The World Mourns back to 'William Booth'
In accordance with a widely felt desire, the body of the General lay pavilioned in state at The Congress Hall, Clapton, on the Friday, Saturday and Monday following his passing, when some 150 000 grief-stricken people passed the bier to gaze upon the ivory-like features of "the world's best - loved man " - the Mayor of South Shields had described him as "The Archbishop of the World."
A public memorial service was arranged at Olympia on the following Wednesday (28th August 1912), when 35,000 people attended, including Queen Alexandra, who came incognito, and representatives of King George V and Queen Mary. The procession took twenty minutes to pass down the long-extended central aisle. It was impossible for everyone to hear the speakers in that vast auditorium, so great boards, bearing numbers coinciding with numbers on the fifty-two-paged programme, were stood on either side of the platform to indicate what was happening during the service. Although this was announced to commence at 7.30 p.m., it was estimated that 10,000 people were waiting to enter the building at 4 p.m.
The funeral was conducted by the new General, Bramwell Booth, at 03:00pm on Thursday, 29th August, at Abney Park Cemetery, Stoke Newington. The heart of London stood still for nearly four hours as the lengthy procession of some 7,000 Salvationists, including forty bands, wended its five-mile way through densely crowded streets from the Victoria Embankment, no fewer than 580 City and 2,370 Metropolitan police being on duty.
The Acting Lord Mayor, Sir John Knill, Bart., stood at the salute on the steps of the Mansion House as the cortege passed, the Maharajah of Jhalawar and other distinguished people being with him. The estranged Mrs Booth-Clibborn and Herbert Booth were among the mourners, and Ballington Booth and his wife sent a telegram of love and sympathy.
Bramwell Booth delivered a striking address at the graveside, in the course of which he said:
"If you were to ask me, I think I could say that the happiest man I ever knew was the General. He was a glad spirit. He rose up on the crest of the stormy billows, and praised God, and laughed at the Devil's rage, and went on with his work with joy. That gladness communicated itself to others. . . . I rode the other morning on a ministering journey with Commissioner Sturgess up a little lane in Limehouse, in the East End of London, and oh, how my mind turned back to forty years ago, and to a fishmonger's shop there ! The fishmonger was friendly to us, and used to take out the windows of his shop for us on Sunday mornings. I have heard the General from behind that fish counter pouring out his soul on the people".
Messages of sympathy addressed to Bramwell Booth arrived from leading men and women in all parts of the world.
King George wrote: Only in the future shall we realize the good wrought by him for his fellow creatures. Today there is universal mourning for him. I join in it.
Queen Alexandra, the Queen Mother, who also sent a wreath of flowers from the royal gardens at Sandringham, wrote: Thank God, his work will live for ever.
The Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany explicitly commanded that a wreath should be placed on the coffin by Baron von Bulow. A wreath was also received from King George and Queen Mary. King Christian of Denmark sent a message, as did President Taft of the U.S.A.
In the death of your good father the world loses one of its most effective practical philosophers.
The Prime Minister (Mr Asquith) and the Governors and Prime Ministers of Commonwealth countries, the Archbishop of Canterbury, and the Lord Mayor of London paid their tributes. The newspapers of the world devoted columns of space to high and affectionate tributes.
Whatever we may think of William Booth, and of the wonderful organization which he so triumphantly established, it is certain that he belonged to the company of saints. . . . We judge him to be one of the chief and most serviceable figures of the Victorian age. - Daily Telegraph.
General Booth, who has gone to his rest full of years and honour, after a long life of inexhaustable activity, will live in history as one of the most remarkable figures of these times - Westminster Gazette.
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