Farewell to the Founder

I have just read "Farewell to the Founder" written by R Gordon Moyles, Professor Emeritus at the University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada. This year, the Army commemorates the 100th Anniversary of William Booth's promotion to Glory. The General died on 20th August 1912.

The writer gives a full and comprehensive account of General Booth's final moments on earth, his death and funeral. He records the reaction of salvationists and friends and even his critics. Condolences poured in from Presidents, Prime Ministers, Emperors, Kings and Queens, including one from Britain's King George V who sent a four foot floral wreath. This was placed at the head of the coffin.

More than 100,000 people stood in line for hours to pay their respects at a four day public viewing at Clapton Congress Hall in London. On the day of the funeral more than two million people flanked the streets of London to view the five mile long funeral cortege pass by. As I read this interesting account, I could picture myself among the crowd.

The book became more interesting as the author Mr. Moyles and his wife were here in Singapore to visit their daughter Kathy Wallace who is a lecturer in music at the University of Singapore. The Wallaces live just across the road from our William Booth Corps and of course the Moyles, very good salvationists joined us in worship on Sundays. They also attended the official opening of Balestier Corps on 11 November. They spent about three months in Singapore. He spent quite a lot of time helping Major Pascoe sort out the books in our library.

On 1st July, my wife and I will be conducting Founder's Day meeting at Changi Corps in the absence of the Corps Officer Major Lim Chee Kwee who will be attending the International College for officers in London. So this book came in handy for my preparation for this special Sunday.

Should anyone want to have a loan of the book, please let me know as eventually, I shall put it in the Army's library.