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The files of the Museum of the West contain a volume of lecture notes by Eva Booth, daughter of the Founders, compiled during her service as National Commander in Canada.
These words, written at the age of 27, were presented in a speech to cadets in May 1892. Today, more than 110 years later, their relevance to officers (and soldiers) remains.
I would like to illustrate my message by telling of a man who opened a shop which sold everything. He prospered, and today is wealthy. Let us learn from his example.
A. You must be an “all-round” man or woman!
You must be good, of strong character, but sympathetic, and kind. You must be firm, fiery, gentle and bright. At times you must be tearful, and at times deep. Why?
1. Because there will be only one of your sort in the village.
It would have been awkward if this man had not been a grocer—or chimney sweep—or had not a post office.
2. You are not going to be a clergyman (woman) or parson, but a “need meeter.”
All sorts of conditions will come to you. The proud will come for humility; the drunkard for cleansing; the impure for purity; the hard for tenderness. To be able to supply them you must be “all-round.”
B. What will help me?
1. Feel the importance of being this!
If I can’t supply the needs of the people, I am of no use to God and the Army.
2. Know what to supply!
People will see advertisements for your shop. You must know what to supply. If you haven’t the goods, you will be at a loss.
3. You must sell all goods.
You may manage your meetings; you may manage your crowds; you may manage your corps without a grain of sympathy. The broken-hearted won’t come your way—people won’t weep in your presence!
Again, you may have too much sympathy and be like a jellyfish, and when you are wanted to step forward and draw your sword unto blood you cannot. So you must be “all round,” because you are a need meeter.
4. Why must you sell all goods?
Because people will come to you for all sorts, sizes and shapes!
People won’t come to you for a thing you don’t sell, and very soon the whole village will know what you sell and what you don’t.
5. Serve all alike.
Show no partiality. Serve your poorest customer with as much attention as you would your richest.
6. Take plenty of trouble with your customers.
If one thing does not suit, bring out another. Press them: explain the qualities of the goods.
7. Know the prices!
Need salvation? The price is: give up your sin. Need a clean heart? Have a clean life.
8. Don’t cheat.
Don’t say you have got goods if you haven’t! Be reliable! Be the same off the platform as on.
Don’t cheat at the penitent form! Don’t be satisfied to gloss a man over so as to close the meeting earlier.
Let your goods be reliable—genuine! Have the best! There is butter and butter. There is sympathy and sympathy.
The world needs the genuine article. If you want to sell a good article, you must pay the price! You cannot buy at 2d and sell for 1/6.
So pay the price to God and He will give you his best.
9. Be at trouble.
Don’t lose a customer for the want of a little trouble.
When the man offended anybody, he went and apologized at once—and followed him up until he got his customer again.
Don’t lose a sinner for the want of a little trouble. Be beforehand with the devil! Don’t be afraid of exerting yourself!
10. Be faithful!
Don’t serve a man differently because he puts £ 1 into the box—rich or poor, deal faithfully!
11. Keep a good supply!
Don’t let your goods run low; don’t forget to replenish it continually.
12. How to keep a good stock in hand.
Keep looking around to see what is needed. Wait on God daily—get your stock replenished. “Wait on me, Lord, with my order. I want more faith and sympathy; love and strength; power and firmness…that I may meet the needs of all who come to me today.”
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