nd staggering. I know not; but it is manifest that when
this grim old man, with the ivory face, the black, flashing eyes,
the tangle of white hair and the tangle of beard, leans over the
rostrum and calls sin 'beastly' and 'devilish' and 'nasty' the
people sit as white and spellbound as the patient of the hypnotist.

"It is a different General Booth whom the villagers flock to see as
he drives, smiling and genial, through Cornish villages, whom the
band plays into towns, and whom mayors and councillors receive with
honour. But the reason of this honour and this popularity is the
fact that he is a force, a living, breathing power who has made sin
real to the world and has awakened the religious consciousness in
thousands of human beings."

William Booth was always very wide awake to the discouraging emptiness
of mere demonstrations, and never expressed himself more contemptuously
with regard to them than when he thought that any of his Officers, in
the midst of some grand display, which was attracting unusual attention,
seemed to be likely to be satisfied with the show of what had been done,
instead of pressing forward to greater things.

Yet he saw that, in presence of the continual and enthralling
exhibitions of the world, there was absolute need for such
manifestations of united force as might encourage every little handful,
usually toiling out of sight, and convince the world that we were
determined fully to overcome all its attractions.

There had been before his time large demonstrations in favour
of teetotalism, and in some parts of the country the Sunday
Schools were accustomed annually to make displays of more or less
fashionably-dressed children and teachers. But The General was alone in
his own country and time in organising any such public demonstrations in
honour of Christ, and of total abstinence from sin and from
worldly-mindedness.

How perfectly The General could always distinguish between the enjoyment
of demonstration and of real fighting, was strikingly manifested on one
of our great Crystal Palace days. Looking down from the balcony upon the
vast display, when some 50,000 Salvationists were taking part in various
celebrations, he noticed a comparatively small ring of our converted
military and naval men kneeling together on the grass, evidently within
hearing of one of the band-stands upon which one Band after another was
playing, according