268 Sportsmen Parsons in Peace and War 



once when bound on an errand of mercy, and the road on which 

 he would have travelled was torn up by shell-fire. At other 

 times he was led to places he had no reason to visit, and found 

 men alone and dying. He feels it is the Spirit of God working 

 in him. 



The Salvation Army has met with a good deal of encourage- 

 ment and appreciation. Lord French recently said, " Of all 

 the great associations and organisations which have sprung into 

 existence in the last fifty years for the temporal and spiritual 

 welfare of the community, none have offered finer work, 

 attained more splendid results throughout the British Empire, 

 than the Salvation Army. In particular its activities have been 

 of the greatest benefit to the soldiers in the war." Lord Derby 

 sent them encouraging messages through their General. In a 

 letter he says, " All good wishes for your success. The 

 splendid work which the Salvation Army has done amongst the 

 soldiers during the war is one for which I as Secretary of State 

 for War should like to thank them most sincerely. It is work 

 deserving of all support." Admiral Sir John Jellicoe also pays 

 them a tribute : " His Majesty's Services owe much to the 

 Salvation Army." 



I remember when I was in India years ago dear old General 

 and Mrs. Booth coming up to Simla. I think it was the year 

 Mrs. Booth died. Lord William Beresford lent them the theatre 

 to hold one of their meetings. I was staying with Sir West 

 and liady Ridgeway, and was in their box with them. The 

 Ripons were opposite in their box, and the house was full. 

 Many of us, I am afraid, went thinking we should be amused, 

 and when the procession filed in beating drums and clashing 

 brass instruments, some smiles wandered round the theatre ; 

 but directly General Booth with his snow-white hair and 

 beard began to speak, his common sense and earnestness at once 

 aroused our interest, and he was so eloquent he carried us along 

 with him until we all felt ashamed of the little smile that visited 

 us when first the meeting began. After addressing us in English 

 he addressed the natives fluently in the vernacular. He 

 indulged in none of his understudies' wearisome repetitions of 

 " and I was saved," or as some of them expressed it, " I was 

 sived." His language was refined and polished. 



Mrs. Booth also spoke, and it must have been apparent to 



