large enough to defray the local expenses.
Thus were cleared away not only two of the main blocks in the path of
progress, but all need or desire for the officialdom that had already
begun to grow threateningly stiff.
"After awhile," writes The General, "the work began to spread and
show wonderful promise, and then, when everything was looking like
progress a new trouble arose. It came about in this wise. Some of
the evangelists whom I had engaged to assist me rose up and wanted
to convert our Mission into a regular Church, with a Committee of
Management and all that sort of thing. They wanted to settle down
in quietness. I wanted to go forward at all costs. But I was not to
be defeated or turned from the object on which my heart was set in
this fashion, so I called them together, and addressing them said,
'My comrades, the formation of another Church is not my aim. There
are plenty of Churches. I want to make an Army. Those among you who
are willing to help me to realise my purpose can stay with me.
Those who do not must separate from me, and I will help them to
find situations elsewhere.'"
They one and all chose to stand by The General, for those who were
really set upon the formation of deliberative assemblies had already
left us.
This was in February, 1877, and in the following July the last Christian
Mission Conference met to celebrate the abandonment of the entire system
that Conference represented, and to assure The General that he had got a
real fighting Army to lead.
It was only at the end of 1878, during which year the "Stations," which
we now call Corps, had increased from thirty to eighty, that in a brief
description of the work we called the Mission a "Salvation Army." But
the very name helped us to increase the speed of our advance.
The rapidity with which The General selected and sent out his Officers
reminds one constantly of the stories of the Gospel. One who became one
of his foremost helpers, had formerly been a notorious sinner, and had
indeed only been converted a fortnight, when because he already showed
such splendid qualities he was sent by a girl Officer to The General
with the strongest recommendation for acceptance.
It was arranged for him to speak with The General on the platform, after
a Meeting. The General, who had, no doubt, observed him during the
evening, looked at him for a moment and then said, "You oug
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