Troubles with the Religious Dead
William was too preoccupied with his revival work to attend the New Connexion Conference in 1857. He was stunned when he heard what had happened there. The conference had revoked his license as a traveling evangelist.
His detractors claimed that his meetings were too chaotic and his manner of speaking too unorthodox. They also complained that he saved so many people that the local pastors could barely manage the horde of new believers. As one minister put it, “He is taking the cream and leaving the skimmed milk for others.”
Assignment to Brighouse
The conference had demoted William by four votes. It assigned him to the run-down mill town of Brighouse in Yorkshire—the least promising district—for the next year.
Brighouse did, however, prove to have some advantages for the Booths. It also became a good training ground for future ministry. For the first time, they set up a home. They could not only bring people to salvation, but also work to establish these believers in their new faith.
READ MORE: THE AFRICAN CHALLENGE
Family and Ministry Expansion
After the birth of their second son, Ballington, on July 28, 1857, William urged Catherine to begin teaching a Bible class at the church. She became a leader among the female church members.
At the next Conference, in May 1858, the church again denied William the right to return to fieldwork. Instead, it requested that he work one more year in a circuit. He agreed.
By this time, William had been with the New Connexion for four years. He had completed his probationary period, and the denomination ordained him as a minister.
Gateshead and Inspiration for Future Work
William and Catherine thus moved to Gateshead. There, Catherine had an interesting experience that would shape much of the work ahead of them with the Salvation Army:
“One Sabbath, I was passing down a narrow, thickly populated street on my way to chapel, anticipating an evening’s enjoyment for myself and hoping to see some anxious ones brought into the kingdom, when I chanced to look up at the thick rows of small windows above me, where numbers of women were sitting, peering through at the passers by, or listlessly gossiping with each other.”
To Be Continued…
Tale Tuesday 093
Date: 9th July 2024
Title: : William & Catherine Booth (Part 19)
Source: God’s generals- The Revivalists
Author: Roberts Liardon
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