In her alcove out of sight the visitor found refreshment for her own soul, and a vision also.
This is the secret of this wonderful work that these people do in France, in the cities, everywhere; they have a vision! They have been upon the Mountain with G.o.d and they have not forgotten the injunction:
"See that thou do all things according to the pattern given thee in the Mount"
But the stories multiply and my s.p.a.ce is drawing to a close. I am minded to say reverently in words of old:
"And there are also many other things which these disciples of Jesus did, the which if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written;" but are they not graven in the hearts of men who found the Christ on the battlefield or the hospital cot, or in the dim candle-lit hut, through these dear followers of His?
XII.
Letters of Appreciation
MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
You may be sure that your telegram of November fifteenth warmed my heart and brought me very real cheer and encouragement. It is a message of just the sort that one needs in these trying times, and I hope that you will express to your a.s.sociates my profound appreciation and my entire confidence in their loyalty, their patriotism, and their enthusiasm for the great work they are doing.
Cordially and sincerely yours, Woodrow Wilson.
Nov. 30,1917.
MY DEAR MISS BOOTH:
I am very much interested to hear of the campaign the Salvation Army has undertaken for money to sustain its war activities, and want to take the opportunity to express my admiration for the work that it has done and my sincere hope that it may be fully sustained.
(Signed) WOODROW WILSON.
The President of the United States of America.
Commander Evangeline Booth, Paris, 7 April, 1919.
122 W. 14th Street, New York, U.S.A.
I am very much interested to know that the Salvation Army is about to enter into a campaign for a sustaining fund.
I feel that the Salvation Army needs no commendation from me. The love and grat.i.tude it has elicited from the troops is a sufficient evidence of the work it has done and I feel that I should not so much commend as congratulate it.
Cordially and sincerely yours, Woodrow Wilson.
British Delegation, Paris, 8th April, 1919.
DEAR MADAM:
I have very great pleasure in sending you this letter to say how highly I think of the great work which has been done by the Salvation Army amongst the Allied Armies in France and the other theatres of war. From all sides I hear the most glowing accounts of the way in which your people have added to the comfort and welfare of our soldiers. To me it has always been a great joy to think how much the sufferings and hardships endured by our troops in all parts of the world have been lessened by the self-sacrifice and devotion shown to them by that excellent organization, the Salvation Army.
Yours faithfully, W. Lloyd George.
General J. J. Pershing, France.
The Salvation Army of America will never cease to hail you with devoted affection and admiration for your valiant leadership of your valiant army.
You have rushed the advent of the world"s greatest peace, and all men honor you. To G.o.d be all the glory!
Commander Evangeline Booth.
Commander Evangeline Booth, New York City.
"Many thanks for your cordial cable. The American Expeditionary Forces thank you for all your n.o.ble work that the Salvation Army has done for them from the beginning."
General Pershing.
With deep feeling of grat.i.tude for the enormous contribution which the Salvation Army has made to the moral and physical welfare of this expedition all ranks join me in sending heartiest Christmas greetings and cordial best wishes for the New Year.
(Signed) Pershing.
Salvation, New York.
Paris, April 22, 1919.
The following cable received, Colonel William S. Barker, Director of the Salvation Army, Paris: My dear Colonel Barker--I wish to express to you my sincere appreciation, and that of all members of the American Expeditionary Forces, for the splendid services rendered by the Salvation Army to the American Army in France. You first submitted your plans to me in the summer of 1917, and before the end of that year you had a number of Huts in operation in the Training Area of the First Division, and a group of devoted men and women who laid the foundation for the affectionate regard in which the workers of your organization have always been held by the American soldiers. The outstanding features of the work of the Salvation Army have been its disposition to push its activities as far as possible to the Front, and the trained and experienced character of its workers whose one thought was the well-being of its soldiers they came to serve. While the maintenance of these standards has necessarily kept your work within narrow bounds as compared to some of the other welfare agencies, it has resulted in a degree of excellence and self-sacrifice in the work performed which has been second to none. It has endeared your organization and its individual men and women workers to all those Divisions and other units to which they have been attached and has published their good name to every part of the American Expeditionary forces. Please accept this letter as a personal message to each one of your workers. Very sincerely,
John J. Pershing.
Marshal Foch, Paris, France:
Your brilliant armies, under blessing of G.o.d, have triumphed. The Salvation Army of America exults with war-worn but invincible France. We must consolidate for G.o.d of Peace all the good your valor has secured.
Commander Evangeline Booth.
[Ill.u.s.tration: Western Union cablegram (transcription below)]
WESTERN UNION ANGLO-AMERICAN DIRECT UNITED STATES CABLEGRAM 34 Broadway N.Y.
Received at 16 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK
193 F8 PZ FRANCE 31
EVANGELINE BOOTH COMMANDER SALVATION ARMY IN AMERICA NEW YORK
TReS TOUCHe DU SENTIMENT eLEVe QUI A INSPIRe VOTRE TeLeGRAMME JE VOUS ADRESSE AINSI QU"a VOS ADHeRENTS MES SINCeRES REMERCIEMENTS