Catherine Booth

Years En

rt and energy; or real religio

ials, and Catherine could not help noticing him with extra interest. He spoke to the people's hearts, and was not so much occupied in preaching a good sermon as in g

he evening with a friend, when the very same preacher cam

evening ended she discovered that the young minister was quite as earnest as

r in charge,' and no longer as a Special. And now you will guess that the two often met, and that, because they had so many

though you would have said they were old enough to know their own minds, they did nothing hast

saved–she settled in her own heart what sort of a man her future husband must be. First, she decided, he must be truly converted, and a total abstainer, not to please her, b

d but follow our Army Mother's example, there wo

be a minister–that was the nearest she could get to an Officer in those days; William was a name she particularly liked, and–if only he might be

if he ought, under the circumstances, to ask her to share his lot. He wrote a letter to her, telling her how perplexed and troubled he was, an

each other. Do try to forget me, as far as the remembrance would injure your usefulness or spoil your peace. If I have no alternative but to oppose the Will of God, or trample

rty that frightened her, fo

mstances. I thought I had assured you that a bright prospect would n

el satisfied in your mind that the step is right.... If you are convince

g, and together consecrating their lives to God

ten for long months at a time they never met, they remained

l at this time, I am glad to tell you, have been kept, and we will loo

er their engagement she

all I esteem you; and if it be possible to love you more than I do n

ften much perplexed and troubled, longing above all to do God's Will for the Salvation of the peo

the two could often meet. Most girls would have said, 'Oh, come, then we shall be near to each other'; but you will see that her

as to your course. Leave your heart before God, and get satisfied in His sight, and then do it, be it what it may. I cannot bear t

adds, low

sting good. My mind is made up to do my part towards it. I hope to be firm as a rock on some points. The Lord help me. We must ai

Live near to God by prayer.... You believe He answers prayer. Then take courage. Just fall down at His feet, and open your very soul before Him, and

h Him till all is clear and bright upwards. Do, there's a dear. Oh, how much we lose by not coming to the point. Now, at once, realize your union with Christ, and trust H

and she sends him back her wise advice and help. 'I am sorry for this,' she says, 'and am persuaded it is the fear of man which shackles you. Do not give place to this feeling. Remember you are the Lord's servant, and if you are a faithful

ater, sh

are not for frown or praise of man. Rest not till your soul is fully alive to God.

of hard work. She saw what he might become, and she also knew that unless he did h

t no want of energy or effort on your part shall hind

g, he might get time to read and think and learn,

candle? And, presuming that you generally have a room to yourself, could you not rise by six o'clock every morning, and convert your bedroom into a study till breakfast ti

rful work they were to be called to do. He was then preaching and getting souls saved, mostly

Or did he feel, as some men do to-day, that

ive him. In fact, he often wrote begging her to help him more. The outlines fo

you sent me on "Be not deceived," and am about to mak

dgment. Send me some bare thoughts, some clear, startling outl

more was she anxious about his soul. To her, there could be no true love without faithful

tes, 'for watchfulness and for m

e also. Oh, my love, let nothing earthly excite it; let not the wish to be great fire it. Fix it on the Throne of the Eternal, and let it find the realization

wrote the foolish and sentimental letters which say a great deal, and mean very little;

g to you can time or place erase from my memory. Your words, your looks, your actions, even the most trivial and incidental, come up before me as fresh as life. If I meet a child called William, I

and here are a few lines from the last letter she wrote to him before the enga

If I ever get to Heaven, what rapture shall I know! No, there is no fear of our loving each other too much. How can we love each other more than Christ has loved us? And this is the standard He has given us. What a precious thing is th

e, and, together with The General, lived every moment '