that hour for his own improvement, rather than
to use it to enrich his master or increase his
earnings.
“Then, every Soldier of Jesus Christ must duly consider and obey the claims of the Salvation War. That is, he must strive to take his fair share in that conflict. Whether he is his own master, having the direct control of his time, or whether he works for an employer, who only allows him many hours for leisure, he must conscientiously devote much of that time as he can to saving his fellow-men, settling this question, he must use his common sense, and claim the promised direction of the Holy Spirit. God will guide him.
“What I protest against here is the notion, born of indolence and selfishness, which affirms that we should do little, rather than as much, work as is consistent with the maintenance of health, and with the claims arising out of the relations in which we stand to those about us.
[Illustration: {Handwriting}
Soldiers. God and a sinning suffering world cal you to rise up and meet your great opportunity. Do it and do it with your might.
For the present I must say farewell; but always think of ****
Your affectionate General
Williams S. Booth
Cape Town,
October 12, 1908
AN AUTOGRAPH MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL]
“However, circumstances will transpire, during the earthly career of every one of us, calling for self-sacrificing work that must be performed, regardless of consequences to health or any other interest.
“Supposing, by way of illustration, a ship has sprung a leak, through which the water is rushing rapidly in, endangering the lives of both the passengers and crew. Under such conditions, would not every man on board be justified in working night and day to prevent the threatened calamity? Nay, further, would not the laws of humanity call upon every one concerned to do so at the risk of crippling themselves, or even sacrificing life itself, in order to gain the greater good of saving the vessel from destruction, and rescuing a number of their fellows from a watery grave?
“My contention then, is, that whether in the shop or on the ship, in the parlour or in the kitchen, in the factory or in the field, on the Salvation platform or in the coal mine, whether Officers or Soldiers, we are all alike, as servants of God, under the obligation to do all we possibly can in the service of men; and to do it with the holy motive of pleasing our Heavenly Master.
“Here let me review
my warrant for requiring from you the kind of
loving labour that I
advocate.