GENERAL BOOTH, D.C.L.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XXIX, Issue 3774, 17 September 1907, Page 2

GENERAL BOOTH, D.C.L.

According to the British Weekly, the University of Oxford will confer on 26th June its highest distinction on “ The Rev. W. Booth, General and Commander-in-Chief of the Salvation Army.” This high honour is reserved generally for Imperial men, and in the list

for this.year are Prince Aitlmr of Connaught, the American Ambassador, the Lord Chancellor, the Prime Minister, the Speaker, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Charles Beresford, Sir Kvelyn Wood, and others hardly less distinguished. But it may well be doubted whether in the long and brilliant roll there is any name that will so long retain its lustre as that of General Booth. The fact that the Chancellor, Lord Curzon, has chosen him for the distinction is a very hopeful one. After all we are coming to take a truer measure of things, and slowly escaping from the old prejudices and trammels. Things have changed mightily since the day when William Booth, almost alone and almost friendless, stood up on the Mile Knd Waste and preached the great salvation. But he has not changed. Through evil report and through good report, through such storms of calumny as would have overwhelmed an 3' weaker spirit, he has gone on his way, and the motto of the Salvation Armj” “ Blood and Fire,” is still the same. Now old men see that this humble minister has been one of tbe most faithful servants of the Kingdom and the Word of God, and incidentally .one of the most precious assets of the British Empire.