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Monday, August 09, 2010

"The Great Purpose of The Salvation Army" - Bramwell Booth


The great purpose of The Salvation Army is to save. It is for this we fight; it is for this we suffer; nay, it is for this we exist. Our Master and great Example seems to have found that the only road to achieve that great work was by the road of suffering. The whole story of His triumph seems to say: 'If you would be a saviour you must be crucified.'

How true it has been of us! Indeed, one may say that from this very beginning to the present day, in every land in which we have lifted our hands to God, this has become our experience. The Salvation Army was born crucified. If it is to remain alive and powerful, it must go on being crucified. If it is to ultimately triumph it must be from the Cross of suffering for the world that it ascends to the Throne and Crown.

Then do not let us complain because, like our Master, we are sometimes forsaken by those who would so gladly have kept with us in the struggle; or because, like Him, we are sometimes betrayed, denied, and denounced by those who promised so loudly to be true to the Cause; or because, taking advantage of our rule of silence, they sometimes say of us what is not kind or even true.

Let us submit and take care to be true to ourselves. Let us carry our own heavy cross as He carried His. It will no doubt sometimes seem in the eyes of men a weak and foolish thing to do. But the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.

To Him be the glory!

Bramwell Booth. October 10, 1910 - The Salvation Army Canada & Bermuda War Cry, p.8

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