In 1879, just one year after becoming The Salvation Army, 4000 soldiers in the heat of revival fires attended the first Council of War. One warrior implored them:
“The time has come for fire. All other agents have been tried: intellect, learning, fine buildings, wealth, respectability, numbers. The great men and the mighty men and the learned men have all tried to cast out these devils before you and have failed. TRY THE FIRE. There are legions of the enemies of our great King. Fire on them. There are legions of strong drink, damning millions; of uncleanness, damning millions more; of debauchery, blasphemy, theft, millions more! Charge on them, pour the red-hot shot of the artillery of Heaven on them, and they will fall by the thousands!”
That warrior was General Catherine Booth.
What fire was she talking about?
(Quoted in Revolution by Aaron White and Stephen Court; Credo Press, 2005.)
Youth Department