health-seekers, he steadily sank. Though, of course, death
had long threatened him, he was caught suddenly at the last, and died in
Berlin on the journey homewards to Sweden from South Germany, at a time
when his wife could not be with him.

It will be readily understood how much more trying this was to The
General than if he had been near to comfort his daughter in all her
sorrow. And yet this blow, falling upon him when he was seventy-nine
years old, found him no less resolute than ever. He sent this widowed
mother out into Denmark, where she was a stranger, to persevere in the
fight. She had showed herself, like her father; able to plead at the
very grave-side with the crowd, for God.

In connexion with the loss of Mrs. Booth we began a system of special
Memorial Services which have been wonderfully blessed. The first one,
held on the first anniversary of her death, in the Agricultural
Hall--one of the largest buildings in London, was altogether too large
for any speaking to be heard. The plan was adopted, therefore, as at the
funeral, of a complete form of service, each point of which was
indicated on the programme, and by large illuminated signs. By this
means the audience, of some 15,000, was able closely and unitedly to
join in all the songs and prayers, whilst scenes from Mrs. Booth's life,
and messages taken from her writings and from The General's, were also
on the great lantern screen passed on to them. Thousands of the most
careless and thoughtless were present; but there was no break in the
solemnity of the service. Hundreds went as requested, from the Meeting
to a room in the stables, to volunteer for life-service as Officers.

What it cost The General to be present on this, and, since then, on
similar occasions, specially after his daughter's death, may be
imagined; but he never hesitated to endure this, for the sake of the
many souls such services have invariably aroused to repentance, faith,
and self-sacrifice for the War. Writing, in 1905, to a friend, he
says:--

"Were you at the Memorial Service? That was a trying ordeal for me,
but I hear that many were benefited. It seems selfish to ask for so
many intercessions; but I cannot get on without them. (In all our
Memorial Services all present are asked to unite in prayer for the
bereaved ones.) The mere fact of my knowing that so large a number
of the very elect of the Kingdom are pleading for power and love on
my